Josh Byrne unpacks some myths about growing Australian native plants and suggests some options for different conditions. Subscribe 🔔 ab.co/GA-subscribe
Gardening is an ongoing experiment that brings joy as well as frustration when things don’t work out! Paying attention at the plant selection stage can boost your chance of success. Choosing Australian natives is a good strategy as there will always be something to suit your climate and soils. However not all natives grow everywhere - you need to find those that fit your region,
Know your region:
There isn’t one native plant to suit every space, so find out what plants are suited to your specific area. Josh lives on the coastal plains near Fremantle, WA, so he’s chosen plants that are predisposed to the sandy, alkaline soils including Pimelea ferruginea ‘Magenta Mist’, Leucophyta brownii and Eremophila glabra ‘Kalbarri Carpet’. Once established, these plants won’t require much care, which is a sure sign you’ve chosen the right plants for the area.
Source locally:
Some species are very versatile, growing across many regions. Yellow Buttons (Chrysocephalum apiculatum) is a lovely spreading groundcover that grows in every state. Populations from different states though will have different genetic adaptations to suit that region, so it makes sense to find plants that have been locally sourced.
Adaptable Hybrids:
Kangaroo Paws are native to southern Western Australia, but there are now so many cultivars bred to suit different conditions. The straight species Anigozanthos flavidus does best in its local area but hybrid cultivars can be grown much more widely and have a lot more variation in flower colour, height, compact form, disease resilience and climate and soil adaptability.
Care for natives:
Natives are often lumped into the ‘low maintenance’ category. However, a little care will go a long way! Plant during mild weather months and water regularly until established. Feed with a native fertiliser that is low in phosphorus. Eventually, they will need a prune too to keep their shape or encourage more flowering.
Featured Plants:
PINK RICE FLOWER - Pimelea ferruginea ‘Magenta Mist’
CUSHION BUSH - Leucophyta brownii
TAR BUSH - Eremophila glabra ‘Kalbarri Carpet’
YELLOW BUTTONS - Chrysocephalum apiculatum
KANGAROO PAW - Anigozanthos flavidus
BOTTLEBRUSH - Callistemon cv.
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