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Bee & Pollinator

216 plants

Edward Goucher Abelia · Abelia x grandiflora 'Edward Goucher' An arching, semi-evergreen abelia smothered in lilac-pink trumpet flowers from summer into autumn, much loved by bees. Hardy, adaptable and good for informal hedges.
Francis Mason Abelia · Abelia x grandiflora 'Francis Mason' A golden-leaved abelia with yellow-margined foliage flushing orange in cold, topped by pink-white bells through the warmer months. Brings warm colour to hedges and borders.
Glossy Abelia · Abelia x grandiflora 'Grandiflora' The classic vigorous glossy abelia, with arching canes carrying masses of fragrant white-flushed-pink bells over a long season. An easy, drought-tolerant screening shrub.
Kaleidoscope Abelia · Abelia x grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope' A low, spreading abelia grown for kaleidoscopic foliage that shifts from gold-and-green in spring to fiery orange-red in cold weather, set off by white tubular flowers. Tough, sun-loving and bee-friendly.
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.
Fringed Wattle · Acacia fimbriata A soft, weeping wattle with fine fringed foliage and a profuse late-winter display of fragrant lemon-gold pom-poms. Fast, hardy and ideal as an informal screen or quick filler.
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.
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.
Moonshine Yarrow · Achillea 'Moonshine' Flat heads of soft sulphur-yellow flowers float above ferny silver foliage all summer. An award-winning, drought-hardy yarrow that bees and butterflies flock to and that dries well.
Terracotta Yarrow · Achillea 'Terracotta' Broad flat heads open burnt-orange and fade through terracotta to soft buff-yellow over ferny grey foliage. A drought-hardy yarrow giving warm, shifting colour and excellent for drying.
Paprika Yarrow · Achillea millefolium 'Paprika' Flat clusters of cherry-red flowers with gold eyes age to soft salmon over ferny green foliage. A tough, spreading yarrow excellent for dry banks and pollinator borders.
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.
Sweet Lili Hyssop · Agastache 'Sweet Lili' Tall spikes of rose-pink and lilac flowers rise over liquorice-scented foliage, humming with bees and visited by honeyeaters. Drought-tolerant and long-flowering through the warm season.
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.
Japanese Windflower · Anemone x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert' Pure white single flowers with golden stamens sway on tall wiry stems above handsome dark foliage from late summer into autumn. An award-winning, shade-tolerant classic; sap can irritate.
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.
Smooth-barked Apple · Angophora costata A magnificent large tree with sculptural, twisting limbs and smooth pink-to-orange bark that sheds to reveal salmon tones. Clusters of creamy summer flowers feed bees and birds.
Dwarf Apple · Angophora hispida A gnarled small tree or large shrub of Sydney sandstone with bristly new growth and showy creamy-white summer blossom rich in nectar. A characterful bird-attracting feature.
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.
Columbine · Aquilegia vulgaris Nodding, intricately spurred flowers in blues, purples and pinks dance above ferny grey-green foliage in spring. A charming, self-seeding cottage perennial; seeds and roots are toxic if eaten.
Brasco Violet Native Daisy · Brachyscome 'Brasco Violet' A compact mounding native daisy smothered in violet-purple flowers over a very long season. Hardy and free-flowering, ideal for borders, pots and bee-attracting plantings.
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.
Ivory Curl Tree · Buckinghamia celsissima A Queensland rainforest tree with glossy foliage and long, fragrant cream flower spikes that cascade over the canopy in summer. A spectacular feature and street tree for warm climates.
Bulbine Lily · Bulbine bulbosa A tufted native lily with fleshy grass-like leaves and spikes of fragrant star-shaped yellow flowers in spring. An easy, drought-hardy perennial and bush-food bulb.
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.
Geraldton Wax 'Purple Pride' · Chamelaucium uncinatum 'Purple Pride' A WA shrub with fine aromatic needle foliage smothered in waxy purple-pink flowers from winter into spring. A superb long-lasting cut flower and drought-hardy feature.
Aztec Pearl Mexican Orange Blossom · Choisya x dewitteana 'Aztec Pearl' A fine-textured choisya with slender aromatic leaflets and clusters of pink-budded, fragrant white flowers in spring and autumn. An RHS Award of Garden Merit shrub for sun or light shade.
Golden Mexican Orange Blossom · Choisya ternata 'Sundance' A golden-leaved Mexican orange blossom with bright yellow aromatic foliage and fragrant white star flowers in spring and again in autumn. Brightest in good light and an RHS Award of Garden Merit plant.
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.
Silver Sunburst · Chrysocephalum apiculatum 'Silver Sunburst' A low spreading native with silvery-grey woolly foliage and clusters of golden button flowers over a long season. Tough, drought-hardy and great for bee-attracting borders.
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.
Early Sunrise Tickseed · Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise' An award-winning tickseed bearing semi-double golden-yellow daisies from late spring, often flowering in its first year from seed. Compact, free-flowering and bee-friendly.
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.
Zagreb Tickseed · Coreopsis verticillata 'Zagreb' Masses of golden-yellow star flowers cover a fine, thread-leaved mound all summer long. Drought-hardy and spreading, it makes a low, pollinator-rich carpet.
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.
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.
Summer Snow Flowering Gum · Corymbia 'Summer Snow' A grafted flowering gum producing large trusses of pure white blossom through summer that draw birds and bees. A compact, reliable feature tree for most climates.
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.
Billy Buttons · Craspedia globosa A clumping native perennial sending up slender stems topped with perfectly round golden flower balls in spring and summer. A quirky, long-lasting cut flower beloved by florists.
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.
Matted Dampiera · Dampiera diversifolia A spreading WA groundcover forming a dense low mat that becomes a sheet of intense violet-blue flowers in spring and summer. A striking colour carpet for well-drained gardens.
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.
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.
Tiny Rubies Pink · Dianthus 'Tiny Rubies' A dense, ground-hugging mat of fine blue-grey foliage studded with masses of tiny double rose-pink flowers in spring. Spicy-scented and tough, perfect for rockeries and edging.
Doris Pink · Dianthus 'Doris' An award-winning, deliciously clove-scented pink with semi-double salmon-pink flowers over silvery foliage. Long-flowering, repeat-blooming and a classic for cottage borders.
Memories Pink · Dianthus 'Memories' A clove-scented pink bearing double pure-white flowers in flushes over neat blue-grey foliage. Compact and richly fragrant, ideal for edging, pots and cutting.
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.
Yellow Wild Iris · Dietes bicolor Pale yellow iris flowers, each petal blotched maroon-brown at the base, are carried over slender evergreen foliage through the warm months. A hardy, low-care clumping perennial for tough spots.
Cheyenne Spirit Coneflower · Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' An award-winning seed strain producing a warm mix of red, orange, gold, cream and rose flowers on compact plants. Drought-hardy and a magnet for pollinators.
Green Envy Coneflower · Echinacea purpurea 'Green Envy' An unusual coneflower whose petals open lime-green and flush rose-pink toward the centre as they age. A striking, long-lasting cut flower that bees adore.
Magnus Coneflower · Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus' An award-winning coneflower with large rose-purple flowers whose petals are held flatter and more horizontally than most. A robust, pollinator-rich border perennial with sturdy stems for cutting.
PowWow Wild Berry Coneflower · Echinacea purpurea 'PowWow Wild Berry' A compact, award-winning coneflower covered in vivid rose-magenta blooms that hold their colour without fading. Free-flowering from seed and tidy enough for pots and small borders.
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.
White Swan Coneflower · Echinacea purpurea 'White Swan' Pure white daisy flowers with drooping petals around a golden-bronze cone, blooming all summer. A reliable seed-grown coneflower beloved by bees and butterflies.
Seaside Daisy · Erigeron karvinskianus 'Profusion' A carpet of tiny daisies opening white and ageing to pink, flowering almost year-round in mild climates. Self-sows charmingly into walls and paving and shrugs off drought and salt.
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.
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.
Arizona Sun Blanket Flower · Gaillardia 'Arizona Sun' An award-winning, compact blanket flower bearing red daisies tipped with golden-yellow all season. Heat- and drought-hardy, flowering in its first year and loved by bees and butterflies.
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.
Siskiyou Pink Gaura · Gaura lindheimeri 'Siskiyou Pink' Deep rose-pink flowers open from dark buds on wiry stems above bronze-tinted foliage, swaying in the lightest breeze. A long-flowering, water-wise butterfly favourite.
Whirling Butterflies · Gaura lindheimeri 'Whirling Butterflies' Airy wands of white, pink-flushed flowers dance on slender stems like a cloud of butterflies all season. Heat- and drought-tolerant, weaving beautifully through other plantings.
Rozanne Cranesbill · Geranium 'Rozanne' An award-winning, sterile cranesbill that flowers non-stop with violet-blue, white-centred saucers from spring to autumn. Spreading and weed-suppressing, it is one of the longest-flowering perennials grown.
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.
Mrs Bradshaw Geum · Geum 'Mrs J. Bradshaw' An award-winning avens with semi-double scarlet flowers waving on wiry stems above a low rosette of hairy leaves. Long-flowering and a cheerful favourite of cottage gardens.
Hop Goodenia · Goodenia ovata 'Gold Cover' A prostrate form of hop goodenia spreading into a glossy green mat dotted with bright yellow flowers for most of the year. A fast, hardy groundcover for sun or shade.
Free n Easy Native Lilac · Hardenbergia violacea 'Free n Easy' A vigorous twining climber smothered in white pea flowers through winter and spring. Hardy and fast, ideal for fences, trellises and screening in low-water gardens.
Meema Native Lilac · Hardenbergia violacea 'Meema' A non-climbing shrubby form of native lilac forming a dense mound smothered in purple pea flowers in winter and spring. Ideal for groundcover, banks and low borders.
Purple Coral Pea · Hardenbergia violacea 'Happy Wanderer' A vigorous twining native pea bursting into sheets of purple flowers in late winter and spring. A reliable, fast cover for fences, trellises and banks.
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.
Winter Rose Hellebore · Helleborus 'Winter Rose' An Australian-bred hellebore series with large outward-facing flowers in white, pink and ruby that hold their colour for weeks through winter. Shade-loving and evergreen; all parts are toxic if eaten.
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.
Plum Pudding Coral Bells · Heuchera 'Plum Pudding' Glossy, silver-veiled plum-purple leaves form a neat mound topped by wispy cream flower stems. A reliable foliage perennial for shaded borders and pots.
Palace Purple Coral Bells · Heuchera micrantha 'Palace Purple' An award-winning coral bells grown for its mounds of deep bronze-purple maple-shaped leaves, with airy sprays of tiny cream flowers in summer. Thrives in shade as foliage colour.
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.
Bluebird Hydrangea · Hydrangea macrophylla 'Bluebird' A serrata-type lacecap with flat heads of fertile inner florets ringed by sterile blue or mauve-pink sepals. Compact and elegant, with reddish autumn foliage.
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.
Bluebird Mountain Hydrangea · Hydrangea serrata 'Bluebird' A refined mountain hydrangea bearing delicate lacecap heads of blue to mauve-pink sepals over a central cluster of fertile florets. Compact, cold-hardy and good for smaller spaces.
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.
Jacaranda · Jacaranda mimosifolia A spreading subtropical tree famed for its haze of violet-blue trumpet flowers in late spring, carpeting the ground beneath. Fine fern-like foliage gives dappled summer shade.
Christmas Cheer Red Hot Poker · Kniphofia 'Christmas Cheer' Bold pokers open orange-red and fade to yellow, glowing through the cooler months when little else flowers. Drought- and coast-hardy, and a rich nectar source for honeyeaters.
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.
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.
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.
Sidonie Lavender · Lavandula x allardii 'Sidonie' A large, vigorous allardii-type lavender bearing long mauve-blue spikes over much of the year. Heat- and humidity-tolerant, making it a strong performer in warm Australian gardens.
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.
Hidcote English Lavender · Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote' A compact English lavender prized for its deep violet-purple flowers and dark buds on tidy grey bushes. Award-winning, cold-hardy and ideal for low formal hedging.
Munstead English Lavender · Lavandula angustifolia 'Munstead' An early-flowering, compact English lavender with soft blue-purple spikes and excellent culinary buds. Reliable, cold-hardy and one of the best for cool-climate gardens.
Avonview French Lavender · Lavandula dentata 'Avonview' A vigorous toothed-leaf French lavender flowering for most of the year in mild climates, topped with showy purple bracts. Tough, coastal-tolerant and quick to establish.
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.
Grosso Lavender · Lavandula x intermedia 'Grosso' The world's most widely grown oil lavandin, with long-stemmed deep violet spikes and intense fragrance on big silver bushes. Superb for drying, oil and hedging.
Provence Lavender · Lavandula x intermedia 'Provence' A large lavandin with long, slender pale-violet spikes and a sweet, clean fragrance prized for drying and oil. Vigorous and silver-leaved, it makes an outstanding scented hedge.
Madrid Blue Spanish Lavender · Lavandula stoechas 'Madrid Blue' A compact, very early-flowering Spanish lavender from the Madrid series with rich blue-purple bracts over a long season. Neat and floriferous, perfect for containers and edging.
Major Spanish Lavender · Lavandula stoechas 'Major' A classic early Spanish lavender with deep purple 'rabbit-ear' bracts crowning chubby flower heads from late winter. Robust, aromatic and bee-friendly.
Princess Spanish Lavender · Lavandula stoechas 'Princess' A Spanish lavender topped with long, vivid candy-pink bracts above a dense flower head from winter into summer. Free-flowering, compact and excellent in pots.
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.
The Princess Lavender · Lavandula stoechas 'The Princess' An improved, award-winning Spanish lavender carrying large rose-pink bracts in profusion from late winter to summer. Showy, weather-tolerant and quick to flower from young plants.
Cardinal Tea Tree · Leptospermum 'Cardinal' A medium shrub smothered in deep red flowers in spring against fine green foliage. A hardy, bee-attracting feature and informal screen for low-water gardens.
Copper Glow Tea Tree · Leptospermum 'Copper Glow' A medium tea tree grown for its rich copper-bronze foliage and white spring flowers. A colourful, hardy feature and informal screen for low-water gardens.
Mesmer Eyes Tea Tree · Leptospermum 'Mesmer Eyes' A compact tea tree with bronze-tinted foliage and white flowers with deep red centres in spring. A colourful, bee-attracting feature for small gardens and pots.
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.
Lemon-scented Tea Tree · Leptospermum petersonii A tall tea tree with aromatic lemon-scented foliage and white spring blossom, often grown as a fragrant informal hedge. The leaves can be steeped for a citrus bush tea.
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.
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.
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.
Russell Lupin · Lupinus 'Russell Hybrids' Bold, densely packed flower spikes in a brilliant range of colours and bicolours rise over palm-shaped leaves in late spring. A nitrogen-fixing cottage classic; seeds are toxic if eaten.
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.
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.
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.
Min-a-min Murraya · Murraya paniculata 'Min-a-min' A compact, fine-leaved orange jessamine bred for tidy low hedges, bearing flushes of intensely fragrant white flowers after warm rain. Glossy and dense, thriving in warm frost-free gardens.
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.
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.
Walker's Low Catmint · Nepeta x faassenii 'Walker's Low' A billowing mound of grey-green aromatic foliage smothered in lavender-blue flowers from spring into summer. Award-winning, tough and a superb low edging that bees swarm over.
Six Hills Giant Catmint · Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' A larger catmint forming a big, sprawling mound of grey aromatic foliage drenched in lavender-blue flowers. Long-flowering, drought-hardy and irresistible to bees and cats alike.
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.
Sweet Basil · Ocimum basilicum · from $3.50 The essential summer herb — pinch it often for bushy growth and a steady supply of fragrant leaves. Fast and rewarding from seed in warm weather.
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.
Rice Flower · Ozothamnus diosmifolius An upright shrub topped in spring with dense clusters of tiny white or pink button flowers held above fine aromatic foliage. A major commercial native cut flower and easy garden filler.
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.
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.
Passionfruit · Passiflora edulis A vigorous evergreen tendril climber grown for its exotic fringed purple-and-white flowers followed by aromatic, tangy purple fruit. A productive backyard favourite for warm, sheltered fences and pergolas.
Native Iris · Patersonia occidentalis A tufted native iris with strappy leaves producing a succession of delicate purple-blue three-petalled flowers in spring and summer. A hardy, grassy clumper for borders and damp spots.
Native Pelargonium · Pelargonium australe A hardy native geranium forming a low clump of softly hairy scalloped leaves topped with clusters of pink, veined flowers in the warmer months. A tough, drought-tolerant groundcover perennial.
Big Red Zonal Geranium · Pelargonium x hortorum 'Big Red' Bold ball-shaped heads of vivid scarlet flowers smother this zonal geranium for most of the year over rounded, faintly aromatic leaves. Sun-loving and drought-hardy, perfect for pots; toxic to pets.
Husker Red Beardtongue · Penstemon 'Husker Red' An award-winning beardtongue grown for its deep maroon-red foliage topped by airy spires of white, pink-flushed flowers. Cold-hardy, drought-tolerant and a striking foliage-and-flower combination.
Firebird Penstemon · Penstemon 'Firebird' Tall spires of tubular scarlet flowers borne over a long season above slender green foliage. Drought-tolerant once settled and a favourite of nectar-feeding birds.
Garnet Penstemon · Penstemon 'Garnet' An award-winning, hardy penstemon bearing slender spires of deep wine-red tubular flowers over a long season. One of the toughest beardtongues, loved by bees and nectar-feeding birds.
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.
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.
Winter Rouge Wax Flower · Philotheca myoporoides 'Winter Rouge' A compact shrub with aromatic foliage and rose-pink buds opening to white star flowers through winter and spring. Hardy and bee-attracting, ideal for borders and pots.
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.
Royal Cape Plumbago · Plumbago auriculata 'Royal Cape' A deeper-blue selection of cape plumbago, smothered in phlox-like sky-blue flowers from summer well into autumn. Fast, drought-hardy and coastal-tolerant, good as an informal hedge or scrambler.
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.
Pickerel Weed · Pontederia cordata A hardy marginal aquatic with glossy spear-shaped leaves and showy spikes of violet-blue flowers through summer that attract bees. Excellent for pond edges and bog gardens.
Poorinda Ballerina Mint Bush · Prostanthera 'Poorinda Ballerina' A bushy aromatic mint bush smothered in white flowers flushed mauve in spring. Fast-growing and bee-attracting, ideal as a feature or informal screen in cooler gardens.
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.
Pink Mulla Mulla · Ptilotus exaltatus 'Joey' A compact selection of the arid-zone mulla mulla with silvery foliage and showy conical spikes of feathery silver-pink flowers all summer. A heat-loving container and cut flower star.
Cosmic White Indian Hawthorn · Rhaphiolepis indica 'Cosmic White' A spreading Indian hawthorn with leathery dark leaves and abundant pink-budded white flowers in spring. Tough, drought- and coastal-tolerant, ideal for low hedges and mass planting.
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.
Snow Maiden Indian Hawthorn · Rhaphiolepis indica 'Snow Maiden' An Indian hawthorn smothered in pure white spring flowers above neat evergreen foliage, followed by blue-black berries. Hardy, low-care and well-suited to coastal hedging.
Pink Everlasting · Rhodanthe chlorocephala subsp. rosea A fast WA annual paper daisy producing a haze of rose-pink papery flowers with golden centres in spring. A classic everlasting for mass wildflower displays and dried bunches.
Bonica Rose · Rosa 'Bonica' A landscape floribunda producing arching sprays of soft pink double blooms over a long season, followed by orange hips. The first rose inducted into the Rose Hall of Fame for shrub roses, tough and almost care-free.
Double Knock Out Rose · Rosa 'Double Knock Out' A fuller-flowered form of the Knock Out shrub rose, with double cherry-red blooms over a long season. Shares the same exceptional disease resistance and low-care, self-cleaning habit.
Flower Carpet Amber Rose · Rosa 'Flower Carpet Amber' A carpet rose from the next-generation Flower Carpet series, with warm amber-apricot blooms that age to soft cream. Heat-tolerant, disease-resistant and exceptionally free-flowering.
Flower Carpet Coral Rose · Rosa 'Flower Carpet Coral' A compact spreading carpet rose with clusters of warm coral-pink blooms above glossy foliage. Disease-resistant and drought-tolerant, perfect for the front of borders and containers.
Flower Carpet Pink Rose · Rosa 'Flower Carpet Pink' The original Flower Carpet carpet rose, smothering the ground in clusters of bright pink blooms over glossy disease-resistant foliage. Extremely tough, drought-tolerant and almost care-free.
Flower Carpet Red Rose · Rosa 'Flower Carpet Red' A spreading carpet rose covered in vivid red clusters of single to semi-double blooms above healthy glossy foliage. Tough, drought-tolerant and ideal for banks, borders and mass planting.
Flower Carpet White Rose · Rosa 'Flower Carpet White' A spreading carpet rose massed with clean white blooms above glossy green foliage. Disease-resistant, drought-tolerant and excellent for groundcover or trailing over walls and containers.
Knock Out Rose · Rosa 'Knock Out' The landmark landscape shrub rose that revolutionised low-care roses, with cherry-red single blooms produced continuously. Outstanding disease resistance and self-cleaning, needing almost no spraying or deadheading.
Pink Knock Out Rose · Rosa 'Pink Knock Out' A pink-flowered member of the Knock Out family, bearing single bright pink blooms continuously through the warm months. Robust, disease-resistant and undemanding in the landscape.
The Fairy Rose · Rosa 'The Fairy' A tough, spreading polyantha groundcover rose smothered in dense sprays of tiny soft-pink rosettes from summer into autumn. Disease-resistant, undemanding and lovely cascading from pots and low walls.
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.
Goldsturm Black-eyed Susan · Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm' An award-winning black-eyed Susan smothered in golden-yellow daisies with dark cones from summer to autumn. Reliable, long-flowering and a feast for bees, butterflies and finches.
Heatwave Salvia · Salvia greggii 'Heatwave Glimmer' A compact, heat-bred Salvia greggii from the Heatwave series, smothered in pink-toned flowers through the warm months. Exceptionally drought- and heat-tolerant once established.
Anise-scented Sage · Salvia guaranitica Deep cobalt-blue flowers on tall stems, irresistible to nectar-feeding birds, over anise-scented leaves. Vigorous and free-flowering from early summer to the first frosts.
Black and Blue Sage · Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue' Cobalt-blue flowers emerge from near-black calyces on tall anise-scented stems, irresistible to honeyeaters. Vigorous and free-flowering through the warmer months.
Amistad Sage · Salvia 'Amistad' Tall stems carry deep amethyst-purple flowers in near-black calyces from spring to the first frosts. A vigorous, award-winning guaranitica hybrid loved by birds and bees.
Anthony Parker Sage · Salvia 'Anthony Parker' A robust hybrid of S. leucantha and S. elegans bearing dense deep-purple-blue spikes in autumn over anise-scented foliage. Vigorous, heat-tolerant and alive with birds.
Ember's Wish Salvia · Salvia 'Love and Wishes' x 'Ember's Wish' Part of the Australian 'Wish' series, with glowing coral-orange flowers in burgundy calyces carried almost year-round. Nectar-rich, compact and a magnet for honeyeaters.
Kisses and Wishes Salvia · Salvia 'Love and Wishes' Group Another in the Australian 'Wish' series, with soft icy-pink flowers in deep maroon calyces flowering almost continuously. Compact, nectar-rich and excellent in pots and mixed borders.
Love and Wishes Salvia · Salvia 'Love and Wishes' An Australian-bred sibling of 'Wendy's Wish' with burgundy calyces and magenta-purple flowers carried almost continuously. Compact, nectar-rich and excellent in containers.
Mystic Spires Sage · Salvia 'Mystic Spires Blue' A compact, free-branching selection of Salvia 'Indigo Spires' smothered in deep violet-blue spikes from spring to autumn. Tidy and floriferous, ideal for borders and large pots.
Wendy's Wish Salvia · Salvia 'Wendy's Wish' An Australian-raised sterile hybrid with magenta-pink tubular flowers held in maroon calyces, flowering almost year-round. Nectar-rich and a favourite of honeyeaters; a portion of sales supports the Fairy Garden charity.
Mexican Bush Sage · Salvia leucantha 'Mexican Bush' Arching wands of velvety purple calyces with protruding white flowers light up the autumn garden over grey, felted foliage. Drought-hardy and a magnet for bees and birds.
Hot Lips Salvia · Salvia 'Hot Lips' A bushy Salvia microphylla selection whose bicolour red-and-white flowers shift with the seasons, sometimes all red, all white or lipstick-marked. Tough, long-flowering and bee-friendly.
Caradonna Woodland Sage · Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' Striking violet-blue flower spikes held on near-black upright stems above neat clumps of aromatic foliage. An award-winning, cold-hardy sage that draws bees and rebloms if cut back.
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.
Scarlet Sage · Salvia splendens Blazing spikes of scarlet bracts make this a bold bedding annual that nectar-feeding birds visit. Quick from seed and reliable for hot, sunny summer colour.
May Night Sage · Salvia x sylvestris 'Mainacht' An award-winning sage with deep indigo-violet spikes from near-black buds, flowering early and reblooming if cut back. Compact, cold-hardy and a reliable magnet for bees.
Fairy Fan-flower · Scaevola aemula 'Purple Fanfare' A spreading native groundcover smothered in fan-shaped mauve-purple flowers from spring through autumn. A fast, hardy carpet and trailing container plant for sun.
Aussie Crawl Fan Flower · Scaevola 'Aussie Crawl' A vigorous prostrate fan flower forming a dense mat covered in mauve-blue fan-shaped flowers through the warmer months. Excellent for groundcover, banks and hanging pots.
Showy Everlasting · Schoenia filifolia A bright WA annual everlasting smothered in golden-yellow papery daisies over fine foliage in spring. An easy, cheerful wildflower for sunny beds and dried arrangements.
Autumn Joy Stonecrop · Sedum 'Autumn Joy' Fleshy grey-green clumps topped with broad flower heads that open dusky pink and deepen to rusty-red in autumn. Bees and butterflies cover the blooms; seed heads stand through winter.
Matrona Stonecrop · Sedum 'Matrona' An award-winning stonecrop with purple-tinged stems and grey-mauve fleshy leaves topped by soft pink flower heads. Strongly upright, drought-hardy and alive with pollinators in autumn.
Ruby Glow Stonecrop · Sedum 'Ruby Glow' Low, spreading stems of blue-purple fleshy leaves carry flat heads of glowing ruby-red flowers in late summer. A compact, drought-hardy stonecrop alive with bees and butterflies.
Potato Vine · Solanum laxum A fast, scrambling evergreen climber that produces near-constant clusters of starry white flowers with golden centres. A quick, soft screen for fences, though all parts are mildly toxic if eaten.
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.
Anthony Waterer Spiraea · Spiraea japonica 'Anthony Waterer' A reliable mounding spiraea bearing flat heads of deep carmine-pink flowers through summer, loved by bees. Hardy and easy, with leaves sometimes flecked cream and good autumn tones.
Goldflame Spiraea · Spiraea japonica 'Goldflame' A compact deciduous spiraea with new growth flushing coppery-orange over gold foliage, topped by flat pink flower heads in summer. Brilliant autumn colour and very hardy.
Wood's Pink Aster · Aster 'Wood's Pink' A compact, award-winning Michaelmas daisy covered in clear pink, yellow-centred flowers in autumn. Mildew-resistant and a vital late nectar source for bees and butterflies.
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.
Fringe Lily · Thysanotus tuberosus A delicate native perennial bearing exquisite purple flowers with finely fringed petals on wiry stems over grassy foliage in late spring. A dainty bush-tucker tuber and collector's wildflower.
Alstonville Tibouchina · Tibouchina 'Alstonville' A spectacular glory bush that erupts in masses of velvety royal-purple flowers in autumn over softly hairy foliage. Fast-growing and showy, best in warm, frost-free gardens.
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.
Water Gum · Tristaniopsis laurina An adaptable evergreen Australian native with glossy leaves, smooth peeling orange-brown bark and fragrant yellow summer flowers. A popular, well-behaved street and feature tree.
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.
Plumed Featherflower · Verticordia plumosa A small WA shrub bearing dense heads of feathery, fringed pink flowers that hold their colour for weeks. A delicate, drought-hardy feature and prized native cut flower.
Native Bluebell · Wahlenbergia stricta A dainty native perennial sending up wiry stems topped with nodding sky-blue bells from spring to autumn. A charming, self-seeding filler for cottage and meadow plantings.
Bristol Ruby Weigela · Weigela florida 'Bristol Ruby' A vigorous, upright weigela hung with masses of ruby-red to deep rose trumpet flowers in late spring that draw bees and nectar-feeding birds. Hardy and easy in sun or light shade.
Variegated Weigela · Weigela florida 'Variegata' An arching weigela with green leaves neatly edged creamy white, hung with rose-pink tubular flowers in late spring. A bright, hardy shrub that attracts bees and nectar-feeding birds.
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.
Golden Everlasting · Xerochrysum bracteatum 'Cockatoo' A perennial everlasting daisy bearing masses of papery golden-yellow flowers over grey-green foliage through the warmer months. A long-flowering bee-friendly cut flower and border plant.
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.
Zinnia · Zinnia elegans Vibrant, long-stemmed daisies in hot colours that bloom relentlessly through summer heat. The more you cut, the more they flower; a butterfly magnet and cutting-garden staple.