Climate Zone

Cool Temperate

191 plants

Glossy Abelia · Abelia x grandiflora A tough arching shrub smothered for months in small, lightly fragrant white-to-pink bells set against bronze-tinted glossy foliage, with persistent rosy sepals. A reliable, bee-friendly informal hedge.
Purple-leaf Cootamundra Wattle · Acacia baileyana 'Purpurea' A fast small tree with ferny blue-grey foliage flushed purple on new growth, smothered in fragrant golden ball flowers in late winter. Showy but can self-seed beyond its range.
Bower Wattle · Acacia cognata 'Limelight' · from $18.95 A soft, weeping dwarf wattle with fine cascading lime-green foliage that forms a neat mounding feature. Popular in containers and modern landscapes for its graceful fountain-like form.
Dwarf River Wattle · Acacia cognata A compact, weeping wattle grown for its fountain of fine lime-green foliage rather than its flowers — a soft, mounding feature for pots, borders and low screens.
Feijoa · Acca sellowiana Striking red-and-white edible flowers, then aromatic autumn fruit tasting of pineapple and mint. Tough, salt-tolerant and quick to clip into a productive evergreen hedge.
Freeman Maple · Acer ×freemanii A vigorous hybrid of red and silver maple combining fast growth with an upright symmetrical crown and dependable, long-lasting orange-red autumn colour. A premium street and shade tree.
Japanese Maple · Acer palmatum An elegant, slow-growing deciduous tree with delicate palmate leaves that turn brilliant shades of crimson, orange and gold in autumn. A timeless feature tree for sheltered, dappled positions.
Red Maple · Acer rubrum A fast-growing North American shade tree with a tidy oval canopy that ignites in fiery red and orange autumn tones. Tolerant of damp soils and excellent for streets and parks.
Yarrow · Achillea millefolium Flat-topped flower plates over ferny aromatic foliage, exceptionally tough in poor dry soils and a haven for beneficial insects. Vigorous and spreading, so give it room.
Kiwifruit · Actinidia deliciosa A rampant deciduous vine needing a sturdy structure and, usually, both a male and a female plant to fruit. Rewards the space with heavy crops of fuzzy brown fruit.
Chocolate Vine · Akebia quinata A graceful semi-deciduous twiner with five-fingered leaves and unusual pendant clusters of spicy, chocolate-scented purple-maroon flowers in spring. Vigorous and shade-tolerant, though it can spread.
Leek · Allium ampeloprasum Sweet, mild stems that stand tough through winter and are blanched white by mounding soil around them. Slow but undemanding and beautifully hardy.
Onion · Allium cepa A kitchen staple worth growing for the choice of varieties and the satisfaction of a homegrown harvest. Day-length sensitive, so match the variety to your sowing season.
Ornamental Onion · Allium hybrid Perfect spheres of starry flowers float on tall stems, magnets for bees and superb fresh or dried. The oniony foliage deters browsing animals and dies back as the flowers open.
Garlic · Allium sativum Plant a single clove and harvest a full bulb months later — one of the most satisfying crops to grow. Traditionally planted on the shortest day and pulled on the longest.
Chives · Allium schoenoprasum Grassy, hollow leaves with a mild onion flavour and pretty pink pompom flowers the bees adore. A clumping perennial that's snip-and-come-again all season.
Poppy Anemone · Anemone coronaria Jewel-toned poppy-like flowers with a dark central boss, raised from corms soaked and planted in autumn. Excellent for cutting; all parts are toxic if eaten.
Dill · Anethum graveolens Feathery blue-green foliage and flat heads of yellow flowers — both leaf and seed flavour fish, pickles and potatoes. Best direct-sown, as it dislikes root disturbance.
Snapdragon · Antirrhinum majus Spires of pouched flowers that children love to snap open, a superb cut flower in the cool seasons. Pinch young plants for bushy, well-branched spikes.
Celery · Apium graveolens Crisp, aromatic stems that demand rich soil and constant moisture but reward the effort. A long-season crop best raised in trays and kept thirsty.
French Tarragon · Artemisia dracunculus The true French tarragon — aniseed-scented and essential to béarnaise — rarely sets viable seed, so it's grown from divisions or cuttings. Dies back in winter and reshoots in spring.
Asparagus · Asparagus officinalis A patience-testing perennial — wait two or three years for the first real cut, then enjoy tender spring spears for decades. Plant crowns in a permanent, weed-free bed.
Giant Candles Banksia · Banksia 'Giant Candles' A large vigorous banksia hybrid producing enormous orange-bronze flower spikes up to 40cm long through autumn and winter. A dramatic bird-attracting feature and bold cut flower.
Coast Banksia · Banksia integrifolia · from $5.50 A hardy coastal tree with dark-green leaves silvery beneath and pale-yellow flower spikes through autumn and winter that feed birds. Exceptionally salt- and wind-tolerant for seaside windbreaks.
Old Man Banksia · Banksia serrata A gnarled, characterful small tree with serrated leathery leaves, thick warty bark and large grey-green flower spikes that age to the woody 'big bad banksia men' cones. Tough and long-lived.
Hairpin Banksia · Banksia spinulosa · from $5.50 A reliable evergreen shrub bearing golden-yellow flower spikes with distinctive hooked styles through autumn and winter, providing vital nectar for birds. Tough, frost-hardy and bushfire-adapted.
Dwarf Japanese Barberry · Berberis thunbergii 'Atropurpurea Nana' A compact thorny deciduous shrub with rich burgundy-purple foliage that intensifies to fiery red in autumn. Its dense prickly growth makes a low barrier hedge or colour accent.
Pig Squeak · Bergenia cordifolia Large glossy leathery leaves form a weed-suppressing carpet that flushes burgundy in cold weather. Sprays of pink flowers rise on red stems in late winter.
Beetroot · Beta vulgaris · from $3.50 A cool-season root vegetable yielding sweet, earthy red roots and edible nutritious leaves. Reliable and easy from seed, with each knobbly cluster producing several seedlings.
Silver Birch · Betula pendula A graceful deciduous tree with striking white papery bark, slender weeping branchlets and fluttering leaves that turn soft yellow in autumn. Lovely planted in groves.
Cut-leaf Daisy · Brachyscome multifida · from $4.25 A dainty spreading native daisy carpeted in mauve, purple or white flowers for much of the year above ferny green foliage. Ideal for borders, rockeries, containers and attracting butterflies.
Swede · Brassica napus A hardy winter root with sweet, golden flesh — slower than a turnip but richer and better keeping. Loves cool weather and a long, steady growing season.
Broccoli · Brassica oleracea var. italica · from $3.95 A cool-season brassica producing dense green flower heads followed by tender side shoots after the main head is cut. A rewarding winter crop in fertile, well-limed soil.
Turnip · Brassica rapa Quick, mild roots and tender, edible tops from an easy cool-season crop. Sow direct and pull young for the sweetest, most delicate flavour.
Broad Bean · Vicia faba · from $4.50 A hardy cool-season legume that fixes nitrogen as it grows — sow direct in autumn for a heavy crop of buttery beans through late winter and spring.
Japanese Box · Buxus microphylla var. japonica The classic clipped formal-hedge and topiary plant, with small glossy rounded leaves on dense slow growth. More heat-tolerant than English box and the standard low border edge in Australian gardens.
English Box · Buxus sempervirens The definitive formal hedge and topiary plant — dense, fine-leaved and endlessly clippable. Slow-growing but unmatched for crisp evergreen structure and parterres.
Calendula · Calendula officinalis Edible golden and orange daisies that flower through the cool months and self-seed cheerfully. The petals brighten salads and have a long herbal tradition.
Kings Park Special Bottlebrush · Callistemon 'Kings Park Special' A vigorous large bottlebrush with weeping branches and bold crimson brushes in spring and autumn that are alive with honeyeaters. A reliable screen, windbreak or specimen.
Weeping Bottlebrush · Callistemon viminalis (Sol. ex Gaertn.) G.Don · from $3.95 A fast-growing, tough Australian native with weeping branches and brilliant red bottlebrush flowers — a reliable screening and bird-attracting plant for almost any soil.
China Aster · Callistephus chinensis Showy double daisies in cool jewel tones, long-lasting in the vase and flowering late summer into autumn. Rotate to fresh soil each year to avoid aster wilt.
Camellia · Camellia japonica Glossy evergreen leaves and sumptuous winter blooms make this the classic shade shrub for cool, sheltered, acidic gardens. Slow but long-lived and beautiful in flower.
Sasanqua Camellia · Camellia sasanqua 'Setsugekka' A sun-tolerant autumn-flowering camellia bearing large single white blooms with ruffled, wavy petals and a boss of golden stamens. More open and faster than japonica types, making it a favourite for clipped hedges and espaliers.
Trumpet Vine · Campsis radicans A vigorous, self-clinging deciduous climber bearing bold clusters of orange-red trumpet flowers through summer that draw nectar-feeding birds. Robust and showy, but suckering and best given firm support.
Tall Sedge · Carex appressa A vigorous weeping sedge forming a lush green fountain of fine arching foliage. Thriving in damp and boggy ground, it is a go-to for rain gardens, pond edges and erosion control.
Carrot · Daucus carota · from $3.50 Crisp, sweet homegrown carrots — sow direct into deep, stone-free soil and thin well for straight roots. A near year-round crop in mild climates.
Indian Bean Tree · Catalpa bignonioides A bold shade tree with very large heart-shaped leaves and showy upright panicles of frilled white flowers in summer, followed by long slender bean-like pods. Dramatic and fast-growing.
Forest Pansy Redbud · Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' A small deciduous tree prized for luminous heart-shaped leaves emerging deep burgundy-purple, with rosy-pink pea flowers studding the bare branches in early spring.
Judas Tree · Cercis siliquastrum A hardy small tree that bursts with clusters of magenta-pink pea flowers directly on bare branches and trunk in spring, followed by blue-green heart-shaped leaves. Thrives in dry climates.
Mexican Orange Blossom · Choisya ternata A rounded evergreen with glossy aromatic three-part leaves and clusters of fragrant white star flowers in spring and again in autumn. Aromatic when crushed; a tidy, hardy informal hedge.
Common Everlasting · Chrysocephalum apiculatum A low, silvery-grey spreading daisy carrying clusters of bright golden button flowers through much of the year. Tough, drought-hardy and excellent for pollinators and dry verges.
Large-flowered Clematis · Clematis hybrid Showy deciduous to semi-deciduous garden hybrids prized for their large, flat, saucer-shaped blooms in jewel tones of purple, blue, pink and white. They reward a cool root run with shade and sun on top.
Mountain Clematis · Clematis montana A vigorous deciduous climber that blankets itself in a profusion of dainty four-petalled pink or white flowers, many lightly vanilla-scented, during spring. Excellent for covering fences and arbours quickly.
Tickseed · Coreopsis grandiflora Bright golden daisies in non-stop succession over a long season, thriving on heat and poor soil. Deadhead to keep the cheerful display coming until autumn.
Coriander · Coriandrum sativum · from $3.50 A fast cool-season herb whose pungent leaves and citrus-flavoured seeds are staples of Asian, Mexican and Indian cuisine. Best direct-sown and grown quickly, as it bolts in heat.
Common Correa · Correa reflexa · from $5.50 A versatile small shrub with pendulous red-and-green tubular bells through autumn and winter that supply nectar to honeyeaters when little else flowers. Shade-tolerant and frost-hardy.
Cotoneaster · Cotoneaster glaucophyllus A hardy evergreen with grey-green leaves, sprays of white summer flowers and heavy crops of orange-red autumn berries loved by birds. Tough and drought-proof, but bird-spread seedlings can become weedy.
Dahlia · Dahlia hybrid Tuberous summer stars in an astonishing range of forms and colours, from pompons to dinner-plate blooms. Lift or mulch the tubers in cold districts; deadhead for months of cut flowers.
Winter Daphne · Daphne odora 'Leucanthe' A compact rounded shrub prized for clusters of waxy pink-and-white flowers that pour out an exquisite perfume in the depths of winter. Demands perfect drainage; all parts are highly toxic.
Blue Flax-Lily · Dianella caerulea A clumping strappy native with starry blue flowers followed by glossy violet berries that draw birds. Tough, tidy and at home in mass plantings or pots.
Little Jess Flax Lily · Dianella 'Little Jess' A compact, clumping flax lily with deep green strappy leaves, sprays of blue starry flowers and purple berries. A neat, tough small native for borders, pots and mass planting.
China Pink · Dianthus chinensis Compact bedding pinks with fringed flowers, often bicoloured with a contrasting eye, blooming over a long season. Easy, tidy and reliable for borders, pots and edging.
Cottage Pink · Dianthus plumarius Low cushions of blue-grey foliage topped by clove-scented, fringed flowers in shades of pink and white. A classic cottage edging plant that loves a sunny, gritty bed.
Persimmon · Diospyros kaki Glowing orange fruit that hangs on bare branches like lanterns after the leaves drop in fiery autumn colour. Largely self-fertile and ornamental in every season.
Purple Coneflower · Echinacea purpurea Big daisy flowers with drooping rose-purple petals around a bristly copper cone, a magnet for bees and butterflies. Seed heads feed finches if left standing into winter.
Rocket · Eruca vesicaria Peppery, nutty salad leaves ready to pick in as little as four weeks — among the fastest crops you can grow. Sow little and often, as heat sends it quickly to flower.
Escallonia · Escallonia 'Apple Blossom' A glossy-leaved evergreen covered in dainty pink-and-white apple-blossom flowers through the warmer months. Wind- and salt-tolerant, it makes an excellent flowering coastal hedge.
Yellow Gum · Eucalyptus leucoxylon 'Rosea' A hardy small to medium gum with smooth cream bark and showy pink to red flowers through the cooler months that draw flocks of honeyeaters. A reliable street and shade tree.
Red Ironbark · Eucalyptus sideroxylon 'Rosea' A handsome upright tree with deeply furrowed near-black ironbark and blue-grey foliage, carrying pink to red winter flowers rich in nectar. Tough, drought-hardy and excellent for birds.
Knobby Club-rush · Ficinia nodosa A tough, tufting coastal sedge with wiry dark green stems tipped by little knobby seed heads. Salt-, wind- and waterlogging-tolerant, it excels in coastal and rain-garden plantings.
Strawberry · Fragaria × ananassa Sweet homegrown berries from a low, spreading plant that's as happy trailing from a hanging basket as carpeting a bed. Runners give you free new plants each year.
Strawberry · Fragaria x ananassa Sweet homegrown berries from a low, spreading plant as happy trailing from a hanging basket as carpeting a bed. Free runners give you new plants each year.
Claret Ash · Fraxinus angustifolia 'Raywood' A handsome shade tree with fine dark-green foliage that turns a deep wine-claret purple in autumn. Fast and adaptable, it is one of the most popular deciduous avenue trees.
Fuchsia · Fuchsia 'Swingtime' A shade-loving shrub dripping with pendulous red-and-white double flowers like tiny ballerinas through the warmer months. Perfect for hanging baskets and shady patios; nectar draws birds.
Garden Pea · Pisum sativum · from $3.95 Sweet, crunchy peas straight from the pod — a cool-season climber that's one of the easiest and most rewarding crops to grow from seed.
Bloody Cranesbill · Geranium sanguineum A tough true geranium forming spreading mounds of finely cut leaves smothered in magenta flowers. Foliage flushes red in autumn and the plant copes admirably with dry shade.
Ginkgo · Ginkgo biloba An ancient, virtually pest-free deciduous conifer relative with distinctive fan-shaped leaves that turn pure butter-yellow in autumn. Long-lived, tough and pollution-tolerant.
Golden Honey Locust · Gleditsia triacanthos 'Sunburst' A thornless, podless cultivar with airy ferny foliage that emerges bright gold, matures to lime-green and returns to yellow in autumn, casting light dappled shade. A graceful lawn tree.
Woolly Grevillea · Grevillea lanigera A prostrate, spreading grevillea that carpets the ground in soft grey foliage and pink-and-cream spider flowers through the cooler months, feeding honeyeaters when little else is out.
Rosemary Grevillea · Grevillea rosmarinifolia A hardy prickly-foliaged shrub resembling rosemary, flushing red-and-cream spider flowers through autumn, winter and spring. Excellent dense habitat and screening for small birds.
Native Sarsaparilla · Hardenbergia violacea A vigorous evergreen climber that smothers fences and trellises in cascades of purple pea flowers through late winter — one of the first natives to announce spring.
English Ivy · Hedera helix A tough, self-clinging evergreen climber and groundcover with classic lobed dark-green leaves that thrives in deep shade. Useful but invasive, it can damage masonry and is toxic if eaten.
Lenten Rose · Helleborus orientalis Nodding, long-lasting blooms in winter and early spring brighten the shadiest corners under deciduous trees. All parts are toxic if eaten, so site away from grazing pets.
Daylily · Hemerocallis hybrid Each trumpet lasts a single day but the clumps churn out wave after wave through the warm months. Adaptable and tough; note that daylilies are toxic to cats.
Coral Bells · Heuchera hybrid Grown for mounds of ruffled foliage in caramel, burgundy, lime and silver that hold colour all year. Slender wands of tiny bell flowers rise above in spring.
Plantain Lily · Hosta hybrid The premier foliage plant for shade, forming bold clumps of ribbed leaves in blue, gold, green and variegated forms. Lily-like flowers appear in summer; protect new shoots from snails.
Hyacinth · Hyacinthus orientalis Dense waxy spikes pack an extraordinary fragrance into a compact bulb, superb in pots indoors or out. Needs winter chill to flower well; the bulbs can irritate skin and are toxic if eaten.
Hydrangea · Hydrangea macrophylla The beloved cottage-garden hydrangea with huge rounded flower heads whose colour shifts blue in acid soil and pink in alkaline. A shade-loving deciduous shrub spectacular through summer.
Limelight Hydrangea · Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' A sun-hardy panicle hydrangea with large conical flower heads opening lime-green, ageing to creamy white then rosy pink. More cold- and sun-tolerant than mopheads and excellent for cutting.
Oakleaf Hydrangea · Hydrangea quercifolia A handsome deciduous hydrangea with bold oak-shaped leaves that flame burgundy in autumn and conical white flower panicles ageing to pink. Offers multi-season interest in light shade.
Autumn Joy Sedum · Hylotelephium spectabile Fleshy grey-green clumps build all summer to flat heads of dusky pink that deepen to rust in autumn, swarming with butterflies. The seed heads stand handsomely through winter.
Bearded Iris · Iris germanica Ruffled, often fragrant flowers in a rainbow of colours rise above fans of grey-green foliage from sun-baked rhizomes. Plant rhizomes shallow with their backs exposed for best flowering.
Golden Rain Tree · Koelreuteria paniculata A tough, rounded shade tree carrying large airy sprays of yellow summer flowers followed by ornamental papery lantern-like seed capsules, with bright yellow autumn foliage.
Tick Bush · Kunzea ambigua A soft, arching shrub with fine aromatic foliage smothered in fluffy honey-scented white flowers in late spring that hum with bees and insects. A fast, hardy screen for coastal sites.
Lettuce · Lactuca sativa · from $3.50 A fast, easy cool-season leafy vegetable in crisp, cos and loose-leaf forms for year-round salads. Quick from seed and ideal for cut-and-come-again harvesting in beds or containers.
Sweet Pea · Lathyrus odoratus Climbing tendrils carry waves of intensely fragrant butterfly flowers in spring, unbeatable for picking. Traditionally sown around St Patrick's Day; the seeds and pods are toxic if eaten.
English Lavender · Lavandula angustifolia Silvery, fragrant and alive with bees all summer — the classic low hedge for a sunny, free-draining spot. Cut the flowers for drying or the kitchen.
Pink Cascade Tea Tree · Leptospermum 'Pink Cascade' A graceful weeping tea tree with fine arching foliage smothered in dainty pink blossom in spring. A soft cascading feature beautiful spilling over walls and banks.
Weeping Tea Tree · Leptospermum 'Cardwell' · from $16.95 A graceful weeping tea tree smothered in masses of small white flowers in late winter and spring above fine arching foliage. A reliable, hardy feature and informal screen for native gardens.
Lily · Lilium hybrid Stately stems crowned with large, often heavily perfumed trumpet flowers, prized for cutting. Note that lilies are highly toxic to cats, causing kidney failure even in tiny amounts.
Lilly Pilly · Syzygium australe · from $3.95 Australia's favourite native screen — glossy evergreen leaves flushed coppery-red when new, clipping into dense hedges and topiary, followed by edible magenta berries the birds love.
Liquidambar · Liquidambar styraciflua A tall, conical shade tree with star-shaped maple-like leaves that colour spectacularly in shades of crimson, purple and gold through autumn. A classic avenue and parkland tree.
Tulip Tree · Liriodendron tulipifera A stately fast-growing tree with uniquely shaped saddle-cut leaves that turn clear gold in autumn and curious greenish-orange tulip-like flowers in early summer. Needs room to spread.
Lime Tuff Mat-rush · Lomandra 'Lime Tuff' A compact, dense lomandra with fine lime-green foliage forming a tidy rounded tussock. Tough and low-care, it suits formal borders, mass plantings and containers.
Spiny-head Mat-rush · Lomandra longifolia An indestructible strappy-leaved native that thrives in sun or shade, wet or dry, coast or inland. The workhorse of low-maintenance landscaping and erosion control.
Gold Flame Honeysuckle · Lonicera x heckrottii A well-behaved deciduous honeysuckle hybrid producing showy whorls of pink-and-yellow tubular flowers that attract nectar-feeding birds over a long season. Less invasive than its Japanese relative.
Japanese Honeysuckle · Lonicera japonica A vigorous twining climber valued for its intensely sweet-scented white flowers that age to yellow through summer. Beautiful and nectar-rich, but a declared environmental weed that smothers native vegetation.
Chinese Fringe Flower · Loropetalum chinense 'China Pink' A burgundy-leaved shrub draped in spidery, fringed hot-pink flowers, repeating through the year against rich purple foliage. A striking colour-contrast feature, hedge or container plant.
Little Gem Magnolia · Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem' A compact, narrow magnolia with glossy dark leaves backed in rich rust felt and large, lemon-scented creamy-white flowers borne over a long season. A versatile screening and feature shrub-tree.
Saucer Magnolia · Magnolia ×soulangeana A deciduous magnolia smothered in large, goblet-shaped pink-and-white blooms on bare branches in early spring before the foliage appears. A breathtaking cool-climate feature tree.
Star Magnolia · Magnolia stellata A dainty deciduous magnolia that opens masses of fragrant, star-shaped white flowers on bare twigs in late winter and early spring. Perfect for smaller gardens and courtyards.
Mahonia · Mahonia x media 'Charity' An architectural evergreen with bold ruffs of spiny holly-like leaflets and upright sprays of fragrant yellow flowers in winter, followed by blue berries. Superb for shady feature planting.
Apple · Malus domestica The orchard staple — clouds of pink-white spring blossom give way to crisp autumn fruit. Most varieties need a compatible partner nearby for good cross-pollination.
Crabapple 'Gorgeous' · Malus 'Gorgeous' A small ornamental tree wreathed in white-and-pink spring blossom followed by glossy long-lasting red crabapples that attract birds and make excellent jelly. Perfect for compact gardens.
German Chamomile · Matricaria chamomilla Dainty white daisies with apple-scented foliage, dried for the classic calming tea. An easy self-seeding annual that draws in beneficial insects.
Stock · Matthiola incana Densely packed spikes of clove-scented flowers fill the cool-season garden and vase with perfume. Best sown in autumn for a long, fragrant late-winter display.
Snow in Summer · Melaleuca linariifolia 'Claret Tops' · from $17.95 A compact form of the popular paperbark with striking burgundy new growth maturing to green, and fluffy white summer flowers. Hardy and adaptable for hedges, screens and feature planting.
Thyme Honey-myrtle · Melaleuca thymifolia A small, dainty paperbark with fine blue-green leaves and curious fringed mauve-purple claw flowers through the warmer months. Tolerates wet feet and suits damp or boggy spots.
Lemon Balm · Melissa officinalis Crushed leaves give off a bright lemon-mint scent the bees flock to — soothing in teas and good in summer drinks. Vigorous and self-seeding, so trim before it sets seed.
Peppermint · Mentha x piperita A cool, menthol-rich sterile hybrid of spearmint and watermint — vigorous and best confined to a pot so its runners don't take over. Grown from cuttings rather than seed.
Spearmint · Mentha spicata Vigorous, fragrant and almost impossible to kill — best grown in a pot to keep its running roots in check. A few leaves transform drinks, salads and lamb.
Black Mulberry · Morus nigra Sweet, deep-purple berries that stain everything they touch — a self-fertile, long-lived shade tree the whole street's birds will find. Quick-growing and tough.
Grape Hyacinth · Muscari armeniacum Tight little spikes of grape-like blue beads carpet the ground in early spring and naturalise readily. Tough, cheap and perfect for edging, pots and underplanting.
Dwarf Sacred Bamboo · Nandina domestica 'Nana' A compact mounding shrub grown for fine ferny foliage that turns brilliant red and burgundy in cold weather. Tough and low, it makes a colourful mass planting or low border. Berries are toxic to pets.
Daffodil · Narcissus hybrid Cheerful trumpets that herald the end of winter and naturalise into drifts in cooler gardens. Every part contains toxic alkaloids, which also makes the bulbs rodent and deer proof.
Catmint · Nepeta faassenii Soft grey-green mounds froth with lavender-blue flowers loved by bees, releasing a minty scent when brushed. Shear after the first flush and it rebounds for a second show.
Love-in-a-mist · Nigella damascena Sky-blue flowers nestled in a ruff of feathery foliage, followed by inflated horned seed pods loved by flower arrangers. Sow direct where it is to grow; it resents transplanting and self-seeds.
Oregano · Origanum vulgare The pizza-and-pasta herb — spicy, peppery and at its most pungent when grown hard in full sun. A spreading perennial that's drought-tough once established.
Wonga Wonga Vine · Pandorea pandorana A hardy, fast Australian native climber bearing dense clusters of small creamy bell flowers often marked with maroon or brown throats in spring. Tough and adaptable, it screens quickly and shrugs off dry spells.
Iceland Poppy · Papaver nudicaule Crinkled, tissue-paper flowers in glowing sherbet shades nod on slender hairy stems through the cool months. Sow direct in autumn; the fine seed needs light to germinate.
Virginia Creeper · Parthenocissus quinquefolia A vigorous self-clinging deciduous vine with handsome five-fingered leaves that ignite into fiery red and burgundy tones in autumn. Excellent for quickly covering large walls, fences and pergolas.
Boston Ivy · Parthenocissus tricuspidata A self-clinging deciduous climber whose three-lobed green leaves turn brilliant crimson and scarlet in autumn before falling. The classic clothing for brick walls, it attaches by adhesive tendril pads.
Blue Passionflower · Passiflora caerulea An ornamental evergreen to semi-deciduous climber bearing intricate blue-and-white flowers with a striking filament crown, followed by ornamental orange fruit. Hardier than the edible passionfruit but prone to suckering.
Parsnip · Pastinaca sativa Long, sweet, nutty roots that turn even sweeter after a frost. Slow to germinate and needs fresh seed, but worth the wait for winter roasts.
Penstemon · Penstemon hybrid Spires of tubular bells in jewel tones rise above clumps through the warmer months, beloved by bees and birds. Quick to flower and easy in any sunny, well-drained spot.
Curled Parsley · Petroselinum crispum Tightly ruffled, deep-green leaves on a tidy biennial that crops for the best part of a year. Slow to germinate but worth the wait for a constant kitchen supply.
Mock Orange · Philadelphus 'Virginal' An upright deciduous shrub that erupts in early summer with double pure-white flowers carrying an intense orange-blossom perfume. A classic fragrant cottage-garden shrub.
Long-leaf Wax Flower · Philotheca myoporoides A neat shrub with aromatic foliage and pink buds opening to masses of starry white waxy flowers in winter and spring. A fine cut flower and a fragrant, hardy garden filler.
Turkish Sage · Phlomis russeliana Tiered whorls of soft-yellow hooded flowers stack up sturdy stems above big felted leaves. The architectural dried seed heads earn their keep right through winter.
Photinia Robusta · Photinia x fraseri 'Robusta' A vigorous evergreen hedging shrub famous for its brilliant coppery-red new growth that flushes after each trim. Tougher and more upright than 'Red Robin', it makes a fast, dense screen.
Photinia 'Red Robin' · Photinia × fraseri 'Red Robin' · from $3.50 A fast, frost-hardy evergreen screen famous for its brilliant red new growth each spring. The exotic workhorse hedge for cool-climate gardens.
Pittosporum 'Silver Sheen' · Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Silver Sheen' · from $3.95 Shimmering small silvery leaves on near-black stems — a fast, narrow, frost-hardy screen that filters wind and doubles as elegant cut foliage.
Golf Ball Pittosporum · Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Golf Ball' A dense, naturally ball-shaped pittosporum with tiny wavy bright-green leaves needing little pruning to stay rounded. A tidy low hedge and topiary plant tolerant of wind and coastal sites.
London Plane · Platanus ×acerifolia A large, robust shade tree with broad maple-like leaves and striking flaking cream-and-grey camouflage bark. Famously tolerant of pollution, pruning and tough urban conditions.
Common Tussock Grass · Poa labillardierei A handsome large tussock grass with fine blue-green foliage forming soft fountain-like clumps topped by airy summer seed heads. A movement-rich native for mass planting and erosion control.
Oval-leaf Mint Bush · Prostanthera ovalifolia A soft, fast-growing shrub with aromatic foliage that erupts in a haze of purple bell flowers in spring. Brush the leaves for their minty scent; a lovely short-lived feature.
Apricot · Prunus armeniaca Early white-pink blossom and golden, honey-sweet midsummer fruit on a mostly self-fertile tree. Flowers early, so a sheltered spot guards the crop against late frosts.
Sweet Cherry · Prunus avium Lavish white spring blossom and glossy summer fruit on a tall, handsome tree. Needs real winter chill and, for many varieties, a compatible pollinating partner.
Flowering Plum · Prunus ×blireana A small deciduous tree carrying double rose-pink blossoms in early spring followed by coppery-purple foliage that holds its colour through the warmer months. A popular suburban feature.
Peach · Prunus persica Showy pink spring blossom ahead of juicy summer fruit on a fast-growing, self-fertile tree. Prune yearly for shape and to keep the fruiting wood young and productive.
Japanese Plum · Prunus salicina Juicy, richly coloured fruit on a vigorous tree carrying a froth of early white blossom. Most Japanese plums need a partner variety nearby to set a good crop.
Flowering Cherry 'Mt Fuji' · Prunus serrulata 'Mt Fuji' A spreading ornamental cherry with horizontal tiers of branches draped in large, semi-double, fragrant snow-white blossom in spring. A spectacular cool-climate feature tree.
Ornamental Pear 'Capital' · Pyrus calleryana 'Capital' A narrow, columnar ornamental pear bearing white spring blossom and glossy leaves that turn coppery-purple and red in autumn. Ideal for tight spaces, driveways and formal avenues.
Pear · Pyrus communis A long-lived, upright tree carrying white spring blossom and sweet, melting autumn fruit. Plant a second variety for cross-pollination and reliable cropping.
Manchurian Pear · Pyrus ussuriensis A tough, rounded ornamental pear smothered in white spring blossom and noted for vivid burgundy and orange autumn colour. A widely planted, adaptable street and shade tree.
Pin Oak · Quercus palustris A fast-growing oak with a distinctive pyramidal crown and deeply lobed glossy leaves that turn rich russet-red in autumn and often persist into winter. A superb large avenue tree.
Persian Buttercup · Ranunculus asiaticus Tightly ruffled, rose-like flowers in brilliant colours, grown from claw-shaped tubers planted in autumn. A florist favourite; the sap can irritate skin and is toxic if eaten.
Radish · Raphanus sativus The fastest crop in the patch — peppery roots ready to pull just weeks after sowing. Perfect for impatient gardeners and for filling gaps between slower vegetables.
Rhubarb · Rheum rhabarbarum A handsome, long-lived perennial grown for its tart crimson stalks — but never the leaves, which are toxic. Plant once and harvest each spring for years to come.
Rhododendron Cynthia · Rhododendron 'Cynthia' A vigorous old hardy-hybrid rhododendron carrying domed trusses of rosy-crimson flowers in spring above bold leathery leaves. Needs cool moist acid soil and dappled shade to thrive.
Indica Azalea · Rhododendron indica 'Alba Magna' A large evergreen Indica azalea that blankets itself in big single white trumpet flowers in spring. Loves dappled shade and acid soil; all parts are toxic if eaten.
Golden Robinia · Robinia pseudoacacia 'Frisia' A fast-growing tree whose pinnate foliage glows golden-yellow from spring through summer before turning amber in autumn, lighting up the garden. Tough and tolerant of poor soils.
Hybrid Tea Rose 'Mister Lincoln' · Rosa 'Mister Lincoln' The classic long-stemmed florist's rose — one large, high-centred, velvety-red bloom per stem with a powerful old-rose perfume. Upright and made for cutting.
Thornless Blackberry · Rubus fruticosus A well-behaved, thornless garden blackberry — large, glossy fruit on vigorous canes without the prickles or the weediness of its wild cousin. Train along wires for easy picking.
Raspberry · Rubus idaeus Sweet summer berries on upright, prickly canes that crop best with support and yearly pruning. Spreads by suckers, so it rewards a contained, sunny bed.
Black-eyed Susan · Rudbeckia fulgida Golden-yellow daisies with a near-black central cone blaze through late summer and autumn on sturdy stems. Reliable, long-flowering and superb in massed plantings.
Sorrel · Rumex acetosa Tangy, lemon-sharp leaves that wake up salads, soups and sauces — pick them young and tender. A hardy perennial that's among the first greens up in spring.
Woodland Sage · Salvia nemorosa Dense spikes of violet-blue flowers held over neat clumps of aromatic foliage, alive with bees from late spring. Cutting back spent spikes triggers repeat flushes through summer.
Common Sage · Salvia officinalis Soft, grey-green velvety leaves on a hardy Mediterranean sub-shrub — the classic partner for pork, stuffing and butter sauces. Drought-tolerant and quietly handsome.
Rosemary · Salvia rosmarinus A culinary herb that doubles as a tough, drought-proof, clip-able hedge. Aromatic, bee-friendly and evergreen — earns its place in the kitchen garden and the border alike.
Potato · Solanum tuberosum Plant certified seed potatoes and hill them up as they grow for a rewarding underground harvest. Easy in beds, bags or pots — and homegrown new potatoes are a revelation.
Spinach · Spinacia oleracea · from $3.50 A fast cool-season leafy green with tender, nutritious dark leaves for salads and cooking. Best sown in autumn and winter, as it bolts to seed quickly in warm weather.
May Bush · Spiraea cantoniensis An arching deciduous shrub whose bare-then-leafy stems become wands of pure white pompom flower clusters in spring. A nostalgic cottage 'May bush' and lovely cut flower.
Shady Lady Waratah · Telopea 'Shady Lady Red' A robust, free-flowering waratah hybrid bearing large crimson flower heads in spring above leathery green foliage. More vigorous and adaptable than the wild species, and a stunning cut flower.
Waratah · Telopea speciosissima (Sm.) R.Br. · from $4.95 The floral emblem of New South Wales — a striking evergreen shrub crowned in spring by vivid red flowerheads, prized as a feature plant and cut flower.
Kangaroo Grass · Themeda triandra An iconic native grassland species with blue-green tufts that turn russet-bronze in summer and nodding rusty seed heads. Drought-hardy, it suits meadows and low-water plantings.
Common Thyme · Thymus vulgaris A tough, woody little Mediterranean sub-shrub that thrives on neglect in hot, dry, free-draining spots. Tiny aromatic leaves and a haze of bee-loved summer flowers.
Small-leaved Lime · Tilia cordata A neat, pyramidal shade tree with heart-shaped leaves and clusters of intensely fragrant cream flowers in summer that are loved by bees. A classic European avenue and parkland tree.
Star Jasmine · Trachelospermum jasminoides A reliable evergreen twining climber smothered in masses of intensely fragrant, white pinwheel flowers through late spring and summer. The dense glossy foliage makes it a favourite for screening fences, pergolas and walls.
Tulip · Tulipa gesneriana The quintessential spring bulb, opening to chalices of every colour after a cold winter chill. In warm Australian climates bulbs need pre-chilling and are best treated as annuals; toxic if eaten.
Chinese Elm · Ulmus parvifolia A graceful, spreading shade tree with small glossy leaves and beautiful mottled, flaking bark in tones of grey, orange and cream. Tough, disease-resistant and a popular bonsai subject.
Blueberry · Vaccinium corymbosum A productive berry bush that also earns its keep ornamentally with white spring bells and fiery autumn foliage. Needs acidic soil — ideal for a dedicated pot of ericaceous mix.
Laurustinus · Viburnum tinus 'Lucidum' · from $17.95 A dense, hardy evergreen valued for clusters of pink buds opening to white flowers in winter and spring, followed by blue-black berries. A dependable frost-tolerant hedge or screen.
Native Violet · Viola hederacea A dainty spreading groundcover with kidney-shaped leaves and white-and-purple flowers held on slender stems almost year-round. Loves cool, moist shade where it forms a lush living carpet.
Pansy · Viola wittrockiana The cheerful face of the cool-season garden, flowering through autumn, winter and spring in every colour. The edible flowers are lovely scattered over salads and cakes.
Ornamental Grape · Vitis vinifera 'Purpurea' A deciduous tendril climber grown for its dramatic foliage, opening grey-pink and deepening to wine-purple before turning rich crimson in autumn. A handsome, shade-giving cover for pergolas.
Weigela · Weigela florida 'Wine and Roses' A deciduous shrub combining deep wine-purple foliage with masses of rosy-pink trumpet flowers that attract birds. The dark leaves give strong contrast all season in a mixed border.
Japanese Wisteria · Wisteria floribunda A graceful deciduous climber renowned for its exceptionally long, fragrant violet-blue flower racemes that open progressively from the base in spring as the fresh foliage unfurls. A breathtaking pergola plant.
Chinese Wisteria · Wisteria sinensis A spectacular deciduous twining vine that drips with long, fragrant pendulous racemes of mauve-blue pea flowers before the leaves emerge in spring. Vigorous and long-lived, it demands a sturdy support.
Strawflower · Xerochrysum bracteatum · from $3.95 A cheerful Australian daisy with crisp papery petals in gold, orange, pink and white that hold their colour when dried. A favourite for cottage borders, containers and cut or everlasting flowers.
Japanese Zelkova · Zelkova serrata An elegant vase-shaped shade tree related to elms, with serrated leaves turning shades of yellow, orange and bronze-red in autumn and attractive flaking grey bark. Tough and elm-disease resistant.