Natives

Banksia grandis, also known as Bull Banksia, is an iconic Western Australian shrub renowned for its spectacular yellow flower heads and large, toothed foliage. Standing tall as a small tree or large shrub, it serves as a striking feature in any garden, particularly suited for coastal areas. With a height range from 5 to 10 metres, some specimens can even reach up to 15 metres under optimal conditions.  Although it is slow to flower, the wait is well worth it for the stunning foliage. It is phosphorus sensitive, thus benefiting from a good native fertiliser during feeding time.

Soil: Adaptable to most soil types.
Conditions: Prefers full sun to partial shade. Drought, light frost and coastal tolerant.
Size: Height 8m x width 5m

Banksia marginata, the only banksia occurring naturally in the Canberra region, is a hardy and eye-catching Australian native. Its distinctive foliage is dark green on the upper surface with a silvery underside, creating a striking two-tone effect when stirred by the breeze. From winter through to summer, bright green-yellow banksia flower spikes appear, adding colour and attracting birds and pollinators. Silver Banksia makes a beautiful stand-alone feature in the garden and is well-suited to native landscapes, where its texture, seasonal flowers, and resilience can be fully appreciated.

Soil: Well-drained soils.
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade. Wind, salt, coastal, frost and drought tolerant.
Size: Height 1-12m x width 1-8m

Grevillea Strawberry Smoothie is a small spreading shrub that produces a spectacular mass display of strawberry-coloured flowers from late autumn to early spring. The stunning flowers attract nectar-feeding birds and are excellent for cutting. Strawberry Smoothie is dense in habit and is ideal for rockeries, containers, mass plantings, and native gardens. Prune well after flowering to maintain a compact shape.

Soil: Well-drained soil.
Conditions: Full sun to dappled shade. Drought, light frost and coastal tolerant.
Size: Height 0.60-1m x width 0.60-1m

Grevillea Orange Wow is a striking, compact grevillea that brings vibrant colour and life to the garden. With its cascading habit, lacy yet stiff foliage, and vivid orange toothbrush-shaped flowers, it creates an eye-catching display over a long flowering period. Perfect for feature planting, spilling over retaining walls, or adding texture to mixed native beds, Orange Wow delivers both visual impact and ecological benefits. Light pruning after flowering will help maintain a dense, tidy shape and promote further blooms. Every 3–4 years, a harder prune can rejuvenate the plant and encourage a fresh flush of growth. 

Soil: Prefers free-draining soil, loam, or clay. 
Conditions: Thrives in full sun and part shade. Tolerant of dry periods once established and adaptable to coastal conditions. Needs protection from frost.
Size: Height 1-1.5m x width 1-1.5m 

Low and wide-spreading with maroon-red new leaves and maroon-red winter-spring flowers, Grevillea Amazing Grace brings a touch of native colour to the garden landscape. Leaves are ferny and divided, unlike the parent laurifolia plant, and its new foliage is maroon-bronze in cooler months. Amazing Grace is perfect for erosion control, planting on slopes and banks, ground cover under larger shrubs and trees, and underplanting in native gardens. Feed with a slow-release native fertiliser when buds form - grevilleas can be phosphorus-sensitive so the P ratio of the fertiliser needs to be under 3%.

Soil: Well-drained clay loams or sandy soil with a neutral to acid pH.
Conditions: Prefers a full sun to part shade position. Reasonably drought-hardy and will come through frost once established.
Size: Height 0.3m x width 4m