Natives

Commonly known as the Prickly Rasp Fern, Doodia aspera is a native woodland fern found along the east coast of Australia. Naturally compact, it spreads slowly via underground rhizomes, gradually forming dense clumps over time. One of its standout features is its striking new foliage, which emerges in shades of pink to bright red before maturing to a mid-to-deep green. Although the Prickly Rasp Fern is an evergreen plant, many gardeners prune the old growth away at the end of winter to allow the new growth to show itself off. Just make sure you prune back before the new growth shoots. Prickly Rasp Fern is ideal as a ground cover in shaded garden areas or as an understory plant in woodland gardens.

Soil: Humus-rich, moist soil.
Conditions: Dappled shade to full shade. Drought and coastal tolerant.
Size: Height 35cm x width 60cm

Brachyscome Jumbo Mauve is a hardy, fast-growing Australian native ground cover, celebrated for its larger-than-average, vibrant mauve daisy-like flowers with bright yellow centres. Blooming profusely from spring through autumn, this long-flowering perennial attracts bees and butterflies, making it an excellent addition to wildlife-friendly gardens. The finely divided, soft green foliage forms a dense, spreading carpet, perfect for garden borders, rockeries, hanging baskets, and container planting. It requires minimal maintenance, with occasional trimming after flowering to encourage new blooms and maintain a compact growth habit. With its large, showy flowers and easy-care nature, Jumbo Mauve is a fantastic choice for adding long-lasting colour to Australian gardens.

Soil: Well-drained soil.
Conditions: Full sun to part shade. Tolerant of drought, light frost and coastal conditions
Size: Height 20-30cm x width 50-80cm

Westringia Violet Skies is a delightful evergreen native rosemary with a dense, compact habit that makes it ideal for hedging, screening, borders, or as a low-structure feature plant. A hybrid selection of Westringia Wild River, it features rich green foliage complemented by soft violet flowers that appear intermittently throughout the year, adding gentle colour and attracting pollinators to the garden. Hardy and low-maintenance, Violet Skies performs well in coastal and cottage-style landscapes, where its lush foliage provides a beautiful contrast among other plants.

Soil: Thrives in well-drained soil types.
Conditions: Flourishes in full sun exposure. Frost, drought and coastal tolerant.
Size: Height 1-2m x width 1-2m

Westringia Cadabra is a hardy and attractive native shrub featuring soft grey-green foliage and masses of mauve flowers through spring, with spot-flowering continuing throughout the year. Its naturally dense habit and tidy appearance make it an excellent choice for hedging, screening, topiary or feature planting in garden beds and containers. Reliable and versatile, Cadabra suits both formal and informal landscapes, creating a beautiful low screen while responding exceptionally well to regular pruning. Prune after the main flowering period in late spring to maintain a compact, bushy shape and encourage fresh growth. Feed young plants with a low-phosphorus slow-release native fertiliser during spring to support healthy establishment and ongoing performance.

Soil: Adaptable to most soils provided they are well drained.
Conditions: Prefers a sunny or partly shaded position, and is frost, drought and coastal tolerant.
Size: Height 1.5m x width 1.5m