What to plant in deep red loamy soils

Known for its reddish-brown colour, this type of soil is suitable for vegetables and fruit trees.

Plants for red loamy soils

There are many plants that are suited for deep red loamy soils, including natives.

The composition of red loam soil is usually a blend of sand, silt, and clay, with a significant percentage of clay particles.

As a result, the soil possesses a delicate texture and robust structure, enabling it to remain cohesive and endure erosion.

Common name	Botanical name	Features
Barbed-wire grass	Cymbopogon refractus	Soft blue-green, tufted perennial aromatic grass Taller-arching seed heads, resembling barbed wire
Blue flax lily	Dianella longifolia	Small lily of open eucalypt forest Blue flowers and bright blue berries Suits rockery or foreground planting
Guinea flower	Hibbertia linearis	Low, compact shrub with good form Bright yellow flowers Suits rockery
Many-flowered mat rush	Lomandra multiflora	Small, grass-like plant for sunny sites Sprays of miniature flowers Evening perfume Attracts butterflies
Scrambling lily	Geitonoplesium cymosum	Grassy-leafed scrambler Shiny black berry Dainty white, perfumed flowers Fresh shoots are edible
Kangaroo grass	Themeda triandra	Widespread grass of the eucalypt forest Fine foliage Coppery seed heads in summer

Common name	Botanical name	Features
Dogwood	Jacksonia scoparia	Fine-leafed hardy shrub for sunny position Clusters of yellow pea flowers Porous soils
Hop bush	Dodonaea triquetra	Shrub with distinctive clusters of bronze hop-like fruit Partial shade Likes a moist, well-drained position
Wild may	Leptospermum polygalifolium	Hardy, fine-leafed shrub Open arching habit Useful in mass plantings Small white flowers in summer

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
Broad-leafed boxwood	Denhamia pittosporoides	Useful screen plant Lush green foliage with plentiful orange fruit From dry rainforest
Native hibiscus	Hibiscus heterophyllus	Slender tall shrub Large white flowers with deep red throat Prickly stems
Prickly-leafed paperbark	Melaleuca nodosa	Compact shrub with sharp leaves Adaptable screen plant Prolific flowering of 2 cm cream brushes

Common name	Botanical name	Features
Black or river tea tree	Melaleuca bracteata	Shapely, fine-leafed tree of varied height Profuse small brush flowers attract wildlife Likes a moist deep soil
Black she-oak	Allocasuarina littoralis	Fine needle foliage Male trees go a rusty colour during winter flowering period Attracts butterflies
Cheese tree	Glochidion ferdinandi	Compact tree with small glossy leaves Button-shaped fruit Moist soils Attracts wildlife
Plunkett mallee	Eucalyptus curtisii	Multi-stemmed gum of stunted form Dense heads of nectar-laden blossom in October
Red kamala	Mallotus philippensis	Nicely shaped tree if grown in sun Can be pruned to give new reddish growth Velvety red fruit
Sandpaper fig	Ficus coronata	Edible yellow fruit Attracts wildlife Sandpaper texture to leaves
Swamp box	Lophostemon suaveolens	Fast-growing eucalypt-like tree with graceful branch form Open canopy Frequent flowering periods
Weeping bottle brush	Callistemon viminalis	Small rounded tree of weeping habit Prolific red bottle-brush flowers attract birds Likes moist sites

Common name	Botanical name	Features
Crow’s ash	Flindersia australis	Large timber tree suit specimen Panicles of white flowers Woody fruit opens into five woody sections
Pink bloodwood	Corymbia intermedia	Large tree for acreage or steep sites Comprised original canopy of the area Attractive pink bark Provides food, nest and perch sites for varied native wildlife
Spotted gum	Corymbia citriodora	Large tree for acreage or steep sites Strongly lemon-scented leaves Sheds bark in spring Comprised original canopy of the area Provides food, nest and perch sites for varied native wildlife

Work with your local soil type

Knowing what type of soil you have can help you choose the best plants for a sustainable garden.

Use our soil type tool to find out what type of soil you have in your suburb.

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