Plant Finder

Evergreen rounded dense shrub (1.2m x 1.5m) from Japan. Glossy dark green leaves turning bronze in winter. Dense drooping sprays of white flowers in spring. Useful companion shrub of rhododendrons; camellias and azaleas as they enjoy similar growing conditions. Shelter from hot afternoon sun. Prefers well drained acid soil with ample summer water. Mulch well to maintain a cool root zone.

Lomandra’ Lime Tuff’ is an excellent cultivar, which has been proven to be happy even in Canberra’s harsh climate. Soft, bright green strappy foliage weeps gracefully, especially if planted in the shade. Best Lomandra for very shaded positions, but also thrives in an exposed sunny spot. Lomandra species are an important food source for seed eating birds, which makes them a great addition to a bird attracting garden.

Evergreen clumping grass-like perennial (0.6m x 0.5m) from Japan, China & Vietnam. Linear glossy dark green leaves. Useful as a border, accent or mass planted as groundcover under tall trees. Spikes of violet bell shaped flowers in summer. Prefers a partly shaded position with well drained soil.

Correa ‘Little Cate’ is a stunning small dense shrub, with many uses in any garden. Can be planted in sunny or shady locations. Cool-weather flowering is a bonus for you and the birds. Requires little to no maintenance due to its compact, bushy form.

A hardy, compact selection from Banksia ericifolia with bright orange/burgundy flower spikes in abundance in autumn/winter. Dry-hardy, but regular water in dry periods will produce best results. Retain a few flowers for birds to use for nest building material. Will tolerate part shade but stays bushy and flowers more prolifically in full sun.

This decorative bushy little tree is excellent for small gardens or narrow spaces. The small, fine leaves sit on elegant semi-pendulous branches and the tree comes alive with insects as the cream flowers bloom in summer. Smooth slender green trunks are also a feature when the ribbony bark sheds. This Eucalypt can be pruned to form a bushy shrub or lower branches removed to form a lovely small tree.

A bushy dwarf form of Eucalyptus stellulata, with small dark leathery leaves and stunning olive/gold trunk. The masses of cream flowers in summer attracts birds, insects and butterflies. Highly adaptable and cold-hardy, this tree will tolerate heavy clay soils and is very frost tolerant.

A strappy Australian native grass with leaves 60 cm to 80 cm long and 8 mm to 12 mm wide. Flowers are cream coloured and strongly perfumed. It grows in a variety of soil types and is heat and drought tolerant. Looks good when mass planted.

Tussock forming grass (0.2m x 0.6m) from ACT, NT, Qld, NSW, Vic, SA and Papua New Guinea. Stiff grey green leaves. Buds open to creamy yellow flowers in clusters around the base of leaves in spring. Useful in groups for understorey or mass display with other grasses. Adaptable to a range of light conditions, from full sun to full shade. Suitable for containers. Drought tolerant.

Evergreen compact tussock forming perennial grass (0.5m x 0.6m). Fine leaf form of L. longifolia from throughout Australia. Narrow fine strap-like leaves. Perfumed buff yellow flower spikes on flattened stems. Useful for groundcover, border or mass planted, particularly on a difficult site. Drought tolerant.

Evergreen columnar tree with compact growth habit (5m x 3m) from North America. Dwarf form of Magnolia grandiflora. Glossy green leaves with velvet bronze underside. Large fragrant creamy white flowers in spring and summer. Useful for a feature, screen and courtyard tree. Prefers fertile moist acid soil and a protected spot, either in an east facing or south facing garden bed. Will not tolerate a hot, windy spot. Sensitive to soil salinity. Moderately frost tolerant, but needs protection when young.

Evergreen dense shrub (3m x 3m) from China. Glossy green leaves. Perfumed yellow flowers edged with purple, almost hidden by foliage. Useful as a screen, hedge or specimen near paths for its perfume. Prefers moist well drained soil. Can be prone to scale attack.

Deciduous shrub or small tree erect and branching from the base with a rounded crown (4m x 3m) from China and Japan. Oblong to ovate leaves. Flowers tulip-like rose pink to purple on the outside and white inside before the leaves in late winter. Useful as a feature plant. Protect from wind. Prefers fertile moist soil. Many forms available.

Evergreen rounded tree with an open crown (5m x 4m) from Asia. Lance shaped shiny green leaves on winged petioles. Fragrant white flowers followed by loose skinned orange-like mandarin fruit from autumn depending on the variety. Useful for its fruit and as an ornamental. Prefers light well drained soil. Mulch under the canopy. Apply high nitrogen fertiliser in early summer. Varieties include ‘Ellendale’, ‘Imperial’ and ‘Emperor’. Harvest early mandarins as they ripen. May require pruning to remove dead and crowded wood. Thin fruit to avoid alternate year bearing.

Deciduous dense rounded tree (13m x 10m). Selected hybrid between A. rubrum and A. saccharinum both from North America. Deeply lobed rich green leaves turning red in autumn. Insignificant small flowers. Useful shade tree and for autumn colour in a large garden. Appearance and performance is the same whether planted in full sun or a partly shaded position. Tolerant of moderately poor drainage and pollution.

Deciduous small tree (5m x 4m) from China, Japan and Korea. Palmate deeply lobed light green leaves in spring deepening in summer and becoming orange, red or yellow in autumn. Useful as a shade tree or feature tree. Prefers well drained fertile acid soil. Avoid wind exposure. Susceptible to leaf sun scorch in summer, but still tolerates a full sun position. Thrives in a position with afternoon shade . Minor invasive weed potential. Many variable forms available.

This prostrate shrub is a useful flat groundcover, with delightful yellow/orange pea flowers in spring. Looks great cascading down a retaining wall. Bushy and floriferous in both full sun and part shade.

Deciduous small shrub with many arching slender stems (1m x 1m) from China and Japan. Narrow leaves turning orange in autumn. White flowers in small clusters in early spring. Useful for flowers amongst shrubbery; and as a deciduous hedge or border. Flowers equally well in sun or part shade. Protect from wind.

Evergreen erect well branched perennial (0.9m x 1m) from Mexico and Central America. Narrow wrinkly dark green leaves above, downy white beneath. Purple velvet textured tubular flowers on erect terminal spikes in winter. Useful for mixed borders, perennial beds, children’s play areas and winter colour. Butterfly attracting. Prefers well drained soil and flowers best when planted in full sun or a mostly sunny position. However, it will survive shade and still reward you with flowers. Prune back hard in spring to keep bushy. Drought tolerant.

Evergreen rounded dense shrub (1.5m x 1.5m) from Mexico. Leaves are bright green and glossy. Fragrant white flowers long flowering through spring. Useful for low hedge, feature or shrub border. Prefers fertile well drained soil. Avoid root disturbance. If frost damaged, remove leaves and the plant should recover well.