Shrubs

Westringia Aussie Box is a compact, hardy native shrub that offers an excellent alternative to traditional exotic box hedging. Ideal for hedges, borders, mass plantings and containers, it also performs exceptionally well in coastal gardens thanks to its strong tolerance to salt-laden winds, drought and frost. During spring and summer, masses of soft mauve flowers appear amongst the dense grey-green foliage, adding seasonal colour while attracting pollinators to the garden. Naturally forming a neat rounded shape, Aussie Box can be left unpruned for a softer look or clipped into a formal hedge or topiary shape. Although it benefits from slightly more regular pruning than traditional box hedges, it establishes quickly and is far tougher in Australian conditions, making it a practical and attractive low-maintenance option for modern landscapes.

Soil: Well-drained soil.
Conditions: Full sun to part shade. Frost, drought and coastal tolerant.
Size: Height 0.40m x width 0.60m

Far less well known than Strelitzia reginae (regular orange) or Strelitzia nicolai (giant white), Strelitzia parvifolia juncea bears the characteristic orange or yellow bird of paradise flowers amid a profusion of reed-like leaves. It is only as the plant gets older that the characteristic broad leaf tops become smaller and then often only at about 3 or 4 years old do they lose their paddle shape and become spear-shaped. However, their appeal lies in how architecturally striking each plant is and their amazingly beautiful, prolific flowers. Unlike nicolai, they form a very tight clump and are unlikely to get too big or untidy to manage. It is an eye-catching feature plant for dry, difficult areas.

Soil: Any soil type so long as it is well drained.
Conditions: Prefers a sunny position. It is relatively low maintenance, hardy, and drought tolerant. Withstands salty coastal winds. Frost tender.
Size: Height 1.5m x width 1.5m

The Tree Bird of Paradise is a large, lush evergreen with long broad leaves, resembling palm fronds or banana leaves. It has striking white, purple, and blue flowers that appear during spring, summer, and autumn, providing stunning contrast against the bluish-green foliage. This species adds a definite tropical feel to any landscape. It is an ideal feature plant in a garden bed or large containers and an amazing indoor plant. As an indoor plant, this species is one of the best. Its leaves are tough and durable, coping well with heating, air-conditioning, and being brushed past all the time. They can also handle going a long time between waterings. Like most indoor plants, Giant Bird of Paradise does best when in a bright spot inside the house. Feed with a slow-release fertiliser, and give regular foliar feeds to encourage new leaf growth.

Soil: Any soil type so long as it is well drained.
Conditions: Prefers full sun or part shade. It is relatively low maintenance, hardy and drought tolerant. Withstands salty coastal winds. Frost tender.
Size: Height 6m x width 3m

Lomandra confertifolia Ocean™ is an upright native grass renowned for its resilience and beauty in seaside environments. With its blue-green foliage and compact growth habit, Lomandra Ocean retains its blue hue all through the year. In spring, the clumping, grass-like perennial holds the small blue flowers within the foliage - keeping a neat appearance. Ocean is perfect as a border plant, erosion control on banks or in containers. Prune after flowering to promote dense growth habit

Soil: Suited for sandy soils.
Conditions: Thrives in both full sun and partial shade. Light frost, drought, wind and coastal tolerant.
Size: Height 1m x width 1m

Katherine Havemeyer lilac is a gorgeous upright deciduous shrub. This species flowers in late spring with clusters of beautiful purple-white flowers, their sweet fragrance attracting the butterflies and bees to the garden. With such lovely light green leaves, both the foliage and flowers have great vase life. Katherine Havemeyer lilac is ideal for use in borders, mass planting or as a specimen plant in any garden.

Soil: Well-drained soil.
Conditions: Full sun. Frost tolerant.
Size: Height 4m x width 3m

Grevillea Sylvia is a striking, long-flowering native shrub prized for its elegant foliage and vibrant blooms. It features finely divided, feathery grey-green leaves that create a soft, textured backdrop to its standout flowers. The large, spider-like blooms appear in rich rosy pink tones for most of the year, bringing long-lasting colour and interest to the garden. The unusual flowers are highly attractive to nectar-feeding birds, bees, and other pollinators, making this plant an excellent choice for supporting local wildlife.  With its naturally dense growth habit, Sylvia works beautifully as a feature plant or as part of a screening or informal hedge.  Regular light pruning from an early age will help maintain a compact, bushy shape and prevent the plant from becoming leggy. 

Soil: Well-drained soils
Conditions: Full sun. Drought, light frost and coastal tolerant
Size: Height 3-5m x width 3-5m

Grevillea Majestic is an exceptional native evergreen - very bushy and compact with deeply divided dark green foliage. Majestic produces masses of magnificently large, carmine-rose flowers with white-cream stamens in autumn, winter and spring. The grevillea is perfect for a specimen plant, mass planting, hedges and screening. Cut flowers and foliage are radiant and last well for floral arrangements.

Soil: Tolerates loam, clay and sand as long as it is well-drained.
Conditions: Full or partial sun. Drought, light frost, coastal tolerant.
Size: Height 3m x width 1.5m

Phlebodium aureum Blue Star Fern is gaining popularity for its bold, blue-green foliage, and because it’s easier to keep than many of its fussy cousins! It is a large growing fern with upright wiggly blue-green fronds which develop more lobes as the plant matures. Plant in a shady rock garden outdoors or indoors in pots; or try planting it in the fork of an old tree, like a staghorn. Besides making a striking contrast with other houseplants, it’s a promising choice for anyone who hasn’t had luck with ferns and wants to try again.

Soil: Plant in free-draining soil in a shaded location, indoor plants should be rotated for optimum health.
Conditions: Shade-loving fern. Protect from frost
Size: Height 0.60m x width 0.40m