What to plant in shallow gravelly soils

This thin topsoil layer contains gravel particles. It’s suitable for plants such as the Brisbane wattle and grey myrtle.

Plants for shallow gravelly soils

There are plants that will thrive in all types of gardens with shallow gravelly soils.

These soils can be quite challenging for gardening, as they can be low in nutrients.

Here are some suggestions for what to plant if you have this type of soil.

Common name	Botanical name	Features
Barbed-wire grass	Cymbopogon refractus	Soft blue-green, tufted perennial aromatic grass Taller arching seed heads that resemble barbed wire
Basket fern	Drynaria rigidula	Upright hardy fern Grown in a basket, will shoot through the matting to eventually conceal the basket
Blue flax lily	Dianella caerulea	Fine lily of open eucalypt forest Blue flowers and 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 Attracts butterflies
Yellow buttons	Chrysocephalum apiculatum	Delicate little ground cover for dry sunny site Gold-coloured pom-poms Foliage has silver undersides

Common name	Botanical name	Features
Crinkle bush	Lomatia silaifolia	Decorative open shrub Fern-like foliage White grevillea-like flowers Likes moist, well-drained soil
Dogwood	Jacksonia scoparia	Fine-leafed hardy shrub for sunny position Clusters of yellow pea flowers
Forest grass tree	Xanthorrhoea johnsonii	Slow-growing 1.5-metre grass tree for sunny site Likes well-drained positions Flower spike attracts wildlife
Hakea	Hakea florulenta	Low-growing 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 and deeper soils
Queensland rosemary	Westringia eremicola	Compact shrub with 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

Common name	Botanical name	Features
Brisbane wattle	Acacia fimbriata	Graceful open tree with drooping foliage Lemon pompom blossom Fast-growing but short lived One of Brisbane’s floral emblems
Geebung	Persoonia cornifolia	Hardy shrub with 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 myrtifolia	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 salignus	Small bushy tree New foliage pink Nectar-rich, cream brushes attract wildlife

Common name	Botanical name	Features
Blue lilly pilly	Syzygium oleosum	Bushy tree of coast Glossy leaves and red new growth Cream blossom followed by mauve, edible fruit
Celerywood	Polyscias elegans	Handsome shade tree Long pinnate leaves Fast-growing pioneer in rich, moist soils Attracts wildlife
Cheese tree	Glochidion ferdinandi	Compact tree with small glossy leaves Button-shaped fruit Likes 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	Clean grey bark Dark green, leathery leaves that are silver underneath Attracts birds and butterflies

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 Provides food, nesting 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 Provides food, nesting 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 Provides food, nesting 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 Provides food, nesting and perch sites for numerous and 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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