Grow Natives

Coastal Daisybush – Olearia axillaris

With its distinctive grey foliage Olearia axillaris is one of Perth’s most iconic coastal shrubs. Although a member of the Daisy family (Asteraceae) this bush grows to a height of 1-3 metres, occurring naturally in the sand dunes and along our limestone coast.

It is a compact plant producing insignificant small yellow flowers throughout the year including shortly after summer rains but commonly between March and August.  The flowers attract pollinating insects while the bushes provide habitat for invertebrates and small reptiles.

With its highly ornamental foliage it’s great for cut flower arrangements. Can be formed into a hedge.

It is believed to have been eaten as a herb by the Dutch sailors and Willem de Vlamingh when they anchored off Rottnest Island in the 1690s.

Plant care

Drought tolerant, no fertiliser is required tip prune a couple of times a year to keep it compact.

Easy to propagate from cuttings taken at any time of the year or from seeds.

Purple Flag – Patersonia occidentails

This attractive tufted, strappy leaf is a perennial with three-pettled violet-blue flowers which are held high above the foliage.  occidentalis is Latin meaning western; referring to the geographical area where it is found, Western Australia. It grows naturally from the Murchison River to east of Esperance on the dunes and amongst granite outcrops. The Noongar name for this plant is Komma.

This perennial herb grows from a rhizome to a height of 80 cm and up to around 60 cm wide. Flowers, which open for less than a day, can appear throughout the year but mostly in late spring to early summer. Each flower spike may produce many flowers throughout the season.  Their stunning display attracts native bees, butterflies and other pollen attracting insects.

This production of many flowers makes them an attractive addition to any home garden.

Plant Care

Having adapted to our high Alkaline, poor sandy soils and with its underground rhizome making it hardy and drought tolerant, once established it needs very little care.

Takes full sun to light shade in a moist soil. Keep the soil cool over summer through mulching which will also suppress weeds. Fertilise in spring with a slow release fertiliser to encourage blooms. Looks great when planted on mass as a border plant.

Propagation from bulbs, through division or seed sown in May and June.

 

Prostrate wattle – Acacia lasiocarpa

This delightful little prostrate wattle grows well in our gardens here along the coast as this is its native habitat.  It has adapted to our coastal sandy, alkaline, soils, shrub and woodlands around Perth, growing to a height of 0.5 -1.5m and 1-3m wide. This little shrub has evergreen lime green foliage that produces dense ornamental golden flowers from May through to October.

The Acacia lasiocarps attracts butterflies, bees and other pollinating insects, seed eating birds, and other insects.  It is a very versatile plant, tolerating coastal conditions and drought. For this reason it is ideal for low maintenance gardens and will survive hot spots and can be potted.

Plant Care

Plant in spring in a sunny position to encourage flowers although it will tolerate light shade.  It prefers dry to well-drained soil.

Propagation can be done by seed in spring and autumn or by softwood cuttings.  Acacia seeds germinate only if scarified lightly with sandpaper or pre-treated with boiling water.  This will help water to penetrate their hard outer coating to trigger propagation.  Then test to see if seeds are viable by soaking overnight; if they swell and float they are good to propagate.

Note:  Some seeds will not germinate instantly so don’t discard them.  Re-soaking may help them germinate as many native seeds lay dormant till the right conditions occur, so put your containers aside and wait.  A hot house may also help to jumpstart propagated seeds.

 

Prostrate banksia – Banksia blechnifolia

A low maintenance native shrub ideal for our alkaline coastal soils.  Its prostrate form has eye catching serrated foliage and attractive dusky pink, red, rusty orange-brown banksia flower which emerge in spring.  The hairy new lateral growth can also be dusky pink, red or rust coloured.  This dense ground cover grows to around 2-4 metres wide and 2-5cm high and can be grown around the base of more upright shrubs, trees or creeping over embankments and retaining walls.

This shrub can be used for erosion and weed control and will attract wildlife such as nectar eating birds, bees, butterflies, and a shelter for small lizards.

Plant care

This drought resistant, spreading evergreen flowers best in a sunny position but also does well in dappled shade.  To promote rapid growth, water to establish and during dry periods.  It requires little to no pruning, although removing spent flowers will promote more flowering.

It prefers well-drained soil and can be grown in low maintenance native gardens or in pots and used for cut flowers.  Like most banksias this plant needs a low phosphorus fertiliser which can be applied annually in early spring.

This plant can be germinated from seed.

 

Native wisteria or Native Lilac – Hardenbergia comptoniana (Fabaceae)

One of Western Australia’s natives found in the south west on our sandplains and dunes.  It can be seen throughout our costal-plain native parks.  Hardenbergia is a vigorous climber twisting around other plants to gain height with dense, evergreen, dark green glossy leaves and produces purple, pink or white pea shaped flowers late winter and early spring.  It can grow from 1.5 – 2 metres and is great in low maintenance gardens, in containers, as a ground cover for erosion control or a feature plant over a trellis.  As a ground cover it provides habitat for reptiles while the flowers attract butterflies and bees.

Plant Care

A very hardy plant that prefers well drained soil, loves both full sun and light shade.  It can withstand dry conditions and needs very little fertiliser.  Keep it tidy by trimming after flowering and keep away from other shrubs as it tends to smother them.  Hardengergia can be propagated easily from seed once their dormancy has been broken through abrasion or hot water. Cuttings also strike well using current season’s growth.

 

Native Flax – Dianella revolute

This lily-like perennial also goes by the names of blue flax-lily, flax-lily, black anther, blueberry lily or spreading flax-lily as it forms an attractive clump with flat, dark blue-green grassy leaves.  It can be found in woodlands and mallee forests throughout Australia.  In late spring early summer, it produces a long spike up to 1mt with a spray of starry blue flowers with bright yellow anthers.  These later produce dark-blue berries.

Plant care

This plant grows in extremely variable conditions, can tolerate lime and is suitable for all soil types from coast to the Darling Range. It prefers well drained, moist soil and can be propagated from seed.

 

 

Snakebush – Hemiandra pungens

This month I’d like to look at a ground cover.  This one is excellent for areas where you don’t want dogs or other pets to go as it has very prickly foliage.  It is commonly found on the Coastal Plain, Darling Scarp and ranges which means it survives well in our sandy soils.  A prostrate shrub has tubular flowers that can variety in colours from purple, pink or white. It’s very tough, drought resilient growing up 60cm in height, spreading to several square metres.

Plant care

Snakebush will tolerate our alkaline soil. It prefers well drained soil, dry conditions and full sun.

Can be propagated from seed or cuttings.

Fun fact – the flowers are designed to attract insect pollinators which see blue, violet or white colours.  The petals function as a landing-pad with a spotted trail to guide the insects to the nectar.  Nectar-guides may also contain trails of scent or ultra-violet markings which are invisible to the human eye.

 

Ghost Gum – Eucalyptus laeliae from the Family: Myrtaceae

These elegant evergreen trees can be seen up and down the coastline from Perth to the south of Bunbury and out to the Darling Ranges.  They are well known for their beautiful smooth white trunk, white flowers, lance-shaped blue-green leaves and white fluffy summer flowers.

Plant Care

This Eucalyptus is suitable for a larger low maintenance property as it will grow up to 6m wide and from 5-20m high.  It is drought resistance and frost tolerant, and is found in arid areas, such as granite hills, rocky outcrops, red sandplains, and dry creek beds.  It grows best in well-drained sandy, sandy loam and clay loam soils and tolerates Acidic to Alkaline soils.  This tree provides shade, attract bees, butterflies, nectar-eating birds and other insects.

 

The Noongar people have used the gum as an antiseptic and a leech repellent, the bark has been used to treat sore eyes and chest infections.

Pencil Esperance Teatree or Silver Teatree – Leptospermum sericeum

Hardy shrub with attractive slivery foliage endemic to southwest WA which grows to 2mt high and 1pm across.  Beautiful, fragrant large silky dark pink wax flowers that fade into pale pink or white.  It flowers from May to October.  Its natural habitat is limited to a small area on the west coast around Perth and the south coast Esperance.

This plant is ideal for a feature hedge and suitable for coastal conditions as it tolerates salt spray and strong winds. It can handle full sun to part shade.  Attracts birds, butterflies and bees.  Flowers are ideal for cut flowers as they are long lasting.

Plant Care

The Silver Teatree prefers a light to medium soil in an open sunny position it is drought and frost resistant.  It can be propagated from seed and cuttings.  Pruning after flowering will promote new growth and maintain shape. Water during extended dry periods.

 

Flame pea – Chorizema cordatum

Found in the south west, this small, scrambling shrub grows to about 1 meter high 1-1.5 mts with elongated, heat-shaped leaves. The pea flowers are large and showy, bright red and orange which occur in late winter and spring.

Plant Care

This species grows best in well drained soils, appreciates protection from full sun and will tolerated periods of dry but prefer a little loam.  Being from the legume family it will provide nitrogen to the soil. They respond well to a good prune, 50 per cent of the bush at the end of spring to keeps them compact and healthy.

It can be propagated from cutting from current season’s growth or from seed after breaking the seed coat which will break its dormancy.

 

Swan River Myrtle – Hypocalymma robustum

This evergreen perennial shrub grows to a width and height of around 1.5.  It likes a sunny or light shade position in well-drained soil.

The Swan River Myrtle can be used for nature strips, borders but also makes a lover container plant with showy clusters of pink to mauve flowers along its stems late winter through to spring which attract butterflies, bees and other beneficial insect.  Can be used for cut flowers.

Plant care

Drought tolerant, waterwise shrub which requires minimal maintenance.  For a dense, compact, bushy appearance an annual pruning is essential.