Climate Zone

Mediterranean

159 plants

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.
Queensland Silver Wattle · Acacia podalyriifolia A striking large shrub clothed in rounded silvery-blue phyllodes and bright golden winter blossom. One of the most ornamental wattles, valued for foliage as much as flower.
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.
Tree Aeonium · Aeonium arboreum A branching shrubby succulent carrying glossy green rosettes atop bare woody stems, producing large conical heads of yellow star flowers in late winter to spring. A striking architectural feature.
Black Rose Aeonium · Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop' A standout cultivar with large rosettes of glossy near-black burgundy leaves on branching stems, the colour deepening in full sun before yellow flower cones appear. A dramatic dark feature plant.
Agapanthus · Agapanthus praecox Spheres of blue or white flowers on tall stems above strappy clumps — a tough, drought-proof mass-planting staple. Choose sterile forms, as the species can self-seed into bushland.
Century Plant · Agave americana A massive architectural rosette of thick blue-grey leaves armed with sharp spines and a vicious terminal spike, crowned after decades by a towering branched flower stalk. A bold drought-proof sculptural plant.
Foxtail Agave · Agave attenuata A spineless soft-leaved agave forming large pale grey-green rosettes, eventually producing a dramatic arching flower spike like a foxtail. A widely planted soft-textured feature, safe and easy.
Silk Tree · Albizia julibrissin A spreading umbrella-shaped tree with feathery ferny foliage and fluffy pink powderpuff flowers through summer that draw butterflies and bees. Gives light, elegant dappled shade.
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.
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.
Krantz Aloe · Aloe arborescens A large branching shrub aloe with sprawling rosettes of toothed grey-green leaves, producing brilliant orange-red torch-like flower spikes through winter that draw nectar-feeding birds. A bold coastal feature.
Christmas Carol Aloe · Aloe 'Christmas Carol' A compact hybrid aloe with deep green rosettes marked by raised red bumps and toothed red margins that intensify in sun, sending up coral-red flowers. A festive small collector's pot plant.
Aloe Vera · Aloe vera A clumping rosette of thick fleshy grey-green leaves with toothed margins, filled with the soothing gel long used on burns, and sending up tall spikes of tubular yellow flowers. A practical pot staple.
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.
Tall Kangaroo Paw · Anigozanthos flavidus The hardiest and most adaptable kangaroo paw — tall fans of strappy leaves topped by furry, nectar-rich flowers that birds adore. Tougher and longer-lived than the smaller hybrids.
Bush Pearl Kangaroo Paw · Anigozanthos 'Bush Pearl' A compact, disease-resistant kangaroo paw bearing deep pink furry flowers over a very long season above evergreen fans. Bred for pots and small gardens, it is a magnet for honeyeaters.
Red and Green Kangaroo Paw · Anigozanthos manglesii The floral emblem of Western Australia, with vivid green flowers rising from a woolly red stem in spring. A spectacular but short-lived paw best in sharply drained, sunny sites.
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.
Heartleaf Iceplant · Aptenia cordifolia A fast spreading trailing succulent with heart-shaped glistening green leaves and bright magenta daisy-like flowers through the warm months. A vigorous water-wise groundcover and basket plant.
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.
Bluebell Creeper · Billardiera heterophylla A dainty Western Australian native twiner hung with nodding clusters of bright blue bell flowers through the warmer months, followed by blue berries. Pretty and hardy, but a weed risk outside its native range.
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.
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.
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.
Pigface · Carpobrotus glaucescens A hardy coastal succulent forming a fleshy mat that sprawls over dunes and rocks, bright with magenta-pink flowers and edible salty-sweet fruit. Superb for sandy, salt-blasted sites.
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.
Grapefruit · Citrus x paradisi A large, vigorous citrus carrying big crops of tangy-sweet fruit that hang well on the tree. Needs warmth and a long season to develop its full flavour and sweetness.
Cumquat · Citrus japonica A neat, ornamental citrus smothered in small oval fruit eaten whole, sweet rind and all — superb for marmalade and candying. Tough, cold-hardy and made for a decorative pot.
Lemon · Citrus × limon The most useful tree in the backyard — fragrant blossom, glossy evergreen leaves and a heavy crop of fruit. Happy in the ground or a large pot on a sunny patio.
Mandarin · Citrus reticulata Easy-peel, sweet and almost seedless — the kids' favourite citrus on a compact, container-friendly tree. Generous winter crops follow a flush of fragrant spring flowers.
Orange · Citrus sinensis The backyard classic — heavily scented blossom in spring and sweet, juicy fruit through winter. A handsome evergreen that's just as happy as a large feature in a pot.
Silver Torch Cactus · Cleistocactus strausii A slender columnar cactus densely clothed in fine white spines giving a silvery silken sheen, sending out horizontal deep-red tubular flowers from mature stems. A graceful upright accent for hot dry spots.
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.
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.
Red Flowering Gum · Corymbia ficifolia One of the most spectacular flowering trees in the world, smothered in summer with huge corymbs of scarlet, orange or pink blossom alive with birds and bees. A rounded shade tree for warm gardens.
Cosmos · Cosmos bipinnatus Airy ferny plants topped by simple daisies that wave on tall stems and adore poor, dry soil. One of the easiest cut flowers from seed, loved by bees and butterflies.
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.
Pig's Ear · Cotyledon orbiculata A robust shrubby succulent with broad rounded grey-white leaves rimmed in red, bearing tall stems of nodding orange bell flowers loved by sunbirds. A tough, sculptural water-wise feature.
Buddha's Temple · Crassula 'Buddha's Temple' A curious hybrid forming tight stacked columns of grey-green folded leaves resembling a tiered pagoda, topped with dense heads of tiny white to pink flowers. A prized collector's oddity.
Jade Plant · Crassula ovata A robust shrubby succulent with thick woody stems and glossy oval jade-green leaves often edged in red, bearing clusters of starry white-pink flowers in winter. An enduring easy-care container classic.
Blue Chalksticks · Curio talinoides var. mandraliscae A spreading groundcover succulent of upright finger-like blue-grey leaves with a chalky bloom, forming a cool silvery carpet ideal for mass planting and erosion-prone slopes. Tough and water-wise.
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.
Large Wild Iris · Dietes grandiflora Strappy evergreen iris from southern Africa with elegant white flowers marked yellow and violet, opening in fortnightly flushes. Almost indestructible, though it can naturalise.
Mexican Snowball · Echeveria elegans A neat clumping rosette of powdery pale blue-green leaves edged in translucent pink, sending up arching stems of bell-shaped pink-and-yellow flowers in spring. A classic windowsill and dish-garden succulent.
Perle von Nurnberg · Echeveria 'Perle von Nurnberg' A sought-after hybrid rosette flushed in dusky lavender-pink and grey with a fine powdery bloom, intensifying to deeper purple tones in bright light. A signature feature plant for containers and arrangements.
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.
Golden Barrel Cactus · Echinocactus grusonii A magnificent globular cactus forming a ribbed ball clad in fierce golden-yellow spines, slowly broadening with age into a glowing sphere. A prized sculptural specimen, now rare in the wild.
Tar Bush · Eremophila glabra An outback survivor built for heat and drought, with tubular nectar flowers loved by honeyeaters. One of the most reliable natives for hot, dry, low-water gardens.
Spotted Emu Bush · Eremophila maculata A rounded arid-zone shrub with spotted tubular flowers in red, pink, orange or yellow that feed honeyeaters through the cooler months. Exceptionally tough in heat and drought.
Silky Eremophila · Eremophila nivea A choice shrub clothed in silvery-white woolly foliage and soft lilac-blue flowers in spring. A standout silver feature for hot, dry, perfectly drained positions, often grafted.
Seaside Daisy · Erigeron karvinskianus A tireless little daisy that tumbles over walls and seeds into paving cracks, its white blooms ageing to pink. Flowers nearly year-round in mild climates but can naturalise readily.
Loquat · Eriobotrya japonica Big, ribbed evergreen leaves and clusters of sweet-tart yellow fruit that ripen in early spring. Fragrant winter flowers feed the bees when little else is in bloom.
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.
Silver Princess · Eucalyptus caesia 'Silver Princess' · from $6.50 An elegant weeping mallee with powdery silver-blue leaves, ornamental minni-ritchi bark and pendulous pink flowers with golden anthers followed by silvery gum nuts. A spectacular small feature tree.
Summer Red Flowering Gum · Eucalyptus 'Summer Red' A compact grafted flowering gum bred for masses of large deep red to coral blooms through summer and autumn. A small, reliable feature tree that performs across most of Australia.
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.
Mediterranean Spurge · Euphorbia characias Architectural domes of blue-grey foliage topped by lime-green flower heads in late winter, unfazed by drought. The milky sap is a skin and eye irritant, so wear gloves to prune.
Firesticks · Euphorbia tirucalli A striking succulent of slender pencil-thin branching stems that blaze coral-orange to fiery red in cool sunny weather, carrying a highly caustic milky sap. A bold drought-proof feature to handle with care.
Blue Barrel Cactus · Ferocactus glaucescens A handsome barrel cactus with a powdery blue-green ribbed body armed with golden-yellow spines, opening a ring of pale yellow flowers at its crown in summer. A striking, slow sculptural specimen.
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.
Fig · Ficus carica Bold, lobed leaves and sweet, soft fruit on a tough, drought-hardy Mediterranean tree. Self-fertile and easy — thrives even in a large pot to keep its roots restrained.
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.
Freesia · Freesia hybrid Intensely perfumed funnel flowers on arching stems, a beloved cut flower that scents the whole garden. The species forms can naturalise and are a weed risk in mild climates.
Butterfly Bush · Gaura lindheimeri Airy wands of white-to-pink flowers dance on wiry stems like a cloud of butterflies for months on end. Drought-proof and self-cleaning, it brings movement to any sunny border.
Gladiolus · Gladiolus hybrid Tall one-sided spikes of funnel flowers, a staple of the summer cutting patch, grown from corms planted in succession. Stake in windy spots; some species are environmental weeds.
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.
Ghost Plant · Graptopetalum paraguayense A trailing rosette succulent with thick pointed leaves in opalescent shades of grey, lavender and pink under a chalky bloom, shifting hue with sun and season. An easy, fast-propagating beauty for pots.
Fred Ives Graptoveria · Graptoveria 'Fred Ives' A vigorous large rosette intergeneric hybrid in shifting shades of bronze, lilac and pinkish-purple with a soft bloom, easily offsetting into clusters. A showy, forgiving feature for pots and gardens.
Grevillea Moonlight · Grevillea 'Moonlight' · from $18.95 A large, fast-growing hybrid bearing long cream-white toothbrush flowers almost continuously, set against ferny green foliage. An outstanding bird-attracting feature or informal screen.
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.
Grevillea 'Robyn Gordon' · Grevillea 'Robyn Gordon' · from $4.50 One of Australia's most popular garden hybrids — a low-maintenance native shrub producing red toothbrush flowers almost year-round to feed the birds.
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.
Pincushion Hakea · Hakea laurina A large shrub or small tree with blue-green leaves and striking crimson pincushion flowers tipped with cream styles through autumn and winter. A nectar magnet for honeyeaters.
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.
Sunflower · Helianthus annuus Giant golden heads track the sun on towering stems, feeding bees in flower and finches in seed. One of the most rewarding and fast plants to grow from seed with children.
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.
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.
Flaming Katy · Kalanchoe blossfeldiana A compact succulent with glossy scalloped green leaves smothered in long-lasting clusters of tiny bright flowers in red, pink, orange or yellow. A hugely popular flowering gift and patio plant.
Paddle Plant · Kalanchoe thyrsiflora A striking succulent with large rounded paddle-shaped leaves stacked in a rosette, the grey-green blades edged in brilliant red when sun-stressed, before a tall fragrant yellow flower spike. A bold pot feature.
Dusky Coral Pea · Kennedia rubicunda A tough, fast Australian native climber and groundcover bearing dusky red pea flowers in spring that attract honeyeaters. Hardy and adaptable, it is excellent for binding banks and quick cover.
Red Hot Poker · Kniphofia uvaria Bold pokers of tubular flowers glow red, orange and yellow above grassy clumps, brimming with nectar for honeyeaters. Tough, drought-hardy and dramatic in the summer border.
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.
Crepe Myrtle · Lagerstroemia indica A reliable summer-flowering tree bearing big crinkled trusses of pink, mauve, red or white bloom for months, with mottled peeling bark and rich autumn tones. A heat-tolerant favourite.
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.
French Lavender · Lavandula dentata The toughest lavender for warm Australian gardens, with grey toothed leaves and an exceptionally long flowering season. Tolerates humidity better than English types.
Spanish Lavender · Lavandula stoechas Instantly recognised by the rabbit-ear bracts perched atop chubby flower heads. Free-flowering and showy, though it can self-seed and is a declared weed in some districts.
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.
Sweet Alyssum · Lobularia maritima A low carpet of tiny honey-scented flowers that hum with bees and hoverflies, perfect for edging and baskets. Tough, quick and self-seeding in mild climates.
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.
Pincushion Cactus · Mammillaria spp. A popular clustering globular cactus covered in spiralled spined tubercles, ringed in spring with a crown of small pink, white or yellow flowers. One of the easiest and most rewarding cacti for beginners.
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.
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.
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.
Creeping Boobialla · Myoporum parvifolium A fast, dense prostrate native that hugs the ground with succulent green foliage and tiny white star flowers in summer. An outstanding weed-suppressing cover for banks and verges.
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.
Oleander · Nerium oleander An extremely tough, heat- and drought-proof shrub flowering all summer in pink, white or red. Ideal for hot, dry and coastal screens, but every part is highly toxic to people and animals.
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.
Olive · Olea europaea Silvery evergreen leaves on a gnarled, exceptionally long-lived and drought-proof tree. Grown for the fruit, for oil, or simply as a sculptural, clip-able feature.
Prickly Pear · Opuntia ficus-indica A large segmented cactus of flat oval green pads armed with spines and fine barbed glochids, bearing yellow flowers and edible red-purple fruit. A declared weed in much of Australia, so plant with care.
Sweet Marjoram · Origanum majorana Sweeter, milder and more delicate than its cousin oregano — a tender perennial often grown as an annual in cooler gardens. Lovely in dressings and with roast vegetables.
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.
Moonstones · Pachyphytum oviferum A captivating succulent with plump egg-shaped leaves coated in a frosted lilac-pink bloom resembling sugared almonds, on short stems. A slow, jewel-like collector's plant for bright pots.
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.
Zonal Geranium · Pelargonium hortorum The indestructible pot geranium, flowering almost year-round in mild climates with rounded, often zoned leaves. Thrives on neglect, heat and a sunny windowsill or balcony.
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.
Petunia · Petunia hybrida Trumpet flowers in a dazzling colour range smother trailing or mounding plants all season long. Superb in baskets and pots; deadhead and feed for a non-stop show.
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 '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.
Chinese Pistachio · Pistacia chinensis A tough, drought-hardy shade tree with glossy pinnate foliage that turns brilliant orange, red and crimson in autumn. An excellent, reliable choice for hot, dry street and park planting.
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.
Dwarf Mock Orange · Pittosporum tobira 'Miss Muffet' A naturally compact, dome-shaped form of Japanese mock orange with whorls of leathery dark green leaves. Clusters of creamy flowers carry a rich orange-blossom scent in spring; excellent coastal low hedge.
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.
Sweet Pea Bush · Polygala myrtifolia A fast, hardy shrub almost permanently dotted with purple-pink pea-shaped flowers brushed with a fringed keel. Excellent in dry coastal gardens, though it can self-seed and naturalise.
Elephant Bush · Portulacaria afra A bushy succulent with reddish-brown stems and small round glossy green leaves, edible and tangy, favoured for bonsai and hedging in warm climates and grazed by elephants in its native South Africa.
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.
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.
Pomegranate · Punica granatum Brilliant orange-red flowers in summer, then leathery fruit packed with ruby, juicy seeds. A tough, drought-hardy and self-fertile small tree that loves a hot, dry summer.
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.
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.
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.
Indian Hawthorn · Rhaphiolepis indica 'Oriental Pearl' A tough, compact rounded shrub with leathery dark leaves and clusters of starry white-to-pink flowers in spring, followed by blue-black berries. A reliable low coastal hedge needing little care.
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.
Mexican Bush Sage · Salvia leucantha Arching wands of velvety purple calyces and white flowers light up the autumn garden when little else performs. Grey, felted foliage shrugs off heat and drought.
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.
Fairy Fan-flower · Scaevola aemula A trailing native covered in distinctive fan-shaped mauve-blue flowers through the warmer months. Quick, heat-tolerant cover for hanging baskets, pots and sunny banks.
Gold Mound Sedum · Sedum 'Gold Mound' A low mounding succulent with fleshy chartreuse to golden-yellow leaves that glow in bright light, dotted with small yellow star flowers. A bright easy filler for pots and rockeries.
Burro's Tail · Sedum morganianum A trailing succulent forming long ropes densely packed with plump blue-green teardrop leaves coated in a chalky bloom, tipped with red-pink flowers in summer. Perfect tumbling from a hanging basket.
Blue Spruce Stonecrop · Sedum rupestre A hardy creeping groundcover succulent with needle-like blue-green foliage resembling tiny spruce shoots, lighting up with flat heads of bright yellow star flowers in summer. Tough and frost-tolerant.
Hens and Chicks · Sempervivum tectorum An extremely hardy alpine succulent forming tight rosettes that cluster into colonies of offsets, the leaves often blushed red at the tips. Famously frost-proof and ideal for rockeries and troughs.
French Marigold · Tagetes patula Cheery, pungent-leaved marigolds that flower for months and are a classic companion plant in the vegie patch. Quick and foolproof from seed, thriving in heat.
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.
Nasturtium · Tropaeolum majus Trailing or mounding plants with round lily-pad leaves and edible peppery flowers that thrive on neglect and poor soil. Both leaves and blooms spice up a salad; it self-seeds and can naturalise.
Purpletop Vervain · Verbena bonariensis Tall see-through stems carry clusters of mauve-purple flowers that butterflies adore, perfect for weaving through a border. Self-seeds freely and is a weed risk in some regions.
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.
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.
Coastal Rosemary · Westringia fruticosa A soft grey-green coastal shrub that clips beautifully into hedges and balls. Salt-proof, drought-proof and flowering most of the year — the native answer to box and lavender.
Wynyabbie Gem Coastal Rosemary · Westringia 'Wynyabbie Gem' A dense rounded shrub with fine grey-green foliage and mauve flowers through most of the year. Hardier and showier than the species, it clips superbly into hedges and balls.
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.
Calla Lily · Zantedeschia aethiopica Elegant white spathes curl around a yellow spadix above glossy arrow-shaped leaves, thriving in boggy ground. A serious environmental weed in parts of Australia and toxic to pets and people.