Plant Finder

A strong, hardy Bottlebrush with a bushy habit which produces masses of beautiful purple flowers in spring. Very adaptable but responds well to summer watering. Suitable for use as a formal or informal screen, small tree or in a mixed shelter planting. Remove old flowers to promote a bushy habit and a flush of soft new leaves. Foliage and flowers tend to be less dense if planted in part shade.

‘Purple Haze’ is a medium sized hardy shrub growing to approximately 1.5 metres tall. In spring it has brilliant large deep purple flowers. This tea tree will grow in a wide range of climates and soil types. It is suitable for the smaller garden, shrub beds or as a low screen.

A select form of Banksia ericifolia with bright lime-green foliage and deeper terracotta red flowers. Great for attracting birds and insects to your garden. Foliage and flowers are more sparse when planted in shady spots.

A sturdy and adaptable medium tree, Red Box makes a solid and hardy tree for shade and shelter. Fast growing when young but develops into a mature tree slowly. Grey/green rounded foliage is very decorative, and the tree produces fragrant cream flowers in late spring.

Perfect for growing in containers, bedding displays and many landscape applications or as an informal hedge. Less bushy in shady sites but flowers tend to last longer in shade than in full sun.

Rhiannon is an upright growing shrub with dark glossy foliage and large mauve/pink flowers. It grows to approximately 2m tall and 1m across. Flowering occurs in late spring and lasts for about four weeks. This is a great Tea-tree for in between driveways, as it is a manageable 2m tall, but only gets to 1m wide. Also great for hiding old fences

Evergreen variable mostly bushy large shrub or small tree (1-10m depending on variety) from the Himalayas, South East Asia and Malaysia. Dense leaf cover often from the ground up. Clusters of bell shaped flowers, from white, mauve and red in spring. Useful for a specimen, massed or group planted or a component of shrubbery. Initially slow growing. Compatible with azaleas and camellias. Requires partial shade and well drained acid loam with plenty of organic matter.

Evergreen tufted grass-like perennial (0.5m x 0.4m) from ACT, NSW, Vic, WA and Tas. Blue-grey succulent erect linear leaves. Small yellow star shaped flowers on succulent stems in spring and summer. Useful for borders, perennial or mixed grass gardens. Prefers a protected position and good drainage. Regular watering produces longer flowering period.

Evergreen bushy rounded shrub (0.8m x 0.8m) from Europe. Narrow grey-green leaves, slightly sticky to the touch. Flowers dark pink with a maroon blotch and prominent yellow stamens throughout summer. Useful quick growing filler. Prune after flowering. Drought tolerant.

This hardy vigorous, low-growing form of Banksia integrifolia covers ground quickly and densely, producing bright yellow flower spikes in autumn/winter. Makes a great slope stabilizer, ground cover, pot specimen, or cascading over retaining walls or terraces. Works well in hot spots and exposed areas. In part shade can develop a more open habit with darker foliage.

Evergreen semi-prostrate spreading shrub or groundcover (0.5m x 1m) from the Mediterranean region. Soft thin leaves on long weak stems strongly aromatic when crushed. Flowers blue in clusters throughout spring and summer. Useful for a low screen, mass planting as groundcover, herb garden or informal hedge. Requires regular pruning. May cause skin allergies in susceptible people. Tolerates poor soil. Drought tolerant.

The Royal Bluebell is the floral emblem of the ACT. A pretty little ground cover, covered in purplish blue flowers through the warmer months. Extra water is appreciated in dry periods, as this species grows naturally in cool, moist areas.

Evergreen upright shrub (2m x 1.5m) with bamboo-like stems from China and Japan. Divided glossy leaves turning purple and red in winter. Small white flowers in spring followed by red berries. Useful for a screen, hedge or mass planted for foliage effect. Variable forms available. Sensitive to salinity. Drought tolerant.

Evergreen compact rounded bun shaped shrub (0.6m x 0.8m) from East Asia. Graceful bamboo-like light green leaves turning bright red in autumn. Flowers are not produced. Useful for a low hedge, understorey, mass planting, autumn and winter foliage colour. Requires minimal maintenance.

Evergreen low spreading shrub with angled branches (0.5m x 2m) from WA, SA, Vic, NSW & Qld. Silver grey diamond shaped to three-lobed leaves. Small inconspicuous flowers. Useful for a hardy groundcover and for foliage colour contrast. Prune to maintain shape. Drought tolerant.

A weeping open shrub to 5m, with ball shaped red flowers in spring. A good drought tolerant plant once it is established, it likes a well drained soil and will not do well in waterlogged areas. Requires low humidity and a very well drained spot. Likes full sun to dappled shade. Prune back by after flowering to keep it looking its best.

A narrow, upright oramanemtal tree with large dark green leaves turning orange and yellow in autumn. This is a cultivar selection from a hybrid between Red Maple and Silver Maple, but is narrower than both parents. This makes it useful in smaller spaces or as vertical screen on southern walls. Foliage can burn in summer if planted in full sun.

Excellent ornamental species for hot, dry areas. Excellent for windbreaks, screening, street tree and cut flower. Great bird attractor due to its spectacular red and cream pin cushion flowers. Young growth is sensitive to heavy frost, but once established the shrub is frost tolerant. Drought tolerant.

Lomandra ‘Seascape’ is a lovely soft variety of Lomandra. Fine grey foliage weeps over to touch the ground, making it great for soft borders, and to cascade over walls. Lomandra are an important food source for seed eating birds which makes them a great addition to a bird attracting garden. Equally lovely and hardy in sun or part shade.

Variable tree, from multi-stemmed shrub-like specimens of 8m to trees of 30m, with greyish-green bipinnate leaves. Bears cream ball-shaped flowers in spring. From NSW, ACT, Vic and Tas, but was also introduced in South Australia. Good for establishing a new garden and for stabilising sloping sites. When planted in part shade the species will grow taller with an open, sparse habit and slightly less silvery foliage.