Moderate Maintenance
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Kiwifruit · Actinidia deliciosa 'Hayward' The standard green kiwifruit, a vigorous deciduous vine bearing fuzzy brown fruit with sweet-tart emerald flesh. Female and needs a male vine such as Tomuri nearby for pollination, plus a strong pergola or trellis. -
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. -
Leek 'Welsh' · Allium ampeloprasum 'Welsh' A hardy winter leek with thick, tender white shanks and a mild, sweet onion flavour. Blanch by mounding soil up the stems for a long, pale, edible barrel. -
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. -
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. -
Custard Apple · Annona cherimola Knobbly green fruit with sweet, fragrant, custard-like flesh on a briefly deciduous subtropical tree. Hand-pollination greatly improves the crop in cooler districts. -
Flamingo Flower · Anthurium andraeanum Glossy heart-shaped leaves and waxy, long-lasting spathes in vivid red, pink or white. A cheerful flowering houseplant that blooms much of the year in bright light. -
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. -
Polka Dot Begonia · Begonia maculata An angel-wing begonia with olive leaves spotted silver above and deep red beneath. Cane-like and elegant, it dangles clusters of white flowers in season. -
Rex Begonia · Begonia rex Grown purely for its spectacular foliage swirled in silver, purple, pink and green. A jewel-toned feature plant that loves humidity and bright, indirect light. -
Paper Flower · Bougainvillea glabra A thorny, vigorous evergreen climber celebrated for its dazzling, long-lasting papery bracts in vivid magenta and purple surrounding tiny white true flowers. Thrives in heat and revels in poor, dry soils. -
Great Bougainvillea · Bougainvillea spectabilis A robust, large-growing climber armed with stout thorns and clothed in showy crimson, red and orange bract clusters over a very long season. A spectacular subtropical screen for hot, sunny positions. -
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. -
Angel's Trumpet · Brugmansia x candida A dramatic large shrub hung with enormous pendulous trumpet flowers that pour out a heady perfume in the evening. Spectacular but extremely toxic in all parts; handle and site with care. -
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. -
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. -
Black Lace Camellia · Camellia reticulata 'Black Lace' A reticulata hybrid bearing large, formal-double blooms of deep dark crimson-red with finely imbricated petals. Upright and striking, it makes a bold winter feature and dramatic cut flower. -
Captain Rawes Camellia · Camellia reticulata 'Captain Rawes' The original cultivated reticulata, an old and stately camellia bearing very large, semi-double carmine rose-pink blooms. Tall and open, it makes a magnificent woodland feature. -
Dr Clifford Parks Camellia · Camellia reticulata 'Dr Clifford Parks' A spectacular reticulata hybrid producing very large, vivid orange-red blooms in semi-double to peony and anemone forms. Vigorous and showy, it is a magnificent feature camellia for sheltered gardens. -
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. -
Canna 'Bengal Tiger' · Canna 'Bengal Tiger' A bold bog-tolerant canna grown for dramatic green leaves boldly striped in yellow and edged maroon, topped by vivid orange flowers. Thrives in rich, wet soil at the pond margin or in borders. -
Capsicum · Capsicum annuum · from $3.95 A warm-season vegetable bearing crisp sweet capsicums or fiery chillies that ripen from green to red, yellow or orange. Compact and productive in garden beds or containers in full sun. -
Capsicum 'California Wonder' · Capsicum annuum 'California Wonder' A classic blocky sweet pepper with thick, crisp walls, ripening from green to brilliant red. The benchmark capsicum for stuffing, roasting and salads. -
Capsicum 'Sweet Bullhorn' · Capsicum annuum 'Sweet Bullhorn' A long, horn-shaped sweet pepper with thick, sugary flesh, superb roasted or grilled. Fruit ripen from green through to deep red on a sturdy bush. -
Chilli 'Habanero' · Capsicum chinense 'Habanero' A searingly hot, lantern-shaped chilli with intense fruity aroma, ripening orange or red. Needs a long, hot season and is well suited to a sunny pot. -
Cattleya Orchid · Cattleya hybrid The flamboyant corsage orchid, producing large, often fragrant ruffled blooms in vivid lavender, pink and white from stout pseudobulbs. A showpiece orchid for bright, warm, airy positions. -
Watermelon · Citrullus lanatus Long, hot summers reward you with heavy, sweet, thirst-quenching fruit on a sprawling vine. Needs warmth, room and a free-draining sandy bed to ripen well. -
Lime · Citrus aurantiifolia Glossy evergreen leaves, fragrant white blossom and a heavy crop of tangy green fruit. The most cold-sensitive of the common citrus — give it the warmest, sunniest corner. -
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. -
Eureka Lemon · Citrus limon 'Eureka' The standard nearly thornless backyard lemon, cropping almost year-round with tangy, juicy, true-lemon fruit. Evergreen and fragrant, it needs a warm frost-free position and free-draining soil. -
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. -
Lisbon Lemon · Citrus limon 'Lisbon' A vigorous, thorny lemon that crops heavily in winter with tart, juicy fruit and tolerates heat and cold better than Eureka. Its dense canopy makes it a tougher, more productive choice for open gardens. -
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. -
Blood Orange · Citrus sinensis 'Arnold Blood' A blood orange with red-streaked flesh and a sweet berry-tinged flavour, the colour deepening where nights turn cold in winter. Fragrant and ornamental, it rewards a warm-temperate or Mediterranean garden. -
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. -
Valencia Orange · Citrus sinensis 'Valencia' The premier summer juicing orange, with thin-skinned, very juicy, sweet-tart fruit that holds well on the tree. Ripening late, it overlaps the navel season and gives fresh juice through the warmer months. -
Washington Navel Orange · Citrus sinensis 'Washington Navel' The classic seedless winter eating orange, with sweet, easy-peeling fruit marked by a small navel at the base. Fragrant white blossom and glossy evergreen foliage make it a handsome and productive backyard tree. -
Star Ruby Grapefruit · Citrus x paradisi 'Star Ruby' A red-fleshed grapefruit with deep ruby, almost seedless segments and a sweet, low-bitterness flavour. Crops in winter and needs plenty of warmth to develop full colour and sugar. -
Minneola Tangelo · Citrus x tangelo 'Minneola' A grapefruit-mandarin cross with a distinctive neck, deep orange skin and richly sweet, tangy, juicy flesh. Crops in late winter and benefits from a nearby mandarin for best fruit set. -
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. -
Taro · Colocasia esculenta Enormous heart-shaped leaves on tall stalks, often flushed in dramatic dark purple. A water-loving tropical that makes a lush, bold feature in a bright, humid spot. -
Spiral Ginger · Costus barbatus A tropical spiral ginger with leafy stems that twist as they grow, topped by a red cone-shaped bract emitting yellow tubular flowers. A lush, exotic feature for warm, moist, sheltered positions. -
Fishbone Prayer Plant · Ctenanthe burle-marxii Low, spreading clumps of pale leaves brushed with dark green fishbone bars and burgundy undersides. A lush, pet-safe groundcover-style foliage plant for shaded rooms. -
Rockmelon · Cucumis melo Fragrant, netted-skin melons with sweet orange flesh, trailing across a sunny bed. Like watermelon, it craves a long hot season to develop full sweetness. -
Cucumber · Cucumis sativus · from $3.50 A fast-growing warm-season climber or trailer producing crisp refreshing fruit through summer. Easy and prolific, best trained up a trellis in full sun with steady moisture. -
Leyland Cypress · ×Cupressocyparis leylandii An exceptionally fast-growing columnar conifer prized as a quick privacy screen or windbreak. Dense feathery green foliage clothes the plant to the ground, responding well to clipping for a tall hedge. -
Cymbidium Orchid · Cymbidium hybrid A robust orchid forming clumps of grassy leaves and tall arching sprays of waxy long-lasting flowers in a huge colour range. The mainstay cool-growing orchid for shaded patios and cut flowers. -
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. -
Pacific Giant Delphinium · Delphinium 'Pacific Giants' Towering spires densely packed with blue, purple, white or mauve flowers, each with a contrasting central 'bee'. A classic seed strain for the back of the border; all parts are toxic if eaten. -
Noble Dendrobium · Dendrobium nobile A cane orchid bearing clusters of large, fragrant flowers in white, pink and purple all along its leafless pseudobulbs in late winter and spring. A rewarding, free-flowering orchid for bright positions. -
Venus Flytrap · Dionaea muscipula The famous carnivorous plant whose hinged, spine-fringed traps snap shut on insects that brush their trigger hairs. A fascinating bog plant for a sunny windowsill, grown in pure peat with rainwater. -
Spoonleaf Sundew · Drosera spatulata A small carnivorous sundew, native to Australia, forming rosettes of spoon-shaped leaves studded with glistening sticky tentacles that trap tiny insects. An easy, charming bog plant for sunny pots. -
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. -
Torch Ginger · Etlingera elatior A tall tropical ginger with lush leafy canes and dramatic waxy torch-like flower heads of red or pink rising on separate stems. A spectacular feature and exotic cut flower for warm, moist gardens. -
Weeping Fig · Ficus benjamina A graceful indoor tree with arching branches and small, glossy pointed leaves. It dislikes being moved and may drop leaves while settling, but is elegant once established. -
Fiddle Leaf Fig · Ficus lyrata The fashionable indoor tree with enormous, violin-shaped leathery leaves. A striking architectural statement that rewards a bright, draught-free spot and steady routine.