Shallow gravelly 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
| Common name | Botanical name | Features |
|---|---|---|
Barbed-wire grass | Cymbopogon | soft blue-green, tufted perennial aromatic grass with taller arching seed heads; resembles barbed wire |
Basket fern | Drynaria rigidula | upright hardy fern; grown in basket will shoot through the matting to eventually conceal the basket |
Blue flax lily | Dianella caerulea | fine 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 |
Yellow buttons | Chrysocephalum apiculatum | delicate little ground cover for dry sunny site; gold coloured pom-poms; foliage has silver undersides |
Low shrubs (one to two metres)
| Common name | Botanical name | Features |
|---|---|---|
Crinkle bush | Lomatia silaifolia | decorative open shrub; fern-like foliage; white, grevillea-like flowers; moist, well drained soil |
Dogwood | Jacksonia | fine-leafed hardy shrub for sunny position; clusters of yellow pea flowers; porous soils |
Forest grass tree | Xanthorrhoea johnsonii | slow growing 1.5 metre grass tree for sunny site; welldrained soils; flower spike attracts wildlife |
Hakea | Hakea florulenta | medium shrub; cream spider flowers in spring attract birds; unusual woody seed capsules |
Pointed-leaf hovea | Hovea acutifolia | fine open shrub; purple pea flowers in late winter; prefers filtered light, deeper soils |
Queensland rosemary | Westringia eremicola | compact shrub, fine grey-green foliage; dainty pale blue flowers over a period in response to rain |
Sago flower | Ozothamnus diosmifolius | fine-leafed shrub with dense heads of cream flowers; attracts painted lady butterfly |
Medium shrubs (two to five metres)
| Common name | Botanical name | Features |
|---|---|---|
Brisbane wattle | Acacia | graceful open tree with drooping foliage; lemon pompom blossom; fast growing but short lived |
Geebung | Persoonia | hardy shrub; upright habit; mid-green foliage; small, yellow fuschia-like flowers; yellow edible fruit |
Golden candlesticks | Banksia spinulosa var. collina | hardy shrub; spreading habit; yellow candle-like flowers; insect and bird attracting |
Grey myrtle | Backhousia | small spreading understorey tree with small leaves; fragrant foliage and beautiful flowers |
Native hibiscus | Hibiscus heterophyllus | slender tall shrub of the river bank; large white flowers with deep red throat; prickly stems |
White bottlebrush | Callistemon | small bushy tree; new foliage pink; nectar-rich, cream brushes attract wildlife |
Small trees (five to 10 metres)
| Common name | Botanical name | Features |
|---|---|---|
Blue lilly pilly | Syzygium oleosum | bushy tree of coast; glossy leaves; red new growth; cream blossom followed by mauve, edible fruit |
Celerywood | Polyscias | handsome shade tree; long pinnate leaves; fast growing pioneer in rich, moist soils; draws wildlife |
Cheese tree | Glochidion ferdinandi | compact tree with small glossy leaves; button-shaped fruit; moist soils; attracts wildlife |
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 |
Tall trees (over 10 metres)
| Common name | Botanical name | Features |
|---|---|---|
Broad-leafed paper bark | Melaleuca quinquenervia | hardy tree for damp sites; cream paper bark; cream brush flowers attract insects and birds |
Brush box | Lophostemon confertus | large tree with deep green horizontal foliage; bare pink bark in upper branches; favours south slopes |
Forest red gum | Eucalyptus tereticornis | large trees for acreage or steep sites; comprised original canopy of the area; trunks a feature; provide food and 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 and nest and perch sites for numerous and varied native wildlife |
Queensland mahogany | Eucalyptus carnea | large trees for acreage or steep sites; comprised original canopy of the area; trunks a feature; provide food and 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 and nest and perch sites for numerous and varied native wildlife |