Dark alluvial soils

Our climate and growing conditions are perfect for so many plants, so here is what to plant in this type of soil.

Ground covers and grasses (up to one metre) and vines

Table showing common name, botanical name and features
Common name	Botanical name	Features
Blue flax lily	Dianella longifolia	small lily of open eucalypt forest; blue flowers; bright blue berries; suits rockery or foreground planting
Kangaroo grass	Themeda triandra	widespread grass of the eucalypt forest; fine foliage; coppery seed heads in summer
Many-flowered mat rush	Lomandra multiflora	small, grass-like plant for sunny sites; sprays of miniature flowers; evening perfume; draws butterflies
Scrambling lily	Geitonoplesium cymosum	grassy-leafed scrambler; shiny black berry and dainty white, perfumed flowers; fresh shoots edible
Wonga vine	Pandorea pandorana	vigorous twining vine in shaded forest situation; ferny foliage; showy sprays of small trumpet flowers

Low shrubs (one to two metres)

Table showing common name, botanical name and features
Common name	Botanical name	Features
Dogwood	Jacksonia scoparia	fine-leafed hardy shrub for sunny position; clusters of yellow pea flowers; porous soils
False coffee bush	Breynia oblongifolia	small shrub with arching branches; small red-black fruit; open, well drained, moist site; attracts butterflies
Hop bush	Dodonaea triquetra	shrub with distinctive clusters of bronze hop-like fruit; partial shade; moist, well drained position
Pointed-leaf hovea	Hovea acutifolia	fine open shrub; purple pea flowers in late winter; prefers filtered light, deeper soils

Medium shrubs (two to five metres)

Table showing common name, botanical name and features
Common name	Botanical name	Features
Brisbane laurel	Pittosporum revolutum	open shrub with cream flowers; evening fragrance; yellow fruit open to reveal red seeds; attracts birds
Geebung	Persoonia cornifolia	hardy shrub; upright habit; mid-green foliage; small, yellow fuschia-like flowers; yellow edible fruit
Green kamala	Mallotus claoxyloides	"smell of the bush" shrub for under storey in rainforest garden; male and female plants
Large native olive	Notelaea longifolia	dense, rounded shrub; fruit attracts birds
Wild may	Leptospermum polygalifolium	hardy, fine-leafed shrub; open arching habit; useful in mass plantings; small white flowers in summer

Small trees (five to 10 metres)

Table showing common name, botanical name and features
Common name	Botanical name	Features
Blackwood	Acacia melanoxylon	shapely, dense small tree; mid-green foliage; moist deep soils; cream pom-pom blossom in summer
Hard quandong	Elaeocarpus obovatus	tree of creeksides; dense, mid-green foliage; clean grey trunk; small white flowers; small blue fruits
Red ash	Alphitonia excelsa	medium tree; clean grey bark; dark green, leathery leaves, silver beneath; attracts birds and butterflies
Red kamala	Mallotus philippensis	nicely shaped tree if grown in sun; can be pruned to give new reddish growth; velvety red fruit
Tulipwood	Harpullia pendula	small shade tree; disease free and hardy; bright green pinnate foliage; decorative orange fruit persists

Tall trees (over 10 metres)

Table showing common name, botanical name and features
Common name	Botanical name	Features
Moreton Bay ash	Corymbia tessellaris	large trees for acreage or steep sites; comprised original canopy of the area; trunks a feature; provide food, nest and perch sites for numerous and varied native wildlife
Pink bloodwood	Corymbia intermedia	large trees for acreage or steep sites; comprised original canopy of the area; trunks a feature; provide food, nest and perch sites for numerous and varied native wildlife
Tallowwood	Eucalyptus microcorys	large trees for acreage or steep sites; comprised original canopy of the area; trunks a feature; provide food, nest and perch sites for numerous and varied native wildlife

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Last updated: 3 May 2019