Plant database

Abrophyllum ornans is a shrub to small tree to 8 m tall. It is grown mainly for its large shiny leaves and showy fruit. The small greenish-yellow to white, and slightly fragrant flowers appear in showy panicles from October to December. It is a useful edge or pioneer species for rainforest restoration.

Abutilon otocarpum is a small shrub to about 0.7 metres tall, found on the western plains on NSW, in semi-arid conditions; on red sandy soils, sand rises and dunes. It is also found in all other mainland states in similar habitats.

Abutilon oxycarpum is a soft-woody shrub growing up to 2 m tall, found naturally on rocky hill slopes as well as creek banks in dry sclerophyll woodlands and forests and sometimes in rainforest, in all states of Australia with the exception of Tasmania. In NSW, it grows on the coastal, tablelands and western slopes, with most of its distribution north of Sydney (but also extending down the south.

Acacia acinacea is a small to medium shrub that is found in south-eastern South Australia, most of Victoria and southern NSW. Phyllodes are small, elliptic with an offset mucro (pointed end). There is a small gland near the centre of the phyllode margin. The flowers are in globular heads with 8-20 flowers in each head. Blooms are bright golden and carried in pairs at the base of each phyllode.

Acacia amblygona is a small shrub reaching a maximum height of 1.5 metres. All forms have dark green, rigid, almost triangular, prickly phyllodes and there is a prostrate form registered as ‘Austraflora Winter Gold’.

Acacia amoena is known as the Boomerang Wattle this name probably refers to the shape of the phyllode but this name could apply to any number of species with similar phyllodes. Acacia amoena is an erect shrub that reaches a height of two metres in our cold climate garden.

Acacia aphylla is a wiry, narrow spiky shrub, to 3 m high, it is endemic to Western Australia and it listed as threatened with extinction.

Acacia ashbyae is a very decorative wattle with long, spreading branches. In our garden plants have proved to be hardy once established, fast growing and free flowering. Pruning is appreciated after flowering.

Acacia asparagoides is a wattle shrub to 2 m tall with a restricted distribution, confined to the Blue Mountains of NSW, between Newnes Junction and Lawson. Here, it grows in dry sclerophyll forest and heath on sandstone.

Acacia baileyana is a large shrub to small tree, growing to 8 m tall. It is indigenous to a very small area in southern inland New South Wales, comprising Temora, Cootamundra, Stockinbingal and Bethungra districts, on the western slopes subdivisions of NSW but has naturalised in places like Sydney and the northern and south tablelands, as well as Qld, Vic, SA and WA.

Acacia baueri is a small shrub to 1 m tall, with a decumbent to spreading habit with hairy and warty branches. It grows mainly along the coast, north from the Illawarra Region of NSW, up into Qld.

Acacia binervia is a shrub or tree from 2 to 16 m high, with dark brown to grey bark. The phyllodes are sickle-shaped to 15 cm long and about 2 cm wide; and are a striking blue-grey. The cylindrical pale to bright yellow spikes of flowers are very showy and appear in spring from August to October, followed by long seed pods.

Acacia blakei ssp. diphylla  is known as the Gorge Wattle. This common name refers to one of the species’ strongholds in the gorge country, east of Armidale in northern NSW. It grows in northern NSW near Gloucester with populations in south east Queensland

Acacia boormanii is a beautiful wattle. In spring plants are covered with blooms. The grey-green foliage provides a contrasting background to the flowers. Prune behind the flowers when they fade to keep plants bushy and blooming bounteously.

Acacia brownii, the Heath Wattle, is a small shrub reaching a height of one metre. The phyllodes are rigid, 4-angled, about two centimetres long and crowned with a sharp point. The flowers are held in globular clusters with 12-30 flowers in each cluster and bright yellow.

Acacia buxifolia, the Box-leaf Wattle, is a native of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. The Box-leaf Wattle is usually a medium shrub reaching a height of two to four metres. There is a form growing on the Northern Tablelands of NSW that develops into a dwarf shrub reaching a height of one metre.

Acacia bynoeana is a small shrub growing to 0.5 m high, in heath and dry sclerophyll forest, in sandy soils. It has a limited distribution in NSW, found mainly south from Morisset area to the Illawarra region, west to the Blue Mountains and it is uncommon in the wild, hence it is listed as a threatened species in NSW.

Acacia caesiella, Tablelands Wattle, is an erect or spreading shrub normally with multiple stems and reaching a height of 3.5 metres. The bark is smooth, grey or brown. Flowers are held in globular clusters with 12-16 individual flowers in each cluster. They are deep yellow and cover plants in spring.

Acacia calamifolia, the Reed-leaf Wattle, is a bushy, tall shrub reaching a height of four metres. The flowers are held in globular heads that are profuse, conspicuous and golden yellow in colour. The flowers are held in globular heads that are profuse, conspicuous and golden yellow in colour. Our specimen carries some flowers for most of the year.

Acacia cardiophylla is widely known as the Wyalong Wattle and is said to grow to a height of four metres. The plants in our cold climate garden, reach a height of two metres with a similar spread. The bipinnate foliage is soft and greyish-green. Golden yellow flowers are carried in globular heads with 20-30 blooms in each head. 

Acacia chalkeri grows to 4 m high and about 2 m wide, with a bushy habit. It is a species confined to a small area around the Wombeyan Caves in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales (north-west of Mittagong) where it grows in shallow limestone-enriched soils.

Acacia cheelii is a small tree with flaky bark inclined to be ribbony. The long phyllodes are up to 16 centimetres long by three centimetres wide, sickle-shaped, bluish-green with three prominent veins. The rod-shaped, golden flower heads are up to six centimetres long and held in clusters of two or three in the phyllode axils. The flowering period extends from September to November.

Acacia clandullensis is an open pendulous shrub growing 1 to 2 m high. It is restricted to the Clandulla and Glen Davis areas in the western coastal / tablelands area, west of Sydney, growing at higher altitudes in stony sandy or clay-loam soils. It is associated with Western Scribbly Gum (Eucalyptus rossii) woodlands.

Acacia clunies-rossiae is a bushy shrub or tree, growing in dry sclerophyll forest, in valleys, on slopes and ridges, and along creeks in the Kowmung River and adjacent Coxs River district of NSW, entirely within Kanangra-Boyd and Blue Mountains National Parks. It has a very restricted distribution.

Acacia cognata is an erect or spreading tree or shrub to 10 m tall, it is found in dry sclerophyll forest and woodland, in sandstone and granite-derived soils, generally south from Nowra in NSW, with most of its extent concentrated on the south coast subdivision, extending into the southern tablelands.

Acacia covenyi, the Blue Bush, is a tall hardy shrub that grows 3 to 6 metres with blue/green foliage and heads of ball shaped yellow flowers during August to September. In cooler climates, it only grows to about 4 metres.

Acacia cremiflora is a small to large shrub, often about 1 metre in height but sometimes to 2 metres. It is found on the central western slopes and tablelands of NSW with some records in the Central Coast subdivision around Yerranderie. Grows in gravelly clay or sandy loam soils, in woodlands and woodland-grassland.

Acacia cultriformis, the Knife-leaf Wattle, is a bushy, medium to tall shrub. The triangular-shaped phyllodes (hence the common name) are crowded along the branches. The size of the phyllode varies from 20 to 30 millimetres long by 6 to14 millimetres wide and bluish green in colour.

Acacia dawsonii is known as the Poverty or Mitta Wattle, and is a small, erect shrub with long, narrow phyllodes. Golden yellow, globular flower heads cover plants in spring. Each flower head is composed of four to eight individual flowers.

Acacia dealbata, Silver Wattle, develops into a medium-sized tree that will reach a height of 30 metres. The flowers are held in globular clusters with 25-35 bright yellow flowers in each cluster. Blooms are carried from late winter to spring.

Acacia deanei, Deane’s Wattle, is a tall, upright shrub or small tree with light green bipinnate foliage. Plants carry pale yellow, globular flowers throughout the year. Both foliage and flowers are features of this attractive wattle. Deane’s Wattle will bring that spring time feeling to the garden throughout the year.

Acacia decora is one of the showiest wattles, producing globular flower-heads which can each have about 30 tiny flowers from April to October. It is often under 2 m, but can get to 5 m. It tolerates a wide range of conditions.

Acacia decurrens is a tall shrub to tree, reaching 12 metres tall. The bark is green with green branches which have winged ridges.

Acacia denticulosa is an open, somewhat sparse shrub to 4 m high, it is endemic to Western Australia and it listed as threatened with extinction.

Acacia doratoxylon, Currawong or Spearwood, is an upright small tree that may reach a height of eight metres. The bark is hard and fissured. Phyllodes are more or less linear, up to 20 centimetres long and 7 millimetres wide and grey-green. Usually glands are absent but occasionally a small gland is present at the base of the phyllodes.

Acacia dorothea has bright to deep yellow very small flowers produced in globular heads, although the heads can be globular to short cylindrical spikes. Flowering is August to October. Restricted range and not known in cultivation.

Acacia echinula is an eastern NSW shrub up to 2 m with prickly phyllodes and bright yellow flowers. It is typically found on hills and plains in sandy soils. Its prickly nature offers good protection for small birds in the garden.

Acacia elata is a  long-lived wattle-tree, potentially reaching 30 m. It is endemic to coastal areas of New South Wales from the Budawang Range in the south as afar as the Bellinger River in the north growing in rainforest and wet sclerophyll forests. It is considered a weed in Qld, Vic and WA.

Acacia elongata is a large shrub growing to 3 m or a bit taller by 1.5 m wide in sunny damp situations in NSW.  It is usually found in sandstone and sandy woodlands and heath. Grows mainly along the NSW coast and tablelands subdivisions but also extends into the western slopes.

Acacia falcata is a spindly and flexuous shrub, growing to 5 m high and only about 1 m wide. It has a somewhat arching/weeping habit. It grows from Queensland, south through eastern New South Wales to Bermagui on the south coast. Its range extends into the tablelands and central western slopes. It grows predominantly on shale soils in open forests and woodlands.

Acacia falciformis grows to 10 m high and has an erect or spreading habit. It grows down the east coast of Australia in coastal areas and extending over the Great Dividing Range to the western slopes in a variety of habitats including moist rocky slopes, gullies and along watercourses, It also grows in Victoria and Qld.

Acacia filicifolia is an erect shrub or tree, growing to a height of 15 m and is mostly found on the coast and tablelands of New South Wales, into the western slopes. It also grows in Qld.

Acacia fimbriata is known as the Fringed Wattle because of the microscopic hairs along the phyllodes. The Fringed Wattle develops into a bushy shrub and if left unpruned will reach the height of a small tree. We prune our specimens annually to keep them bushy, at tall shrub height and flowering profusely.

Acacia fimbriata is naturally found from Sydney to southern Queensland, occurring on the coast and in the adjoining tablelands. It grows in open eucalypt forests on hillsides, preferring well drained, moist sandy loams in a semi-shaded to full sun protected positions. Once established it has a low water requirement

Acacia flocktoniae is a shrub growing to 3 metres high, with a restricted distribution, found on sandstone, in dry sclerophyll forest only in the Southern Blue Mountains (at Mt Victoria, Megalong Valley and Yerranderie, south to Picton) in New South Wales.
It is a listed threatened species.

Acacia floribunda is a small tree / large shrub growing to 8 m tall. It is widespread in forests and woodlands in the sub-tropical and warmer temperate regions of eastern Australia from Victoria to Queensland.

Acacia fulva rows as a shrub or tree to 15 m tall, with smooth bark. It has a limited distribution and considered rare, with few records databased, near the Gloucester Bucketts, to Mt Yengo in Howes Valley, near the junction of the Central Coast and North Coast subdivisions, of NSW.

Acacia genistifolia s a prickly shrub growing to 3 m high, in dry sclerophyll forests and woodlands in NSW, Victoria, and Tasmania. Usually found on gravel and shaley soils. It grows south from about Bathurst, west to Grenfell and Griffith, also recorded in the Warramgamba Catchment

Acacia gladiiformis grows to 3 m tall, on the tablelands and western slopes of the Great Dividing Range in New South Wales, from Warialda in the north through to Cowra in the south. Also grows in the south east area of Queensland.

Acacia glaucoptera is a prostrate to semi-prostrate shrub from Western Australia, it grows naturally north of Albany and east to Esperance, on a latitude south of Perth.

Acacia gordonii is a shrub potentially reaching 1,5 m tall, growing in dry sclerophyll forest and heath on sandstone outcrops in New South Wales between Bilpin in the north to Faulconbridge in the south in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. It is a rare and endangered plant in the wild.

Acacia granitica, the Granite Wattle, comes in two forms. One is a low and spreading shrub with a flat top whilst the other is tall with a rounded growth habit. Both forms have long, narrow, leathery phyllodes with many fine parallel veins. Flower heads are small, ovoid in shape, bright yellow and carried at the base of each phyllode.

Acacia gunnii grows to 1 metre high and wide in dry sclerophyll communities, in various soil types. Widespread in New South Wales (western areas of coastal subdivisions, tablelands and western slopes), as well as South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory, and Queensland.

Acacia hakeoides a shrub or potentially a tree reaching 6 m tall. Widespread plant, mainly in inland areas of NSW (tablelands to far western plains) as well as Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and into Western Australia. Grows in open forest, woodland and mallee areas, in sandy soils and clay loams.

Acacia hamiltonianais a large shrub to 3 m high, and its distribution is in the Great Dividing Range and the associated foothills in western New South Wales, from around Rylstone in the north, down to around the Clyde River in the south where it is growing in sandy or loamy soils as well as sandstone outcrops.

Acacia hispidula an erect or spreading shrub to 2 m tall. It has a disjunct distribution; in the south of NSW, it is found in coastal localities north from Nowra and is especially common in the Sydney region; then it is found further north from Coffs Harbour and inland as far as Brisbane in QLD.

Acacia howittii is a potential tree growing to 9 m tall and potentially 5 m wide, it is naturally restricted to Victoria, growing in the southern Gippsland hills, between Yarram and Tarra Valley.

Acacia implexa, the Hickory Wattle, is a small to medium sized tree that will reach a height of 12 metres. Bark is rough and greyish. Phyllodes are sickle-shaped and up to 20 centimetres long with a small basal gland.

Acacia ingramii is a tall, dense shrub or small tree that may reach a height of seven metres. Phyllodes are linear, about 10 centimetres long with a small hook. They are said to carry two glands on the margin. One is near the base and the other about halfway along. Close examination of our specimen revealed a prominent basal gland on all phyllodes but no evidence of a second gland.

Acacia irrorata grows as a tall shrub or small tree, to 12 m tall, mainly in dry or wet sclerophyll forest and on the margins of rainforest along the NSW coast, tablelands and western slopes. Also extends into QLD and Victoria.

Acacia iteaphylla, the Flinders Range Wattle, is a native of South Australia and comes in several forms. There is a dwarf form and others that are either medium to tall shrubs with upright growth habit or pendulous branches.

Acacia ixiophylla, Sticky Wattle, is a medium, upright shrub. The phyllodes are sticky and about 30 millimetres long by 6 millimetres wide. There is a gland near the base of each phyllode. Bright yellow, globular flowers appear in spring.

Acacia jonesii is a large shrub to 4 m high and 2 m wide, found in a limited distribution in coastal regions, in central and southern New South Wales. It is restricted to the area between Bargo in the north out to Goulburn in the east and down to around Nowra in the south; it is still considered to be rare. It grows in sandstone and in clay soils, as a part of dry sclerophyll woodland and forest communities.

Acacia juncifolia is an erect to spreading shrub to 3 m high, in dry sclerophyll forests and woodlands, in sandy soils. It grows in north-eastern NSW, on the central and north-western slopes as well as the central and north coast subdivisions, extending into QLD.

Acacia kybeanensis is a spreading shrub to 2.5 m tall, growing in two general areas; around the NSW Blue Mountains/Newnes area; and south from the Snowy Mountains into the Gippsland area of Victoria. It is often found on rocky slopes in rocky sandy soils as a part of Eucalyptus woodland communities.

Acacia lanigera is a rounded shrub to 2 m tall, growing in woodland and dry sclerophyll forest, in poor gravelly and sandy soils in NSW, south from Coonabarabran area and into Victoria, mainly found on the tablelands and western slopes of NSW, as well as the south coast.

Acacia leprosa is a large shrub to 6 m, found in woodlands of the central and southern tablelands and western slopes, as well as the south coast of New South Wales, extending into Victoria. The cultivar “Scarlet Blaze” has unique coloured red coloured flowers, for a wattle and is the only cultivar that does. It was discovered in 1995 and is Victoria’s Centenary of Federation emblem.

Acacia leptoclada is an attractive, spreading shrub, a native of northern New South Wales. The common name is Tingha Golden Wattle. Tingha is a village near Inverell on the Northern Tablelands of NSW. One of the strongholds of this acacia is the Goonoowigall State Conservation Area. This large, bushland area protects a range of interesting native plants including Acacia leptoclada and is situated near Inverell.

Acacia leucolobia is an open shrub to 3 m high, naturally found in NSW from near Coolah in the north, south to Katoomba and Burrinjuck, in heath and dry sclerophyll forests. It is mainly found on the central tablelands and central western slopes. Possibly occurs in the Bowral to Wingello area in the southern highlands.

Acacia ligulata is known by several common names including: Dune Wattle, Sandhill Wattle, Small Cooba and Umbrella Bush. It is a rounded, compact shrub that will reach a height of from one to five metres. Our cold climate garden specimen has reached a mature height of 1.5 metres.

Acacia linifolia is known as the White or Flax-leaved Wattle and is a tall shrub or small tree. In our cold climate garden plants reach a height of four metres. Branches are pendulous. The phyllodes are crowded, linear, flat and up to 40 millimetres long. There is a small, almost obscure, gland near the centre of the phyllodes.

Acacia longifolia is commonly known as the Sydney Golden Wattle, and is a tall shrub or small tree that may reach a height of seven metres. Bright flowers are carried in spikes with a pair of spikes at the base of each phyllode. In late winter and spring the blooms are both conspicuous and profuse. Straight or curved pods follow the flowers and hold many seeds.

Acacia longifolia subsp. sophorae – generally a prostrate shrub when growing on exposed coastal dunes, but may grow as a large shrub to 2-3 metres in height (sometimes taller) in more sheltered locations such as near-coastal forests.

Acacia longissima grows near the coast and is found as far north as Nambour and Nerang in south-eastern Queensland, extending down the south coastal areas of New South Wales to around Batemans Bay. It is often found to inhabit the borders of rainforests in wet or dry sclerophyll forest.

Acacia lunata is a shrub to 3 metres high found only in NSW, from around Cessnock in the north down to around Richmond in the south. It is on slopes and around creeks in sandy and sandstone based soils as part of open Eucalyptus woodland communities. It has crescent-shaped phyllodes.

Acacia maidenii is a tree growing to 20 m tall, erect or spreading, with deeply fissured bark. It is very fast growing, reaching 1.5 m tall in as little as five months.

Acacia mariae is an erect or spreading shrub to 2 metres high, with smooth bark. It is naturally found mostly in the central and western parts of New South Wales, being fairly common in the Pilliga Scrub, growing in sand. It tends to be found in Eucalyptus–Callitris dry sclerophyll forest, woodland and mallee communities. There are also some North Coast collection records.

Acacia matthewii is a tree growing to 15 m high, found on margins of wet sclerophyll forest, dry sclerophyll woodland and in pure stands, on sandstone and shale.

Acacia mearnsii is a tree to 10 m tall, with smooth bark. It naturally occurs from Peats Ridge in NSW south, on the coast and tablelands divisions, to Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia. It has naturalised in Western Australia. Found generally in wet sclerophyll forest, woodland and coastal scrubs.

Acacia meiantha is an endangered plant, consisting of severely fragmented populations that are in decline and are found in three disjunct populations, all within the NSW Central Tablelands within 100 km of each other, growing in dry sclerophyll forest or woodland, in sandy to clayey soils. It grows in Mullions Range (north of Orange) and Clarence (east of Lithgow).

Acacia melanoxylon is a tree growing to 30 m tall in a variety of habitats, chiefly in wet sclerophyll forest and in or near cooler rainforest from Queensland to South Australia including Tasmania. In NSW, it is commonly encountered up and down the coast, tablelands and it is scattered on the western slopes.

Acacia montana is known as the Mallee Wattle. This is a medium shrub that reaches a height of two metres in our cold climate garden. The phyllodes are sticky, leathery, up to four centimetres long by one centimetre wide with distinct veins. Flower heads are globular, profuse, conspicuous, bright yellow and appear in spring.

Acacia myrtifolia is a widespread shrub that occurs along the coastal fringe and inland in open forest and woodlands of all States except the Northern Territory It is a dense bushy shrub growing to 1.8m high by the same width with creamy white or pale yellow ball flowers in Winter and Spring. These are followed by 4–7 cm long curved seed pods.

Acacia obliquinervia is a medium-sized tree, growing to 15 m high, in south eastern NSW, ACT and Victoria in dry to moist sclerophyll forest, often on sandstone. In NSW, it grows from the Goulburn River Valley on the central western slopes, south through the tablelands.

Acacia obtusata is a shrub, growing with a spindly habit up to 3 m tall and 2 m wide. It grows in NSW on the central and southern tablelands and western edges of coastal subdivisions, from Rylstone district to near Braidwood across to Tumut, common in the western Blue Mountains. Its habitat is chiefly dry sclerophyll woodland and forest.

Acacia obtusifolia – grows to a large-shrub or small tree, to 8 m high, usually on sandy and sandstone substrates but also on basalt. It grows in wet and dry sclerophyll forest and margins of rainforest, woodland and heath…

Acacia oshanesii a tall shrub or small tree. In our cold climate garden our specimen, after a number of years, has reached a height of five metres with a similar spread. The flower heads are globular, pale yellow and carried in racemes at the base of the leaves. The flowering period is mainly late winter to spring with sporadic flowering at other times. Our specimen carries blooms in late summer. Both foliage and flowers are attractive features.

Acacia oxycedrus is a prickly but interesting wattle, growing to 3 m high by 2 m wide. It is typically found on sandy soils in dry sclerophyll forest or heath in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. In NSW, it is mainly confined to the Greater Sydney Basin but with disjunct populations on the far south coast.

Acacia paradoxa is a prickly shrub growing to 4 m high by up to 4 m across. It grows in many different communities in various soil types in WA, Qld, NSW, Vic and SA. It has been introduced into Tasmania for cultivation and has naturalized.

Acacia parramattensis is known as the Sydney Green Wattle or Parramatta (western Sydney) Wattle and is a spreading tree that may reach a height of 15 metres. The leaves are bipinnate and dark green. There is a large gland at the base of each pair of pinnae and sometimes a smaller gland between pinnae (see thumbnail). Ball-shaped cream flowers are displayed in summer and winter. Pods are linear and clothed with fine hairs that are pressed close to the surface.

Acacia parvipinnula is a variable wattle in terms of height – it can grow to 10 metres tall but are often found much smaller. Acacia parvipinnula has a limited distribution in coastal areas of central New South Wales from around Singleton to around the Shoalhaven River where it is found in a variety of habitats.

Acacia penninervis is a variable plant, growing to 8 m tall. Widespread, especially in inland areas of Victoria, ACT and NSW. It grows with the entire NSW coastal and tablelands subdivisions, as well as the central and north western slopes and into the north far western plains. Also into Qld and Vic.
It is typically found in moist and dry sclerophyll forest and woodland.

Acacia podalyriifolia grows to 6 m high and wide, in open forest and woodland in south eastern Queensland and just into the top of NSW on the North Coast.

Acacia pravissima is a tree growing to 8 m tall and potentially 5 m wide, it grows in sclerophyll forests and woodland, in clays and sandy loams on riverbanks, hillslopes and ridges. It grows on the southern tablelands and western slopes of NSW, south from the ACT, extending into Victoria.

Acacia pravissima ‘Bushwalk Baby’ is a low growing form of the usually upright Acacia pravissima, the Ovens Wattle. The phyllodes are small, wedge-shaped and grey. They are arranged spirally around the stems. Yellow flowers are held in globular clusters and cover plants in spring. As the flowers fade cut off each branch behind the spent blooms. This will maintain the plant’s bushy growth habit.

Acacia prominens is known the Gosford Wattle or Golden Rain Wattle. The Gosford Wattle is a dense, tall shrub or medium tree. Foliage is often retained to ground level. The phyllodes are up to four centimetres long, blue-green with a conspicuous gland on the upper margin (see thumbnail image) about one third from the left.

Acacia pruinosa, the Frosty Wattle, is a medium to tall shrub. The leaves are bipinnate with 9-20 pairs of pinnules (leaflets) per compound leaf. The pinnules are grey-blue. Globular flower heads carry from 40-60 deep yellow flowers.

Acacia ptychoclada is a shrub growing to 2.5 m high and nearly as wide, with a very limited distribution from near Woodford to Mt Victoria, in the Blue Mountains of NSW.

Acacia pubescens is a spreading to slightly weeping shrub 2–5 m high with smooth bark. It occurs in open woodland on alluvial gravel soils, often with ironstone, around the Bankstown-Fairfield-Rookwood area and the Pitt Town area in Sydney. It can also occur at Barden Ridge, Oakdale and Mountain Lagoon to the west, extending to Nowra and Aylmerton to the south, south-west. It is listed as threatened at the Commonwealth and State level.

Acacia pycnantha, Golden Wattle, is Australia’s floral emblem. Golden Wattle develops into a tall shrub reaching a height of eight metres. Golden yellow flowers are held in large clusters that may hold up to 60 individual flowers. They cover plants in spring.

Acacia quadrilateralis is a medium shrub, growing up to 3 metres tall with a spindly habit. It is found in south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales, down to Sydney (north of Botany Bay), with a southern disjunct population at Ulladulla. It typically grows on sandy soils over sandstone as a part of open Eucalyptus woodland communities and heathlands.

Acacia rupicola is known as the Rock Wattle. This is an appropriate common name because the species name means “of rocky areas”. The Rock Wattle is a rigid, upright shrub that reaches a height of two metres and has slightly sticky foliage and stems.

Acacia saliciformis is an attractive small tree or large shrub growing to 7 m with smooth, greyish bark and a weeping habit. It grows in wet and dry sclerophyll forest, in gravelly, sandy and clay loam soils. It is found in parts of NSW from Bilpin in the south to around Bulga in the north, and possibly also growing in the Budawang Ranges. It has red new growth in spring.

Acacia schinoides is an erect tree or shrub 10 m high and 7 m wide. It is restricted to coastal central NSW., north-western Cumberland Plain, Hornsby Plateau and the Hunter River Valley (Lane Cove to Maitland) growing in deep shady gullies usually near creeks. It has naturalised into coastal Victoria.

Acacia siculiformis is known as the Dagger Wattle and is an upright shrub reaching a height of two metres. The common name is apt as the phyllodes are dagger-shaped and come equipped with a sharp point. Individual globular flower heads are held in the axil of each phyllode. Blooms are mid yellow and appear in spring and early summer.

Acacia spectabilis, Mudgee Wattle is a tall spindly shrub or small tree with arching branches. The bipinnate leaves have pinnules or segments in four to eight pairs. Golden yellow flowers are held in globular clusters. Each cluster contains 20-35 individual flowers. The clusters are held in long racemes. Flowering is prolific from late winter to spring.

Acacia stricta is an erect or spreading tree to 6 m tall. It is found in wet and dry sclerophyll forest, woodlands and heath, on a range of soils. It grows all along the NSW coastal and tablelands subdivisions, extending into the south western slopes, and is also in Qld, Vic, Tas and SA.

Acacia suaveolens is a sparse and leggy shrub growing from 0.3 to 2.5 m high, with a narrow spread; occurring from southern Queensland, down the east coast of NSW and Victoria, into Tasmania and South Australia.

Acacia subtilinervis is a tree or shrub growing to 4 metres with grey coloured bark and can have a spreading or erect habit. It is found in NSW, south from around the Lithgow area, growing mainly on the tablelands and then found on the coast south from around Nowra. It also grows in Victoria. It is often found among rocky outcrops as a part of heathland or dry sclerophyll forest communities.

Acacia subulata, the Awl-leaf Wattle, is one of the best of these “out of season” bloomers. The Awl-leaf Wattle is a New South Wales species and grows on the Tablelands and Western Slopes. It grows into a three metre tall, erect shrub. We prune our specimens to keep them to a bushy height of about two metres.

Acacia terminalis is a variable plant in habit, ranging from a small shrub about 1 metre in height to a large shrub up to about 5 metres tall. Widespread in open forest and woodland from northern New South Wales to Tasmania, mainly on the coast and tablelands, usually on sandy soils or sandstone.

Acacia trinervata is an erect or spreading shrub growing to 3 m high. The phyllodes (modified leaves) are very narrowly elliptic to linear with a pointed sharp tip, to 5 cm long and to 3 mm wide. Flowers are produced in globular heads with each head having up to 30 flowers. The heads are produced solitarily in the phyllode axils and are up to 8 mm in diameter. Hence, each wattle flower is very small.

Acacia triptera is known as the Spurwing Wattle and is found in Queensland, NSW and Victoria. This prickly species will grow into a spreading shrub about two metres tall and the same width. Bright yellow flowers are held in rod-shaped clusters. Flowers cover plants in spring and carried for a number of weeks.

Acacia ulicifolia is a prickly shrub growing to 2 m high in dry sclerophyll forests and woodlands in NSW, Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania, usually in sandy soil. It extends up and down the entire coast of NSW and west to the western slopes.

Acacia undulifolia is a straggly shrub to 3 m high with pendulous branches. It is naturally found in NSW in a scattered distribution over the upper Blue Mountains: from the north, near Mount Monundilla; to the south around the Megalong Valley; as far west as the Cox River; extending to the east as far as the Watagan Range and Bucketty.

Acacia verniciflua is a variable shrub growing to 4 m high; generally erect and sparsely branched. Grows in dry sclerophyll forest in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. In NSW, it is mainly found on the tablelands and western slopes.

Acacia vestita, the Weeping Boree, is a medium to tall spreading shrub reaching a height of 3 metres with a similar spread. The branches are pendulous and the foliage is grey-green. The golden yellow flowers are held in dense globular clusters. Plants light up with blooms from early August to October. The Weeping Boree is found in a few localities on the Western Slopes and Southern Tablelands of NSW.

Acacia viscidula, Sticky Wattle, is an erect shrub reaching a height of three metres. Phyllodes are narrow, linear, and leathery with a small hooked point. No glands are visible on the phyllodes. Flower heads are globular, pale yellow and appear from September to November.

Acacia ‘Little Nugget’ is a hardy, small shrub growing to 1.2 metres tall and about the same width, with clusters of ball-shaped yellow flowers during August to September. Acacia ‘Little Nugget’ is frost hardy, prefers full sun to dappled shade and well drained soils.

Acmena smithii – An attractive shrub or tree-myrtle, reaching 30 metres tall. It has a general lilly pilly appearance. Can spread to 10 m wide or more.

Acronychia oblongifolia – A tree growing to 25 m or so tall, from near Gympie in central-eastern Queensland, south through the extent of coastal New South Wales to a few rainforest communities in eastern Victoria. Its natural habitat is rainforest and rainforest margins.

Actinotus forsythii is a herbaceous wiry perennial, mostly prostrate with stems to 50 cm long. It is typically found in the Blue Mountains, south of Katoomba, extending south to the south coast and southern tablelands.

Actinotus gibbonsii is an annual or perennial herb with ascending or decumbent stems to 30 cm long growing in eucalypt woodland and shrubby heath in sandy (often red) soils. It has a natural distribution in NSW, generally from the coastal/tablelands boundaries to the western plains, extending into QLD and just into Victoria.

Actinotus helianthi is Aasoft-wooded shrub, growing to one meter in good conditions. It grows mainly in coastal NSW, in open forest and woodland as well as heaths. It also grows inland on the western slopes and tablelands extending into southern Queensland, as far north as Carnarvon Gorge and Isla Gorge, in sclerophyll woodland and shrublands.

Actinotus minor a spreading perennial wiry herb, erect to spreading horizontally, 15–50 cm high, with long slender stems.

Adiantum aethiopicum – A common plant in Australia, growing along the extent of the NSW coast, tablelands and western slopes, as well as other mainland states except for Northern Territory. It also occurs in Africa, Norfolk Island and New Zealand.

Adiantum diaphanum – A rhizomatous perennial fern, growing in rainforest, often along streams or near waterfalls, mainly found on the NSW Coast and slightly into the ranges, extending in Queensland and down into Victoria. Also grows in NZ.

Adiantum formosum – A perennial ground fern growing to about 120 cm. Widespread, growing in colonies in rainforest or open forest, on alluvial flats near streams, along the coast to the ranges from QLD, down into Victoria. It can dominate the groundlayer in some cases (eg: along the southern end of Lady Carrington Drive in the Royal National Park).

Adiantum hispidulum – A widespread perennial fern, found naturally in both rainforest and open, exposed areas in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and the Northern Territory. Also occurs outside of Australia. In NSW, it grows along the extent of the coast and into the central and northern tablelands and western slopes. It does not grow in the general western half of the country.

Adiantum silvaticum – A comparatively taller maidenhair fern growing in rainforest or open eucalyptus forests, often along streams and moist cliff faces; north from the Illawarra region along the coast in NSW, extending west into the and ranges and into Queensland.

Aegiceras corniculatum grows as a shrub or small tree up to 7 metres high (but typically about 2 m) in NSW, Qld, WA and NT along the coast in tidal areas, and extending into south east Asia. Its fragrant, small, white flowers are produced as umbellate clusters of 10 to 30.

Ajuga australis – A highly variable widespread species occurring in all regions of New South Wales, also in Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia. It can be found in a range of soils and habitats from coastal forests to the dry, mallee country.

Alchornea ilicifolia – A small tree, to 6 metres tall. Found naturally in or on the edges of the drier rainforests; as far south as Jamberoo, New South Wales, north along the coast and extending west into the Hunter Valley, to Atherton in Queensland.

Alectryon subcinereus Is a small tree or shrub growing to 8 m tall and up to 6 m wide with branchlets and inflorescences finely hairy.

Allocasuarina grampiana is known as the Grampian’s Sheoak and is a tall shrub or small tree with distinctive blue-grey foliage this is due to a waxy bloom. In common with many Sheoaks this species is dioecious (male and female flowers are carried on separate plants). Male flowers are carried on the ends of branches in long spikes. When mature, pollen is released and carried by the wind. Female flowers are red with numerous styles giving them a sea-urchin appearance.

Allocasuarina nana is an attractive small shrub that could be grown as a foreground plant in a native garden bed. The Dwarf Sheoak could also be used as a low, informal hedge in the larger garden. The species would make an excellent native substitute for the ubiquitous, slow-growing English Box in this situation.

Alphitonia excelsa – A common tree, growing to 25 m and 5 to 10 m wide in dry eucalypt forest, as well as wet sclerophyll forests and rainforests in New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory and the north-eastern tip of Western Australia.

Alpinia arundelliana is an understorey perennial lily-type plant (not woody) growing to 2 m high in rainforest or wet sclerophyll forest; north from Wyong north into Queensland. It is only found in coastal areas.

Alpinia caerulea is an understorey perennial lily-type plant (not woody) growing to 3 m high in rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests in eastern Australia. It is found north of Gosford in NSW and extends along the coast into Queensland. It is related to species such as Ginger.

Alyogyne huegelii is member of the Malvaceae (Hibiscus) family and is a medium shrub reaching a height of about two metres with a similar spread. The attractive leaves are hairy, with three to five lobes and dull green in colour. The flowers are large, deep purple and hibiscus-shaped.

Anetholea anisata – An attractive tree-myrtle, reaching 30 metres tall. It has a general lilly-pilly appearance. Can spread to 10 m wide or more.
The bark is brown and corky.

Angophora bakeri – A small tree reaching up to 10 m tall. It is has a much smaller range compared to some of its other relatives, growing primarily on the NSW Coast, from Nowra to Port Stephens, and west into the Hunter Valley and Blue Mountains.

Angophora costata – A large tree (rarely a mallee), reaching up to 25 m tall. It has a primarily coastal occurrence in NSW, extending down to the south coast, with some disjunct records in Victoria (north of Melbourne). It extends northwards to north and west of Tamworth, and Armidale, into Queensland and up in disjunct patches, to the west of Townsville.

Angophora crassifolia – A smaller tree, or mallee, reaching up to 15 m tall. It has a very restricted range, confined to northern Sydney on the Ku-ring-gai Plateau. Records are from North Sydney to Brooklyn.

Angophora floribunda – It is a very widespread tree in a variety of habitats in NSW. Its primary occurrence is from south-eastern Victoria, along the whole of the NSW coast into central Queensland.

Angophora hispida – A small tree or mallee, capable of reaching 7 to 10 metres tall but often seen much smaller, forming a lignotuber. It sometimes has a wide spread for a small tree.

Angophora inopina – A smaller tree, or mallee, reaching 8 metres. It has a very restricted range, confined primarily to the Lake Macquarie area of coastal NSW, between Wyong and Newcastle.

Angophora subvelutina – a large tree up to 20 m tall. It is a widespread tree but is found primarily in coastal subdivisions, growing north from Araluen on the NSW south coast, along the central and north coasts into Queensland to around the Sunshine Coast and inland

Anopterus macleayanus is found in sub-tropical areas of south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern NSW. It is a shrub or tree to about 6 to 8 metres with a spreading open crown to about 4 metres. In cultivation, it does not grow as tall as in its natural habitat of higher elevations where it is constantly moist.

Archirhodomytus beckleri belongs to the Myrtaceae family and is the only species of Archirhodomytus growing in Australia. The other four species are from New Caledonia. The common name for this plant is Rose Myrtle and I suspect this name refers to the lovely fragrance of the flowers especially early in the morning before the day warms up.

Asplenium attenuatum – A clumping fern found in gullies and shady areas on creeklines in dry and wet sclerophyll forest and rainforest. It grows on rocks or on tree trunks. It grows along the coast of NSW, north from the lower Blue Mountains, into Qld.

Asplenium australasicum – A common and widespread clumping epiphytic fern typically found growing in trees and on rocks (lithophytic) in rainforest and wet sclerophyll forests.

Asplenium flabellifolium – A delicate ground-trailing fern (prostrate) found in gullies of open forest and rainforest, in rock crevices and sometime growing as an epiphyte on logs and rocks.

Asplenium flaccidum – A very attractive fern, often found hanging in pendent clumps, growing on trees and rocks in rainforest.

Asplenium gracillimum – A very attractive clumping fern confined mainly to the mountainous areas on the NSW coast and tablelands junctions. It also grows in Qld, Vic, S.A and Tasmania. Plants in NZ are named Asplenium bulbiferum.

Asplenium polyodon – A pendent fern which a thick rhizome, often found growing epiphytically on trees or on rocks.

Asplenium pteridoides – A very attractive clumping fern confined to Lord Howe Island. It is typically found in mountainous rainforest, growing on basalt in cool rain forest understorey.

Asplenium trichomanes – A delicate erect ground fern, growing from a rhizome, found in higher altitudes on the tablelands of NSW, usually on limestone substrates.

Astartea ‘Winter Pink’ is a dense shrub that will reach a height of about 50 centimetres with a similar spread. The aromatic leaves are about four millimetres long and carried in whorls around the stems. The flowers are 10 millimetres in diameter, deep pink and carried from April to October. Blooms are both profuse and conspicuous.

Asterolasia beckersii, or Dungowan Star Bush is a very rare plant from an area near Tamworth, New South Wales and is a member of the Rutaceae family. The Dungowan Star Bush is an erect shrub, reaching a height of two to three metres. The leaves are oblong in shape tapering to the short petiole and have an elliptic lamina. The upper surface is green whilst the lower surface is paler green to fawn. The stems tend to be covered in a rusty brown indumentum.

Austromyrtus tenuifolia naturally grows in wet sclerophyll forests, often beside streams or in damp places in the Sydney Basin.  My plant, is now many years old and is growing in my northern suburbs Sydney’s garden, on a thinnish layer of soil over a clay base in a position that is often quite dry compared to its natural habitat.

Azolla filiculoides, Water Fern, is a member of the Azollaceae family and is a small, aquatic, free-floating fern. The fronds range in colour from green to deep red in colour. It is common in dams and other still bodies of water where it forms dense carpets.

Backhousia citriodora belongs to the Myrtaceae family and is endemic to central and southern Queensland (Mackay to Brisbane). My plant is about four metres high and two metres wide and produces masses of white fluffy flowers, about one centimetre in diameter, near the end of the branchlets, in November to December. This plant is popular in cultivation for its bushy habitat, branches to ground level and strongly lemon scented leaves (that can be used in cooking).

Backhousia myrtifolia – An attractive shrub or tree-myrtle, reaching 30 metres tall. It has a general lilly-pilly appearance. Can spread to 10 m wide or more. The bark is brown with finely flaky bark.

Baeckea linifolia is found in heaths, usually in damp areas and near sandstone waterfalls and creeks (coast and tablelands), from south-east Queensland to eastern Victoria where it is rare. It is an ideal screen plant, occasionally self-seeds and the flowers attract bees.

Banksia aemula – A tree capable of reaching 8 metres tall in the wild and a canopy spread to 5 m.

Banksia blechnifolia – A prostrate banksia from WA which generates much interest as it grows along the ground.

Banksia collina – Typically, a multi-stemmed shrub to 3 m tall, bearing a lignotuber.

Banksia cunninghamii is a large shrub or small tree to 6 to 7 m tall. Its leaves are narrow with fine serrations near the end. It forms an open canopy with flowers amongst the foliage. Originally considered a variety of B. spinulosa, but in NSW it is now considered a separate species. It is found in several disjointed populations along the east coast and ranges from northern NSW to eastern Victoria.

Banksia ericifolia – A bushy shrub to small tree capable of reaching 6 metres tall in the wild and a spread to 4 m.

Banksia integrifolia – A shrub to tree, growing to potentially 25 m with tessellated or fissured bark. It is found only on sandy soils, close to the beach on the coast as well as some inland sandy environments (eg: Warkworth Sands Woodland in the Hunter Valley).

Banksia marginata – A shrub to tree, growing to 12 m tall with tessellated bark. It has a much wider distribution compared to other banksias…

Banksia neoanglica – Typically, a multi-stemmed shrub to 3 m tall, but can sometimes be found as a small tree to 7 m tall, bearing a lignotuber.

Banksia nivea – A ground-covering small shrub-banksia from WA, found naturally in the south-west of WA, from Geraldton, extending south and east through Perth, Albany and Esperance.

– Banksia oblongifolia – A shrub to 3 m tall with a lignotuber. It is found usually on sandstone and sandy soils, as well as sandy alluvium.

Banksia paludosa

Banksia penicillata – A shrub, usually to about 4 m tall without a lignotuber. It is found in restricted areas in the central coast, tablelands and central western slopes, mainly in the Blue Mountains (Wollemi National Park), on sandstone cliffs or steep rocky slopes.

Banksia plagiocarpa – A shrub, usually to about 5 m tall. It is restricted to Hinchinbrook Island in northern Queensland and the adjoining mainland close to the coast (between Townsville and Cairns).

Banksia praemorsa – A shrub, usually to about 4 m tall. It is restricted to south-west WA on the south coast between near Albany and extending about 100 km east. It grows on sand in sclerophylls shrubland and woodland.

Banksia robur, Swamp Banksia, is a shrub reaching a height of two metres with multiple stems arising from a lignotuber (swollen root mass). Bark is smooth and the branchlets are covered with tangled, rusty hairs. The leaves are large, with toothed margins, glossy green above and light green beneath.

Banksia serrata – A tree capable of reaching 20 metres tall in the wild (although such trees will be old) and a canopy spread to 10 m. It is one of the iconic and easily identifiable banksias of the east coast of Australia.

Banksia spinulosa grows mostly on the central and south coast subdivisions of NSW, extending into the tablelands where records are fewer, also extending up the north coast into Queensland, with disjunct populations up to about Townsville.

Banksia vincentia – A very rare banksia, only recently found in the wild, which grows to only 1 m tall but can spread to 2 m wide, bearing a lignotuber. It has mostly prostrate stems which curve up (decumbent) at terminals.

Bauera rubioides An attractive border plant if pruned, otherwise it likes to scramble all over the place, if ample moisture is available. Prune after flowering to keep compact. Bauera rubioides occurs in coastal heaths and forest of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland. It grows along the entire coast and tablelands of NSW, usually on sandstone creek lines and heathlands.

Billardiera cymosa is known as the Sweet Apple Berry and is a member of the Pittosporaceae family. The Sweet Apple Berry is a slender climber. Leaves are narrow-lanceolate and about seven centimetres long. Young shoots are covered with silky hairs. Tip pruning will increase foliage density.

Billardiera scandens ‘Apple Dumplings’, the Common Apple Berry or Apple Dumpling, is a member of the Pittosporaceae family. Common Apple Berry is a slender climber. Stems may reach three metres in length. Common Apple Berry is a slender climber. Stems may reach three metres in length. Leaves are linear-lanceolate, up to three centimetres long, glossy dark green with wavy margins. Juvenile shoots are very hairy. In open positions plants may develop into a small shrub 1.5 metres tall.

Blandfordia nobilis prefers to be grown in full sun in coastal regions and not colder, drier shady positions. It grows best where the soil is naturally deep and light (sandy) with fairly constant moisture.

Boronia crenulata, sometimes known as the Aniseed Boronia, is a Western Australian native and is found in the southwest corner of that botanically rich state. This small shrub will reach a height of about one metre with a similar spread

Boronia ledifolia grows naturally in moist, semi shaded positions with free draining lighter soils. Very showy in sandstone woodlands when in flower. In some seasons, it can be noticed on the sandstone cliffs above the Pacific Highway between Sydney and Gosford. A desirable garden plant in flower from late winter, although Boronia generally are notoriously difficult to grow.

Boronia mollis is a small showy shrub to about 2.5 metres with bright pink flowers. It grows in NSW, occurring naturally around Sydney, ranging as far north as Coffs Harbour, south to around Moss Vale, and inland as far as the Dividing Range, in open forest and woodlands on sandstone.

Boronia pinnata is a shrub reaching a height of 1.5 metres. The leaves are pinnate with 5-11 leaflets. The flowers are carried in clusters held in the upper leaf axils. Each flower is about 1.5 centimetres in diameter, four-petalled and pale to deep pink in colour. A white-flowered form is also in cultivation. Flowers are both conspicuous, profuse and appear in spring. Both foliage and flowers are strongly aromatic. 

Boronia serrulata is a shrub growing usually to about 1.5 m tall. It grows in moist heath in sandy situations, chiefly in a coastal band in the Sydney district; within a radius of about 50 km of Sydney from Gosford to the Royal National Park, where it is found growing in semi-shade amongst outcrops of Hawkesbury sandstone in dry sclerophyll woodland and heath.

Boronia ‘Carousel’ has an obscure origin. Possibly it was originally selected from the wild in the Albany district of Western Australia. ‘Carousel’ is a tall shrub reaching two metres in height. The pinnate leaves are aromatic, dark green and up to 35 millimetres long. Flowers are bell shaped, 8mm long, bright pink aging to deep red and are both conspicuous and profuse. Flowering occurs from late September to November.

Brachyscome graminea is a herbaceous daisy and groundcover, growing in open forests from coasts to alpine areas of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. In NSW, it grows mainly on the coast and tablelands.

Brachyscome multifida, the Cut-leaf Daisy, is a hardy and colourful perennial. It develops into a dense, ground covering mound reaching a height of 30 centimetres with a diameter approaching a metre. Foliage is light green. In spring and summer plants are covered with mauve-pink flowers. A great groundcover or edging plant in the garden.

Bulbine bulbosa grows throughout temperate Australia from central Queensland to Tasmania and South Australia as well as all over NSW, usually on heavier soils. It grows in a variety of habitats including dry sclerophyll woodlands and forests as well as grasslands and rock crevices. It can be found in large numbers in cleared and regenerating open grassy areas after rain.

Bulbine semibarbata is a perennial herb. Succulent leaves are up to 27 centimetres long with a channel. From September to December, plants produce multiple flowering stems up to 40 centimetres long. Each flowering stem holds up to 35 yellow blooms, with each flower up to two centimetres in diameter.

Bulbine vagans is a perennial herb reaching a height of 20 to 60 centimetres. The roots are thick; the long, shiny, succulent leaves have a channel down the middle and are up to 30 centimetres long. From spring to mid-summer plants produce many flowering stalks (or scapes), with each scape holding up to 45 bright yellow flowers.

Bursaria spinosa is known as the Blackthorn and also the Tasmanian and South Australian Christmas Bush because summer is the main flowering period of this prickly plant. Blackthorn develops into a medium to tall shrub with oval leaves, shiny on top and dull underneath. The branches carry large spines.

Callistemon brachyandrus has a number of common names including: Mallee Bottlebrush, Prickly Bottlebrush and Prickly Mallee Bottlebrush. It is usually a small to medium shrub with small prickly leaves. Young growth is softly hairy.

Callistemon citrinus syn: Melaleuca citrina produces flowers in late spring, summer and autumn with two flowerings if some moisture is provided. There are many hybrids produced using this plant as a parent. A popular cultivar is Callistemon ‘Endeavour’ which can have bright metallic red/pink inflorescences.

Callistemon comboynensis is known as the Cliff Bottlebrush and grows into a medium shrub reaching a height of three metres. The leaves are narrow to broad-lanceolate, leathery with numerous oil dots. New growth is pinkish. The flower spikes are red, five to nine centimetres long and between four to eight centimetres wide. The main flowering period is in summer and autumn with sporadic flowering at other times.

Callistemon flavovirens is a spreading shrub that can reach a height of two metres with a similar spread. New growth is soft and has a silvery appearance. Adult leaves are dark green, narrow elliptical, up to eight centimetres long and widely spaced along the branches. The greenish-yellow flower spikes are about eight centimetres long.

Callistemon formosus is known as the Cliff Bottlebrush or Kingaroy Bottlebrush. The latter common name refers to a town in southern Queensland near where the species occurs. It is a tall shrub that may reach a height of five metres with a spread of three metres and pendulous growth habit. The specimens, in our cold climate garden, are two metres tall four years after planting.

Callistemon linearifolius is a tall shrub to 4 m high by 3 m diameter. It grows in dry sclerophyll forest and woodlands on the NSW coast and adjacent ranges, chiefly north from Georges River, Sydney, to Nelson Bay, and occasionally further north in NSW to the Queensland border.

Callistemon linearis is a shrub growing to 3 m high in forests and woodlands from central New South Wales (around Nerriga) to south-east Queensland. It grows on the coast, tablelands, western slopes and plains of NSW.

Callistemon megalongensis is  a shrub growing to around 4.5 m tall with soft, flaking or peeling bark. It is similar to Callistemon citrinus which occurs in the same area and is difficult to distinguish from it, except when in flower. Found in shrubby swamp communities near streams.

Callistemon pallidus has slender spreading branches growing to a height of 3 to 5 m by 2 m across. It is common on wet, rocky sites of the eastern ranges and occurs naturally in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Tasmania. In the ACT, it is a dominant species in heath on exposed mountain slopes. It grows primarily on the coast and tablelands regions of NSW.

Callistemon phoeniceus is one of only two Callistemons endemic to Western Australia and is known as the Lesser Bottlebrush. The significance of this name escapes us but perhaps there was a comparison with Callistemon glaucus, the other WA bottlebrush. 

Callistemon pinifolius, the Pine-leaved Bottlebrush, is an open shrub that reaches a height of 1.5 metres with a similar spread in our cold climate garden. The leaves are narrow, about ten centimetres long with a sharp point. Flower spikes may be bright lime-green or red.

Callistemon pityoides grows naturally to 3 m high and 2 m wide at altitudes from above 2000 m down to around 900 m. It is found commonly in and around sphagnum bogs and swamps and along watercourses in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, mainly on the coast and tablelands, often on granite or peat.

Callistemon rigidus grows to 3 m high by 2 m wide. Typically found in damp places such as sandy swamps and sandstone creeklines. It is widespread on the coast, ranges and extends into the western slopes, but is found mainly in the Sydney district. Leaves are narrow and linear to 7 cm long, and only 4 mm wide and very rigid.

Callistemon rugulosus is known as the Scarlet Bottlebrush and in the wild will develop into a straggly shrub up to four metres tall. In our cold climate garden annual pruning has kept this species to a compact two metres. The bark is grey and peels. The leaves are thick and rigid, up to 50 millimetres long, seven millimetres wide and crowned with a pungent point.

Callistemon salignus is known as the Willow Bottlebrush. The species name means willowy and refers to the growth habit. Callistemon salignus is a tall shrub or small tree. The brushes are creamy-white to yellow, five centimetres long by three centimetres wide and appear in spring. Brushes are usually abundant and conspicuous. Sometimes there are sporadic blooms in autumn. 

Callistemon serpentinus s known as the Wood’s Reef Bottlebrush and is an upright shrub that may reach a height of four metres. Our specimens are kept to a dense height of two metres by annual pruning. Yellow flower spikes are about six centimetres long and appear in late spring and early summer. Flower spikes are both prominent and conspicuous.

Callistemon shiressii is an uncommon shrub or small tree, to 12 m tall, occurring in and between the Singleton and Richmond localities in NSW. It grows on shale ridges in moist eucalypt forest and rainforest as well as along riverbank.

Callistemon sieberi a shrub or tree growing to 8 m tall, with fibrous bark, or hard, fissured bark on older plants. It is naturally widespread along watercourses, dried and rocky riverbeds and gullies on the coast, tablelands and western slopes and plains of NSW.

Callistemon subulatus grows along the banks of watercourses of coastal and tableland districts, south from Sydney to Victoria. In its natural habitat, they grow from one to sometimes 3 metres high. Callistemons are closely related to Melaleucas, which also have ‘bottlebrush’ shaped flower spikes. Botanists, especially those at the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra are currently closely studying these plants to determine how they are best classified.

Callistemon ‘Taree Pink’ is thought to be a cultivar of C. citrinus. ‘Taree Pink’ is a medium sized shrub that will reach a height of between two to three metres with a similar spread. The flowers are bright pink, ten centimetres long, three centimetres wide and appear in profusion in mid spring. Flowering extends into summer.

Callistemon ‘Anzac’ is a form of Callistemon citrinus collected from a wild population on Anzac Cove, southern Sydney NSW. The cultivar was registered in 1986. It is a sprawling shrub growing to a height of one metre with a maximum spread of three metres. In our cold climate garden plants seldom exceed one metre across.

Callistemon ‘Candy Pink’ is a medium to tall shrub that may reach a height of four metres with a spread of three metres. Plants this size tends to be rather straggly with few flowers. ’Candy Pink’ has lance shaped leaves and long, narrow flower spikes. They are pinkish-red fading to pink. There are usually several flowering flushes each year.

Callistemon ‘Firebrand’ is a low spreading, dense ground cover that reaches a height of 50 centimetres with a spread of over one metre. Adult leaves are stiff and shiny with oil dots while new growth is soft and pink. The brushes are a rich crimson-pink and appear in profusion from spring to autumn.

Callistemon ‘Hannah Ray’ is a tall shrub with pendulous branches. Leaves are narrow-lanceolate and new growth is bright pink. In late spring plants produce large, bright red brushes. Honeyeaters flock to the flowers. Remove flowers as they fade. This keeps plants dense and blooming bounteously.

Callistemon ‘Little John’ is an attractive dwarf, rounded shrub that reaches a height of one metre by one metre wide. The narrow leaves are an unusual blue-green and crowed along the stems. Flowering is prolific in spring and in our cold climate garden plants also bloom in autumn and winter. Honeyeaters visit the flowers. Growth habit, foliage and flowers are attractive features.

Callistemon Packers Selection’ is a small shrub reaching a height of 1.5 metres with pendulous growth habit. The narrow leaves are four centimetres long by four millimetres wide. The narrow leaves are four centimetres long by four millimetres wide. Brushes are nine centimetres long by three centimetres wide. They are deep red, fading as they age.

Callistemon ‘Pink Champagne’ develops into a dense, upright shrub that will reach a maximum height of three metres with a spread of two metres. The leaves are lance-shaped, grey-green, aromatic and fairly stiff. The distinctive feature of this cultivar is the large soft pink flower heads with yellow anthers. Blooms fade to white as they age.

Callitris endlicheri is known as the Black Cypress Pine and reaches a maximum height of about 15 metres. The branches are erect sometimes spreading; the bark is tough and deeply furrowed. The foliage is bright green. The female cones may be solitary or several clustered together. They are egg-shaped and contain a number of sticky seeds that are coated in resin. Cones persist on the tree for a number of years.

Callitris pyramidalis, known variously as the Swamp Cypress, Swan River Cypress and King George’s Cypress, is a tall shrub or small tree said to reach a height of eight metres. In our cold climate garden specimens reach about four metres after five years in the ground. They tend to attain a greater height with more watering. The typical Callitris foliage is dark green.

Callitris rhomboidea s known as the Port Jackson Pine or Oyster Bay Pine. The common name depends on the location of the species. The former name refers to populations in NSW whist the latter common name refers to those in Tasmania. We will stick to Port Jackson Pine because of our location. The Port Jackson Pine is a small tree that may reach a height of 15 metres. Mature trees have an attractive pyramid shape. 

Calostemma purpureum seems to be one of those plants that gain popularity and then, for some unknown reason just stop being around, at least in the local area of Newcastle. When first starting a native garden, I recall seeing this attractive plant in other members’ gardens and also available to buy in specialist nurseries. I am pleased that I have “rediscovered” this lily and had the pleasure of many flowering heads during late summer. Commonly called Garland Lily, it belongs to the family Amaryllidaceae and is the only wholly endemic genus of that family in Australia.

Calothamnus rupestris is known as the Cliff Net Bush or Mouse Ears. Net Bush is the common name applied to most Calothamnus. Calothamnus rupestris is a medium, erect shrub that has reached a height of two metres with a similar spread in our cold climate garden.

Calotis cuneifolia is a member of the Asteraceae (Daisy) family. The genus is usually known as Burr Daisies. It is a dwarf, rounded perennial, with white or lilac daisy flower heads and small wedge-shaped leaves (cuneate, hence the species name).

Calytrix tetragona  is the most widespread member of the genus Calytrix which has about 75 species, all endemic to Australia. This species is found in woodland and forest in eastern and southern Australia.

Carex gaudichaudiana is a loosely-tufted sedge to 40 cm tall with creeping rhizome. It grows in wet areas (swamps and creekbanks) from near sea level to alpine areas.

Cassinia quinquefaria is a member of Asteraceae (Daisy) family and grows into a shrub that reaches a height of two metres with a similar spread. Cough-bush, Dead-finish and Rosemary shrub are some common names.

Ceratopetalum ‘Johanna’s Christmas’ – This cultivar is a dwarf form of Ceratopetalum gummiferum. It is a dense shrub to 1.5m tall x 1.5m wide. Registered with ACRA by Brian and Carol Roach of Westleigh, Sydney on 14 Jan 2004.

Chorizema cordatum, the Heart-leaf Flame Pea, is a native of south-western Western Australia and develops into spreading shrub reaching a height of one metre. It is relatively hardy when grown in humid areas on the east coast of Australia. Leaves are heart-shaped up to six centimetres long with a leathery texture. Sprays of orange-red, pea-shaped flowers cover plants in spring.

Chrysocephalum apiculatum, the Common Everlasting, is a perennial herb which is found throughout Australia in a wide range of environments. Because it has such a wide distribution there is considerable variation in height, growth habit and leaf colour. The profuse yellow flowers make it a popular groundcover.

Cinnamomum oliveri – A rainforest tree growing to 30 m tall at the eastern coastal parts of Australia. It grows from the Illawarra district in New South Wales to Cape York Peninsula at the northern tip of Australia.

Cissus antarctica – A vigorous vine, endemic to Australia, occurs in north-east Queensland and central-east Queensland and southwards as far as south-eastern New South Wales. In NSW, it grows along the coast mainly but extends into the tablelands and central western slopes.

Cissus hypoglauca – A vigorous common vine, found along almost the entire east coast of NSW, from south of Townsville to eastern Victoria, growing in warmer rainforest but also found in littoral rainforest near beaches and wet sclerophyll forest.

Citronella moorei – A large tree to 40 m tall. Easily identified in the rainforest by the extraordinary twisting and crooked trunk.

Citrus australasica, finger lime, seems to me to be pretty easy to grow. Mine is now about 5 years old, and has been flowering and bearing fruit for the last three years. I would guess that it is a grafted specimen, although it doesn’t say that on the label. 

Claoxylon australe – A shrub or small tree growing to 9 metres in height with a trunk diameter of 30 cm. Grows in all types of eastern Australian rainforests. The natural range is from Eden in south eastern New South Wales to Bowen in tropical Queensland.

Clematis aristata – A vigorous woody climber growing to 6 m high or more in dry and wet forests of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. It has been recorded in Western Australia, but there is doubt about the accuracy of this record.

Clematis glycinoides is a member of the Ranunculaceae family and is a medium to large climber. Clematis are dioecious, the male and female flowers are carried on different plants. Flowers are three centimetres across, white or greenish and starry. They cover plants in spring.

Clematis microphylla is a member of the Ranunculaceae family and is a vigorous climber. Clematis are dioecious, the male and female flowers are carried on different plants. The flowers are up to four centimetres across, greenish-cream and cover the climber from August to November

Clerodendrum tomentosum – A small tree, growing up to 10 metres tall with a trunk diameter of 0.25 m, (though usually much smaller), from Batemans Bay in southern coastal New South Wales, extending mainly along the coast with some incursions into the central western slopes, into Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia, and New Guinea.

Commersonia salviifolia is a member of the Malvaceae family. It is a medium, spreading shrub. Leaves are up to 12 centimetres long, two centimetres wide, mid green above with a dense covering of white hairs beneath. Juvenile growth is white-hairy beneath.

The Conostylis genus is endemic to Western Australia and is found mostly in the south west corner of that state where they generally grow in well drained sandy soil. There are some 45 species and are all perennial, tufted herbs and are closely related to the Kangaroo Paws. It is a very adaptable plant and a great ground cover.

Cordyline stricta is a tall, narrow herbaceous lily-plant to potentially 5 metres tall. North from near Bilpin, NSW, it grows chiefly along the coastal subdivisions into North QLD. Mainly found in wet sclerophyll forest and rainforests.

Coronidium elatum is a perennial that may reach a height of two metres. Both stems and leaves are covered with white hairs, giving plants a woolly appearance. Leaves are lanceolate and up to ten centimetres long. Papery white flower-heads up to four centimetres across appear in spring.

Correa alba is a rounded, dense shrub that may reach a height of three metres. In our cold climate garden specimens reach a height of about two metres. Leaves are almost circular, greyish-green with a rounded end. The flowers are not typical tubular Correa flowers. Correa alba has blooms that are more flattened and star-shaped. They are usually white with some forms having blooms with a pink tinge. The main flowering period covers autumn and winter with sporadic flowering at other times.

Correa baeuerlenii, the Chef’s Cap Correa, is a dense, rounded shrub reaching a height of two metres. We lightly prune our specimens and keep them to a dense 1.5 metres. Leaves are narrowly ovate, up to seven centimetres long, glossy, with prominent glands on each surface and slightly aromatic when crushed. Tubular flowers are greenish yellow, about three centimetres long, solitary and pendulous.

Correa glabra is a tall shrub, endemic to Australia (NSW, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia) with attractive, quite vibrant elliptic leaves, 1 to 4 cm long and 5 to 17 mm wide. They will grow in a variety of soil types as long as the soil is well drained. They are very ‘prune-able’ and shoot from old wood.

Correa lawrenceana var. rosea is a tall shrub that will reach a height of 3-4 metres. Dark green, narrow leaves are up to 60 millimetres long, shiny with a leathery texture above and hairy beneath. Tubular flowers are red, narrow and up to 20 millimetres long. Blooms appear in autumn and winter and help to light up our cold climate garden in these cooler months.

Correa reflexa is a species that occurs in every state except Western Australia. Growth habit, foliage shape and flower colour all differ dramatically across the range of this species. Perhaps in the future these differences will provide fertile ground for a botanist to split Correa reflexa into many new species.

Correa ‘Autumn Blaze’ is a form of Correa pulchella selected in the wild from a population on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. It is small and compact, growing to a height of about 30 centimetres with a spread of 1.5 metres. Leaves are glossy, mid-green above and paler beneath. The orange flowers are the outstanding feature of this cultivar.

Correa ‘Cardinal Bells’ is a compact shrub reaching a height of one metre. The foliage is bright green. The eye-catching, large, tubular flowers are orange/red and appear in large numbers in the cooler months. As with all the Correas the flowers, of this cultivar, are rich in nectar consequently the blooms are a magnet for honeyeaters.

Correa ‘Coliban River’ is a dense shrub that, in our garden, reaches a maximum height of two metres. Narrow leaves are three centimetres long, glossy on top and paler below. Tubular flowers are two centimetres long, yellowish green with flared tips. The main flowering period extends from autumn through winter with sporadic flowering at other times. In autumn and winter our plants are covered in blooms for months.

Corymbia citriodora – An erect tree to a height of 50 metres, forming a lignotuber.

Corymbia eximia – A tree growing to 20 m tall, forming a lignotuber. It is endemic to New South Wales, occurring from west of Nowra on the south coast, north through the lower parts of the Blue Mountains to the Hunter Valley which is it northern limit.

Corymbia ficifolia – A tree restricted to the south-west of WA where it grows to a typical height of 10 metres, forming a lignotuber. It is generally found in the Walpole-Mt Frankland region (west of Albany) with some smaller populations to the east.

Corymbia gummifera – A very common tree growing to 30 m tall, forming a lignotuber. It sometimes exists as a mallee and smaller tree on ridgetops.

Corymbia maculata, the Spotted Gum, is a medium to tall tree usually with a solitary trunk.The bark is smooth, cream to dark grey or bluish and has a spotted or blotched appearance. Leaves are lance-like, dark green and rather shiny on both surfaces with prominent venation. The flowers are white, fragrant and carried in clusters of three to five. Prolific flowering occurs between May and September. 

Crassula helmsii, the Swamp Stonecrop, is an aquatic or bog plant. Plants may creep or float depending on the depth of water. Stems will reach a length of 30 centimetres. Small leaves are succulent, linear, and green or reddish in colour. Small white flowers are carried in the upper leaf axils. Flowering is prolific in spring.

Crinum pedunculatum is a member of the Amaryllidaceae family in company with the exotic Narcissus and Nerine. The accepted common names are Swamp or River Lily. Crinum pedunculatus grows in colonies along tidal areas and streams. The species is evergreen, hardy and resists frost.

Crowea saligna has a restricted distribution in the Greater Sydney basin, from Woy Woy in the north to Yerrinbool in the south and west to the Blue Mountains. It is typically found in sandstone heaths, shrub lands and dry sclerophyll woodlands and forests.

Crowea ‘Festival’ is a hybrid between Crowea exalata and Crowea saligna and was a chance seedling in the garden of past Australian Plant Society members, Arthur and Irene Cooper. I have been growing Crowea ‘Festival’ for many years in my garden in the northern Sydney suburb of Westleigh.

Crowea ‘Poorinda Ecstasy’ is a hybrid whose parents are thought to be Crowea saligna and a form of Crowea exalata. The former parent may have been a form of C. saligna from the Central Coast of New South Wales. The latter parent comes from northern Victoria.

Cyathea australis is an arboreal tree-fern growing to potentially 20 m tall. It is known as the Rough Tree Fern due to the presence of shield-like plates (bases of old fronds), tubercles (knobbly bits) and masses of hair-like scales on its ‘trunk’.

Cyathea cooperi is a great, beautiful looking ornamental background or feature plant which grows best in high humidity and high soil moisture conditions. Use good quality mulches and top them up regularly as this will keep the soil moist and also provide nutrients to the shallow root system. Grow in a shady position with some protection from hot western sun for it to look its best. Responds well to small amounts of organic fertiliser.

Cymbidium suave is a leafy clumping orchid which sometimes resembles a Lomandra. It is usually seen growing in eucalypt trees as an epiphyte. It is about 0.5 m tall by 0.5 m or more wide and has attractive yellow scented flowers in spring and summer.

Dampiera purpurea is widespread in open eucalypt woodland in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland in eastern Australia. A small perennial suckering shrub that reaches 1 to 1.5 metres high and can spread to 2 metres across. It has erect angular woody stems that are sparsely branched and densely hairy. Leaves are 1–6 cm long, 0.5–2.5 cm wide.

Dampiera stricta is a dwarf, suckering perennial reaching a height of 60 centimetres with a spread of up to one metre. The leaves may be up to 6 centimetres long, two centimetres wide, linear to elliptic in shape and may have a few coarse teeth. The flowers are nearly three centimetres across, sky-blue to deep mauve-blue.

Darwinia citriodora, the Lemon-scented Myrtle, is a native of Western Australia and grows to about 1.5 metres tall with a similar spread, forming a compact, rounded shrub. The attractive leaves are rich green, 6 mm to 12 mm long, colouring during winter with traces of purple-red.

Daviesia latifolia, the Hop Bitter-pea, is a medium, upright shrub that may reach a height of three metres. The large, leathery leaves are up to ten centimetres long, three centimetres wide with a network of veins and slightly twisted. 

Dianella caerulea is an attractive upright plant with flax-like leaves to 60 cms high. Flowers are blue with yellow anthers and are borne on spikes to one metre high and are followed by globular bright blue-purple fruit. It grows from coast to the mountains along Eastern Australia. This species has many named varieties and this article is about ‘John 316’ King Alfred. Other varieties are ‘Cassa Blue’ and ‘Little Jess’ to name a few.

Dichopogon fimbriatus, the Nodding Chocolate Lily, is an erect herb reaching a height of 1 metre with fibrous roots terminating in a tuber. The linear leaves are up to 35 centimetres long and grass-like in appearance. In spring and summer each plant carries a flower spike carrying about 12 large, blue, six-petalled flowers.

Dipodium punctatum, the Hyacinth Orchid is a leafless, terrestrial orchid. Usually one or two spikes carry up to 50 deep purplish-red hyacinth-like flowers. The photo shows an exceptional flowering with eight spikes growing close together. Summer is the peak flowering season.

Dodonaea boroniifolia has both interesting foliage and colourful capsules. Reaching a height of 2-3 metres this species has pinnate leaves. The leaflets are dark green, sticky with lobed apex. Flowering extends from May to December. The 4-winged capsules that appear after flowering are an eye-catching purplish-red. The dark green foliage contrasts with the capsules.

Dodonaea viscosa, the Sticky Hop Bush, is a tall multi-stemmed shrub reaching a height of four metres. The leaves are linear, sticky with a margin that may be entire, slightly wavy and slightly toothed. It was used by Aboriginal people to treat toothache, cuts and stingray stings. Dodonaeas were also used by early settlers to make beer (hence the common name).

Doryanthes excelsa, the Gymea Lily, is a hardy, clumping monocot with fibrous sword-like leaves which grow up to 1.5 m long and 10 to 12 cm wide. It grows from a thickened underground stem which penetrates deep into the ground to protect against drought and fire, so does best in deep soil.

Doryanthes palmeri, the Giant Spear Lily, has long wide sword-like leaves in rosettes. These arise from ground level and produce numerous suckers to form a large dense clump. Leaves are 2 to 3 m long. It normally flowers in spring. Its flower stalk is very long (up to 4 m) and is different from Doryanthes excelsa in that the stalk droops rather than being upright and the flowers are spread further down the stem.

Drosera hookeri, in common with all Sundews, is a carnivorous plant that traps insects on specialised hairs carried on the margins and upper surface of the leaves. The hairs are known as tentacles. The soluble parts of the prey are absorbed by enzymes released by the tentacles.

Elaeocarpus reticulatus should be growing in everyone’s garden! This is a popular, fast growing plant that has been in cultivation for well of 70 years. The common name is Blueberry Ash, because it produces many small bright blue berries about one centimetre in diameter after flowering.

Epacris longiflora is an erect to spreading shrub, to 2 m high; stems with prominent short broad leaf scars; leaves ovate to about 2 cm long, and 7 mm wide, with a sharp narrowing point; mid to dark green in colour. Flowers extending down branches, produced within the leaves.

Epacris microphylla is an attractive and hardy plant to 1 m when grown in well-drained soil. It needs a consistently moist but not over wet soil. Prune after flowering to keep compact and promote flowering and mulch around the base to help retain soil moisture. A good container plant.

Epacris pulchella is a slender erect shrub to 1.5 m high but usually shorter, it grows in scrub, heath and dry sclerophyll forest on sandy soils. Its range is on coast and tablelands, north from Conjola and Ettrema Creek into SE Queensland.

Eremophila bignoniiflora is a spreading, weeping shrub that may reach a height of five metres by almost the same width. The branches are smooth and sticky. Leaves are light green, long and strap-like. The flowers are large, tubular and usually cream with purple spots in the throat.

Eremophila calorhabdos, Red Rod is a two metre high shrub with upright growth habit. Before opening buds are orange-yellow then change to carmine when the flowers open. They are carried at the base of the leaves and appear from winter to summer. Honeyeaters visit the blooms. This is a beautiful emu bush with its columns of flowers. The visual impact of native cottage gardens and rockeries would benefit from the inclusion of a couple of Red Rods.

Eremophila debilis, Winter Apple, is a ground cover with a spread of about one metre. Leaves are bright green and tend to curve upwards, with a succulent feel. Five-petalled flowers are white, tinged with lilac and appear in spring and summer. Blooms are followed by small, fleshy fruits that turn purple when ripe and look like miniature apples, hence the common name.

Eremophila decipiens, Slender Emu Bush, is a small shrub that reaches a height of one metre. Flowers are typically tubular with four upper lobes and one lower. Blooms are bright red, profuse and appear from April to November.

Eremophila densifolia is a mounded ground cover reaching a height of 60 centimetres with a spread of 1.5 metres. The narrow leaves are closely spaced (hence the species name) and have serrated margins. Leaf colour is variable and may be bright green or grey with a purplish tinge. Flowers are tubular, 12 millimetres long, purple, violet or blue. They form clusters close to the ends of the branches.

Eremophila denticulata is known as the Fitzgerald Emu Bush or Toothed Eremophila. The former name refers to the Fitzgerald River National Park, Western Australia, where this rare species occurs. Eremophila denticulata will grow into a shrub from 1 to 3 metres tall.

Eremophila glabra ‘Kalbarri Carpet’ develops into a dense ground cover spreading over two metres. Foliage is soft and silvery-grey. The tubular flowers are yellow, rich in nectar and form a ring around the stems at the base of each leaf. Blooms are profuse, conspicuous and appear in spring and summer. The leaves and flowers form a stunning living carpet.

Eremophila laanii is a medium to tall shrub that may reach a height of four metres. Leaves have a succulent feel and are narrow, flat with a pointed tip. Flowers are white, cream or pink and two centimetres long. They are conspicuous and extremely profuse during the flowering period which extends from August to January.

Eremophila microtheca is a small, compact shrub reaching a height of 1.5 metres with a similar spread. Leaves are fine, narrow, hairy when young and becoming hairless with age. Foliage gives off an odour, when crushed, which may be objectionable to some gardeners.

Eremophila polyclada, the Flowering Lignum, grows in inland areas of all mainland Australian states except Western Australia. This species is a tangled, spreading shrub that reaches a height of three metres in our cold climate garden

Eremophila ‘Beryl’s Blue’ is an outstanding shrub. The foliage shines like a beacon in the garden and the flowers add to the effect. Occasional tip pruning will improve foliage density. Both foliage and flowers are attractive features.

Eremophila ‘Summertime Blue’ is a naturally occurring hybrid whose parents are Eremophila divaricata and Eremophila polyclada. The hybrid originated in northwest Victoria on the floodplains of the Murray River.

Eremophila ‘Thundercloud’ is one of the many cultivars of Eremophila maculata. “Thundercloud” has been available, from nurseries, since about 2010. Eremophila ‘Thundercloud’ is a small to medium shrub that in our cold climate garden reaches a height of 1.5 metres.

Eriostemon australasius grows in heathland and dry eucalyptus woodlands from Lake Conjola on the New South Wales south coast, northwards, mainly along the coast, to Fraser Island in Queensland. It is a very desirable plant for the garden but results in cultivation are mixed.

Eryngium ovinum is known as the Blue Devil and is in the Apiaceae family in company with flannel flowers and the carrot. It is a perennial herb, which dies down during autumn and emerges in late winter to flower in summer. Blooms last for many weeks and are an impressive sight with their bright and unusual blue colour.

Eucalyptus albens, the White Box, will develop into a medium to tall tree. The trunk is short and straight. The crown is rounded to spreading. Bark is persistent, light grey to whitish with bleached patches. Branches are smooth and white. Leaves are oval to lance-like and are grey to bluish-green on both surfaces. The buds are carried in clusters of three to seven and are spindle-shaped.

Eucalyptus apiculata, the Narrow-leaved Mallee Ash, is a small tree that will reach a height of six metres. In the wild, probably due to bushfires, plants may develop a multi-stemmed (mallee) growth habit. Cultivated specimens usually make do with a single trunk. Bark is smooth, white or grey-green and shed in strips.

Eucalyptus badjensis, Big Badja Gum, will reach a height of at least 20 metres. The solitary trunk has persistent rough bark on the lower level. Upper parts are smooth, white, green or grey. Leaves are 20 centimetres long, 1.5 centimetres wide, lance-like and leathery.

Eucalyptus baeuerlenii, Baeuerlen’s Gum, is a small to medium tree. In the wild plants usually have multiple trunks (mallee growth habit) due to the influence of bushfires. In cultivation plants usually restrict themselves to a single trunk.

Eucalyptus boliviana is known as the Bolivia Hill Stringybark and develops into either a single-trunked tree reaching a height of about 12 metres or a five metre, multi-stemmed mallee. This mallee growth habit is probably triggered by bushfires and occurs in the wild. Cultivated plants will usually have a single trunk as does the specimen in our cold climate garden.

Eucalyptus caesia is commonly known as Gungurru. This Western Australian native is a small tree that may reach a height of nine metres if a single trunk develops. If the tree develops a mallee growth habit with multiple trunks then the height may be restricted to six metres. Our tree has a single trunk and is close to nine metres tall.

Eucalyptus crenulata, Buxton Gum or Silver Gum, is a medium-sized tree that will reach a height of 12 metres. Leaves are small, toothed, greenish-grey and used in cut flower arrangements. The foliage provides a contrast with other foliage in the garden. Leaf-eating insects such as scarabs seem to leave the foliage of the Buxton Gum alone.

Eucalyptus curtisii, Plunkett Mallee, is a small tree that reaches a height of six metres. The bark is smooth, leaden grey to greenish-white and is shed in thin strips. Club-shaped buds are carried in large clusters. White, showy flowers appear in spring and early summer. Fruits are bell-shaped.

Eucalyptus cypellocarpa – Potentially a very tall tree, reaching 50, to even 65 metres, in some habitats, forming a lignotuber. It has a sturdy straight trunk with mostly smooth bark with shades of white, grey and yellow, which sheds in long ribbons.

Eucalyptus fastigata – Potentially a very tall tree, reaching 50 metres in some habitats. It has a sturdy straight trunk with fibrous-stringybark at the base, but does not form a lignotuber.

Eucalyptus gillii has various common names including Silver Mallee and Curly Mallee.  Eucalyptus gillii is a small tree reaching a height of eight metres. Bark is smooth over most of the trunk with persistent flaky bark at the base. Leaves are lanceolate to broadly egg or heart shaped. They may be green, grey-green or blue-grey.

Eucalyptus gregsoniana, Wolgan Snow Gum is a tall shrub or small tree reaching a height of six metres. In the wild plants often develop mallee growth habit with multiple trunks. Cultivated specimens usually confine themselves to a single trunk. The bark is smooth, white or grey and shed in ribbons.

Eucalyptus kruseana would be one of the best eucalypts for cultivation in suburban gardens. Unpruned plants may become straggly. This is prevented, once plants are established, by cutting back each stem almost to ground level. This will encourage multi-stemmed (mallee) growth.

Eucalyptus lansdowneana, Crimson Mallee is a small tree that will reach a height of six metres. In the wild plants usually have multiple stems (mallee growth habit) but in cultivation plants usually restrict themselves to a single trunk.

Eucalyptus macrandra, Long-flowered Marlock, is a mallee from 4 to 10 metres tall. Plants often produce multiple trunks that grow from a large lignotuber (swollen root mass). In our garden specimens confine their growth to one trunk. The bark is smooth, light brown and is shed in long strips then ages to grey.

Eucalyptus magnificata is known as the Blue Box and is a tree that will reach a height of 15 metres. The bark is pale grey, fibrous and flaky. The leaves are oval and five to ten centimetres long by four to six centimetres wide. They are bluish-green in colour.

Eucalyptus michaeliana is known as the Hillgrove Gum. The common name refers to the village of Hillgrove, east of Armidale on the Northern Tablelands of NSW. A large population, of Eucalyptus michaeliana, occurs near the village.

Eucalyptus microcorys – Potentially a very tall tree, reaching 60 metres in some habitats. It has a sturdy straight trunk with continuous stringybark and forms a lignotuber, with continuous stringybark (stringy / mahogany-like) with very small brown-mica flakes on the surface (which aids identification).

Eucalyptus obliqua – Potentially a very tall tree, reaching 90 metres in some habitats. It has a sturdy straight trunk with continuous stringybark and forms a lignotuber.

Eucalyptus olsenii is known as the Woila Gum and grows into a tree reaching 12 metres in height. The bark is rough on the lower part of the trunk whilst the rest of the trunk and branches are smooth, white, cream or grey. Leaves may be lance-like or curved, up to 12 centimetres long, two centimetres wide and glossy green. Buds are carried in clusters of seven and have distinctive ribs or ridges.

Eucalyptus prava , the Orange Gum, develops into a small to medium tree with a trunk that is often rather twisted. The bark is smooth and comes in a range of colours. Patchy grey, grey-brown, orange and red-brown are all colours in the palette of Orange Gum bark colours. In spring the bark is shed in large plates or flakes. This is when the orange colour is most vivid (hence the common name). As the year progresses this colour fades.

In my northern Sydney’s suburbs garden, I planted Eucalyptus preissiana ten years ago, after bringing it back from Western Australia (with a quarantine clearance). It has ‘mallee’ habit, that is, multi-trunks arising from a lignotuber and has only grown to 1.5 metres high by the same width. In the wild, it grows to 2 to 3 metres in height by a similar width.

Eucalyptus pulverulenta is known as the Silver-leaved Mountain Gum and develops into a tall shrub or small tree. In cultivation the species is usually seen as a tall, spreading shrub. The Silver-leaved Mountain Gum is an unusual Eucalypt (especially for eastern Australia) because it retains juvenile foliage into maturity. Plants rarely produce adult leaves.

Eucalyptus punctata – A large tree, growing to a height of 35 m, with a lignotuber. It is a gum – meaning it has smooth-bark for all of its length. The bark can display vivid shades of grey, white and salmon-orange at different times of the year. It occurs through the ranges and near coastal areas from near Gympie in Queensland, to near Nowra in New South Wales, most commonly on transition zone soil types between sandstone and shale, mainly on the coast and tablelands, extending into the western slopes.

Eucalyptus quadrangulata – A large tree, growing to a height of 45 to 50 m, forming a lignotuber. Found on the slopes and edges on the eastern side of the Northern and Central Tablelands in New South Wales, between Dorrigo and Scone in the north to Bundanoon and Milton in the south.

Eucalyptus racemosa – A tree, growing to 20 m, forming a lignotuber. It grows in woodland and forest, sometimes in pure stands, on poor sandstone and sandy soils, in mid to high rainfall areas. It is found along the coast, tablelands and western slopes in NSW, from Bombala, extending north-west to Bathurst and west to Canberra (ACT), north to Gympie and Bundaberg in south-eastern Queensland.

Eucalyptus radiata – A tree, growing to a height of 50 m in forest and woodland. Usually found in cooler or wetter habitats in New South Wales, south from near or just over the Queensland border, along the tablelands / and highlands of the coastal areas, to the Wombat State Forest and Great Otway National Park and ranges of South Gippsland in Victoria and into central Victoria.

Eucalyptus resinifera – A tree, growing to 45 m high, forming a lignotuber. It is found in coastal areas from Nowra in New South Wales to Gladstone in Queensland. It grows in forest on flats, valleys and gentle slopes, preferring soils of medium to high fertility but is also found on sandstone, especially in Sydney.

Eucalyptus robusta – A tree to 30 m tall and occurs in swamps and alongside estuaries in a narrow coastal strip, usually within a few kilometres of the ocean, from Rockhampton, Queensland, south to around Moruya in New South Wales. It is usually found on sandy and loam soils. It forms a dominant part of Swamp Sclerophyll Forests in NSW.

Eucalyptus rossii – A tree, growing to a height of around 15 to 20 m and forms a lignotuber. It has a scattered distribution over the New South Wales tablelands, western slopes from Tenterfield in the north to Bombala in the south. It is generally found west of the Blue Mountains, growing in sandy and stony well-drained soils, typically on slopes and ridges.

Eucalyptus rubida – A tree, growing to 40 m high in woodland and forest, usually in shallow soils on tablelands, hills and slopes in cold areas. It forms a lignotuber. It grows mainly on the tablelands of NSW, growing just into the western slopes, into Victoria and Tasmania.

Eucalyptus saligna – A large tree that can become a giant, growing to 60 m tall and forms a lignotuber. Found in areas which receive between 800 to 1200 mm of rainfall, on either clay-loams or soils of volcanic origin, within 120 km of the coastline. Grows to as far south as Port Jackson, north along the coast to Maryborough in central Queensland. Then there are disjunct populations further north up to Cairns. It does form an integral part of the endangered blue gum high forest ecological community in the Sydney region.

Eucalyptus scias – A tree growing to 20 m tall, forming a lignotuber and usually with noticeable wide leaves. Sometimes grows as a mallee. Found in high rainfall coastal forests on soils of medium fertility in several disjunct populations, up and down the NSW Coast, extending just into the tablelands areas, from near the Queensland border, south to Batemans Bay / Narooma.

Eucalyptus sclerophylla – A tree, growing up to 20 metres tall. Around Sydney it often occurs on the higher ridges, where the soil is drier and less fertile as well as in vegetation types such as Castlereagh Scribbly Gum Woodland. Further afield, it ranges north from Jervis Bay, Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley.
Smooth barked, with shedding bark of white or grey. Scribbles often found on the bark.

Eucalyptus siderophloia – A tree, growing to a height of 20 to 45 m, forming a lignotuber. It is found in forests on the coast and adjacent foothills in soils of reasonable fertility, from about Maryborough and Springsure in Queensland to just north of Sydney in New South Wales.

Eucalyptus sideroxylon is an ironbark eucalypt, potentially reaching 35 m high, though much shorter in cultivation. It is found in open forest and woodland, mainly on the tablelands, western slopes and plains of New South Wales, although it also occurs on the fringes of the Sydney basin, extending into Queensland and Victoria (through the inland parts).

Eucalyptus sieberi – Potentially large tree growing to a height to 45 m (but does not form a lignotuber). Commonly found in forests and woodland, often in pure stands, on soils of low to medium fertility in coastal NSW.

Eucalyptus signata – A tree, growing to 25 metres tall, forming a lignotuber, in dry sclerophyll forests or swampy areas at low altitude, on sandy soils or sandstone.

Eucalyptus smithii – A large tree usually (but also found as a mallee), forming a lignotuber, growing to a height of 40–45 m. It is typically found in higher rainfall areas, on sloping sites, on the coast and tablelands of NSW, south from Yerranderie, to eastern Victoria.

Eucalyptus sparsifolia – A tree growing to a height of 20 metres. It is found in Sydney, especially on the north-western parts, usually on sandstone, and spreads, north-west through the Hunter Valley and to the Pilliga Scrub.

Eucalyptus squamosa – A medium tree, growing to a height to 15 m and forms a lignotuber. It is generally found in sclerophyll woodland on ridgetops and plateaus, where soil accumulates in depressions on the sandstone, on and around sandstone plateaus, and often on lateritic soils.

Eucalyptus stellulata – A medium tree, growing to a height of 15 m (and forms a lignotuber). It is confined to the tablelands of NSW, extending into Qld and Vic.

Eucalyptus stricta – A small tree or mallee endemic to New South Wales, growing to 7 m tall, forming a lignotuber. It has a scattered distribution from the Central Tablelands around Newnes Plateau, south to Dr George Mountain north-east of Bega

Eucalyptus tereticornis – A large tree growing to 50 m (and forms a lignotuber) and has a wide distribution, occurring over the widest range of latitudes of any Eucalyptus species, occurring from southern Papua New Guinea at latitude 15°S, to south-eastern Victoria at latitude 38°S.

Eucalyptus umbra grows to 25 m tall, forming a lignotuber. It grows in the high rainfall coastal areas of New South Wales between Sydney and Grafton, northwards to south-eastern Queensland.

Eucalyptus viminalis is a gum-eucalypt potentially reaching 40+ metres, though usually much shorter. It is widespread and abundant, in grassy woodland or forest on fertile loamy soils in higher rainfall areas, from South Australia around the east coast to Queensland. A hardy, large shade tree suitable for parks or very large gardens.

Eutaxia obovata – A shrub to about 1 m tall which grows only in moist karri forests in S-W Western Australia.

Glycine tabacina, the Glycine Pea, is a creeping trailer or climber with slender stems. The leaves are trifoliate (a compound leaf with three leaflets). The terminal leaflet is the longest. The pea-shaped flowers are about six millimetres long, blue, violet or purple and carried in axillary clusters. Flowering occurs from mid-spring to early autumn.

Goodenia decurrens is a small erect shrub with multiple stems. The leaves are five to ten centimetres long, lanceolate with toothed margins. The profuse bright yellow flowers are about two centimetres across and are carried in dense clusters during the warmer months with sporadic flowering at other times.

Goodenia ovata is a member of the Goodeniaceae family and is known as the Hop Goodenia. There are 170 Goodenia species with only three occurring outside Australia. Plants may be an upright or spreading shrub that will reach a height of two metres.

Graptophyllum excelsum is found along the eastern coast and ranges of Queensland.  The natural habitat of Graptophyllum excelsum is north of Cairns to south of Gladstone but this versatile and hardy plant apparently can grow in Melbourne (or so some gardening books suggest) and is resistant to light frosts.

Grevillea acanthifolia is a spreading shrub that may reach a height of three metres with a spread of four metres. Judicious pruning will keep plants to a more manageable height and width. Divided leaves are bright green, stiff, prickly and up to 12 centimetres long. Grevillea acanthifolia carries pink, toothbrush-type flowers for most of the year.

Grevillea acerata is a short shrub that is usually about one metre tall. Young growth is light green and mature leaves are linear, green above and whitish below. Each leaf is crowned with a prickly point. Clusters of flowers are carried on the ends of branches. Blooms are hairy and an unusual pale grey-pink and white colour. Flowering is profuse between June and December.

Grevillea acropogon is a prostrate to erect shrub reaching a height of 1.8 metres. The leaves are light green, lobed with a sharp point on the end of each lobe. Flowers are held in terminal racemes and are an eye-catching red. Blooms are rich in nectar and are frequently visited by honeyeaters. Flowering extends through spring.

Grevillea anethifolia is known as the Spiny Cream Spider Flower and is a medium, spreading shrub. Our specimens reach a height of two metres with a similar spread. The flowers are creamy-white, conspicuous, profuse and sweetly perfumed.

Grevillea arenaria ssp. arenaria is a medium to tall shrub that reaches a height between three to four metres in our cold climate garden. The leaves are light green, soft and have a velvety feel. The flowers may be pink, red or orange with a green or yellow base.

Grevillea arenaria ssp. canescens is restricted to a height of one metre or less. Leaves are up to four centimetres long, one centimetre wide with the characteristic velvety undersurface. Flowers are yellow to red with a green perianth.

Grevillea aspleniifolia – A spreading shrub to 3 m high and 4 m wide that is endemic to New South Wales. It is found naturally between about Bowral and Katoomba, with a few records further south including near Bungonia Caves. It is common west and south of the Lake Burragorang area and can be seen growing along the roadside near Yerranderie. It typically occurs in rocky eucalypt woodland on shale or sandstone.

Grevillea banksii – A large shrub 7 m high. There are also prostrate forms found in the natural habitats. It is endemic to Queensland, occurring from Ipswich to Townsville, mainly along the coast in dry sclerophyll woodland and forest and coastal heathland, ridges and slopes.

Grevillea baueri – A spreading to erect shrub to 2 metres tall. It is endemic to NSW and found naturally from around Hill Top, south to around Braidwood with much of its records in Bundanoon-Exeter and east of Nerriga. It is found growing in dry sclerophyll woodland or heath in sandy soils on sandstone.

Grevillea beadleana is a beautiful, dense, spreading shrub with soft, divided, grey-green leaves. The toothbrush-shaped flowers are dark red, almost black in colour. Blooms are carried for most of the year and are rich in nectar.

Grevillea bronwenae – An erect shrub growing to 2 metres tall, typically with a narrow spread to about 1 metre.

Grevillea buxifolia – A shrub to 2 metres tall and can spread to about 2 metres. It grows in open woodlands, forests and well as coastal heaths, along the central coast of NSW and adjacent ranges. Mainly found on sand and sandstone. The branches are covered in reddish or brown hairs.

Grevillea caleyi – A shrub to 3 m tall up to 4 m wide with long spreading branches. It grows in a small restricted area, approximately 8 square km, on Hawkesbury sandstone around Terrey Hills, 20 km or so north of Sydney NSW. It grows in a small restricted area, approximately 8 square km, on Hawkesbury sandstone around Terrey Hills, 20 km or so north of Sydney NSW. It occurs in three major areas of suitable habitat, namely Belrose, Ingleside and Terrey Hills/Duffys Forest within the Ku-ring-gai and Northern Beaches Local Government Areas.

Grevillea capitellata – A low dense mounded or prostrate shrub to 0.5 metres high. It occurs over a restricted area in the south of the Sydney Basin and northern Illawarra, bounded between Cordeaux Dam, Cataract Dam, Bulli and Mt Ousley in N.S.W.

Grevillea chrysophaea, the Golden Grevillea, is an open shrub reaching a height of 1.5 metres with a similar spread. Flowers are carried in clusters on short branches. The flower colour varies from bright yellow to brownish yellow. The bright yellow flowering forms are spectacular.

Grevillea crithmifolia has two forms. One is a compact two metre tall shrub. The other is a dense ground cover with a spread of at least two metres. The groundcover form is the one most favoured by gardeners. Light green leaves are divided at the end into three narrow segments. In spring plants are covered with dense clusters of white or pink flowers. Honeyeaters are attracted to the flowers.

Grevillea diffusa – A spreading shrub to 2 metres tall. It is confined to the central coast subdivision of NSW, occurring north of the surrounds of Wollongong, to north of Gosford and west to Wentworth Falls, with some records near Kandos. Most records are in the Royal NP and around Mt White and Calga. It grows in dry forest and woodland, occasionally in swampy heath, usually on Hawkesbury sandstone.

Grevillea diversifolia is a native of the south-west corner of Western Australia. The species is said to reach a height of five metres. Our specimens, after ten years, are about 1.5 metres tall by the same width. Our specimens, after ten years, are about 1.5 metres tall by the same width. The leaves are up to 40 millimetres long and broad near the apex. A few leaves are lobed. This feature has probably given rise to the species name.

Grevillea evansiana is an attractive small shrub with unusual flowers and could be cultivated in a native garden bed or large rockery. Grevillea evansiana is surviving and thriving in our cold climate garden.

Grevillea flexuosa – A shrub growing to 2 m tall with spreading/arching branches which can spread several metres wide. It is a threatened species growing in Western Australia and is found naturally in the south-west region, north-east of Perth, typically growing in Jarrah Forest.

Grevillea floribunda, Rusty Spider Flower, is a dwarf to medium shrub with oval to long shaped leaves. Young growth is rusty-hairy. Adult leaves are deep green above and greyish hairy beneath. The unusual flowers are rusty-green, tightly clustered in groups of seven or so.

Grevillea georgeana – It is endemic to Western Australia, occurring in the hills and mountains between Koolyanobbing and Diemals, in the Coolgardie and Murchison regions.

Grevillea granulifera comes in two forms. One is a rounded shrub about two metres tall. The other is a tall, upright shrub reaching a height of four metres. Flowers are pinkish red or pinkish purple with red styles. Honeyeaters often attend the blooms.

Grevillea humilis is an erect to spreading shrub that may reach a height of just over one metre. Flowers are carried on the ends of branches and may be white or pink. Peak flowering occurs in spring and summer with sporadic flowering at other times.

Grevillea iaspicula, The Wee Jasper Grevillea, is a medium shrub with light green leaves and large clusters of cream and pink flowers that characterise this hardy Grevillea. In cultivation plants usually carry flowers for many months. Honeyeaters flock to the blooms. Pruning will keep plants compact and flowering profusely.

Grevillea imberbis – A shrub to 0.4 m high or prostrate, with a rhizomatous suckering ability. It is only found in two separate areas, from Kanangra Walls (Boyd Plateau) SE of Oberon and the Braidwood–Mongarlowe–Currockbilly areas (central and southern tablelands) in NSW. It grows in wet low heath or on heathy-woodland margins, in skeletal soils over sandstone.

Grevillea insignis – A shrub growing to 5 metres tall with spreading/arching branches which can spread several metres wide.

Grevillea jephcottii is variously known as Green Grevillea, Jephcott’s Grevillea and Pine Mountain Grevillea. This rare native is found in small areas mostly in the Burrowa-Pine Mountains National Park in north-eastern Victoria. This rare native is found in small areas mostly in the Burrowa-Pine Mountains National Park in north-eastern Victoria.

Grevillea johnsonii – A shrub that typically grows to a height to 4.5 metres, often around 2 metres. It is found on sandstone – rocky habitats, in the Capertee and Goulburn River catchments, north-west of Sydney in the central tablelands and central western slopes divisions. There are also some unsubstantiated records from the south-coast of NSW.

Grevillea juniperina – A prickly-leaved and highly variable shrub, growing to 3 m high, typically on clay-based or alluvial soils in dry sclerophyll woodland. It is common on creeks and moist areas but can also be seen colonising roadsides in some places.

Grevillea kedumbensis – A shrub to 1 m high with a lignotuber. It is naturally restricted to an area between the Kedumba Valley and Scotts Main Range (near Yerranderie, west of Lake Burragorang in NSW).

Grevillea lanigera ‘Mt Tamboritha’ make an excellent compact ground cover as they grow to about one metre (or less) in diameter to about 20 cms high in situations with full sun to partial shade in fairly well drained soils. Its attractive grey/green foliage is a good colour contrast to its flowers, and is best shown if planted in groups of three. 

Grevillea laurifolia – A prostrate shrub, to 4 metres or more in diameter. It is endemic to NSW and found naturally in the Blue Mountains and on the ranges from the Newnes Plateau to the Wombeyan Caves (mostly near central coast and tablelands boundary).

Grevillea leiophylla is a small shrub with linear-lanceolate leaves up to 30 millimetres long. Pink flowers are held in terminal, spidery clusters and appear in spring and summer. This small species is a native of Queensland and is found north of Brisbane.

Grevillea linearifolia – Is an upright spreading shrub up to about 2 to 3 m high. It is found naturally, primarily in the Greater Sydney Basin, from Gosford and Putty area to the Parramatta River and Port Jackson, then with disjunct populations near Nowra and Ulladulla as well as Lawson in the Blue Mountains.

Grevillea macleayana – A spreading to erect shrub to 4 m high. It occurs solely on the N.S.W. South Coast, mainly around Jervis Bay and extending patchily west of Nowra to Bundanoon and south to Ulladulla, with a remote location further south in Deua National Park.

Grevillea molyneuxii – A low spreading shrub to 1 m tall. Restricted to a small area in the southern highlands of NSW, viz. south of Penrose, above Tallowa Gully and Bundanoon Creek, in Morton National Park and on Crown Land.

Grevillea montana – A spreading shrub to 0.5 to 1.5 m high from the southern Hunter Region of New South Wales; from Denman to Kurri Kurri, growing in open forests on sandy soils.

Grevillea mucronulata is a spreading to erect shrub which usually grows up to 2 m high. Its primary natural range is from the upper Hunter Region around Denman and Singleton, west to Rylstone…

Grevillea obtusiflora – A spreading shrub, to 2 m high, sometimes suckering from roots (producing ramets or clones). Grows in sandy loam soils in open lower midstorey in dry sclerophyll forest in the Kandos and Capertee Valley areas of NSW (Central Tablelands)

Grevillea oldei is a small, open shrub with arching branches and may reach a height of one metre. The leaves are narrowly ovate to almost triangular with a sharp point. Bright red flowers are carried in pendulous, terminal globular clusters.

Grevillea oleoides – A shrub to 3 m high, growing in moister areas of dry sclerophyll woodland or heath, often beside creeks or in swampy ground, on sandstone and sandy soils.

Grevillea parviflora – A shrub usually to 1 m high or less, or almost prostrate. It can spread from rhizomes. It is generally confined to the Greater Sydney Basin (in recent times, more occurrences have been recorded) found naturally from Prospect to Camden and the Avon and Cordeaux Dam area on clay soils

Grevillea patulifolia – An erect to sprawling shrub to 2.5 m high, which can sucker from rhizomes. It is naturally found on the NSW coast, primarily south from Heathcote to Ulladulla with a few records inland to the adjacent tablelands, extending south into Victoria where it is listed as rare.

Grevillea petrophiloides – An erect and very open shrub, to 3 metres tall and spreading potentially to 3 metres wide.

Grevillea phylicoides – This species is not readily known in cultivation, mainly due to the fact that so many other grevillea species and cultivars are grown.

Grevillea pinaster is usually a dense, upright shrub that in our cold climate garden reaches height of one and a half metres. We also have a lower, spreading form that is less than one metre high. The flowers are carried in terminal clusters and are pink or red.

Grevillea preissii – An erect to spreading shrub, to 2 metres tall by 3 metres wide. There are also some prostrate forms found in the wild.

Grevillea ramosissima subsp. ramosissima – A spreading shrub, to 3 m high. This subspecies is found naturally only in NSW, mainly on the tablelands and western slopes, south from Glen Innes and Inverell districts, to the Blue Mountains and the A.C.T, south to virtually the Victorian border. 

Grevillea raybrownii – A shrub to 1.5 m high that has a restricted distribution in the Greater Sydney Area, between Dapto, Robertson and Berrima in N.S.W (with possible occurrences in Bungonia). It grows in sandy, gravelly loams in dry sclerophyll forest, mostly on ridge tops and occasionally on slopes.

Grevillea rivularis – A shrub to 2.5 m high. It is confined to the Carrington Falls area on the upper Kangaroo River, west of Kiama, within Budderoo National Park in N.S.W.

Grevillea rosmarinifolia – A shrub usually to 2 m tall. It is a native of NSW and Victoria, found in the central and southern areas of NSW, south from around Oberon, through the tablelands, slopes and the east of the western plains (as well as the south coast) into Victoria.

Grevillea rosmarinifolia ‘Lutea’ is a small shrub reaches a height of 40 cm with a spread of 50 cm. The leaves are light green, 2 cm long, linear with a sharp point. Flowers are cream with a waxy texture and held in large, conspicuous clusters. The lengthy flowering period extends from winter to late spring.

Grevillea scortechinii is known as the Black Grevillea and is a spreading almost prostrate shrub with branches extending to at least 1 metre. Prickly, holly-like leaves are up to six centimetres long, dark green with a leathery texture. Unusual toothbrush flowers are black or very dark maroon and up to 50 millimetres long. This flower colour is unusual in Grevilleas in particular and Australian plants in general.

Grevillea sericea – A shrub to 2 metres high with about a 1 metre spread. An endemic to NSW, it grows naturally from southern Sydney to near Newcastle; west to the Blue Mountains area and north-west to the Goulburn River catchment in the Hunter Valley.

Grevillea shiressii is a very rare species from the Central Coast of NSW where it grows along the banks of a tributary of the Hawkesbury River. This attractive shrub reached a height two metres tall with a similar width, in five years, in our cold climate garden. The leaves are up to 16 centimetres long with wavy margins.

Grevillea speciosa is a small to medium shrub that may reach height of two metres. In our cold climate garden specimens reach a height of about one metre after three years in the ground. Flowers are pink to bright red, held in clusters up to seven centimetres long and carried on the end of branches.

Grevillea sphacelata – A shrub to 2.5 m high. It is found naturally, primarily in the Sydney basin, occurring from north of Sydney to north of Kiama and to Mittagong area.

Grevillea synapheae is a highly ornamental and hardy spreading shrub to 20-40 cm high by 1 to 1.5 m wide and can form a solid groundcover. It has attractive slightly glaucous foliage and bronzy new growth. The leaves are normally divided into 3 to 7 lobes. It flowers profusely with clusters of cream to yellow flowers over a long period from late winter to spring. The shape of the inflorescences resembles a catkin, a type of inflorescence produced in plants like birches, beeches and oaks.

Grevillea teretifolia is an erect, medium shrub with light green, segmented leaves. Each segment is crowned with a sharp point. Flowers are carried in pendulous, one-sided clusters, white, sometimes pink and appear in profusion during spring.

Grevillea triternata is an often straggly shrub reaching a height of 1.5 metres. The straggly growth habit may be slightly modified by tip pruning. Light green leaves are divided into threes either two or three times. Leaf segments are crowned with a sharp point.

Grevillea venusta – A large erect to spreading shrub to 5 metres high by 2 metres wide.

Grevillea vestita is a bushy shrub that reaches a height of two metres in our garden. The species will reach greater heights in more temperate regions. Leaves are up to six centimetres in length with three to six lobes. Each lobe is crowned with a pungent point. Leaves are hairy. The flowers are white or pale pink, scented and held in axillary racemes. In our garden Grevillea vestita has proved to be hardy, free flowering, frost tolerant and once established has very low water requirements.

Grevillea wilkinsonii is a bushy shrub that may reach a height of two metres. The leaves are up to 17 centimetres long, 3 centimetres wide, dark green above and silvery-white below with toothed margins. The toothbrush-shaped flower-heads are an unusual purplish-pink.

Grevillea willisii is a spreading shrub reaching a height of three metres with a similar spread and is a native of northern Victoria. Large creamy-white toothbrush flowers are an outstanding feature. Spring is the main flowering period when plants become covered with the nectar-rich blooms.

Grevillea x gaudichaudii – A groundcover shrub to about 0.3 m tall and spreading to 3 m wide. It is a naturally occurring hybrid of Grevillea acanthifolia subsp. acanthifolia and Grevillea laurifolia originating in the Blue Mountains of NSW.

Grevillea ‘Apricot Charm’ is a spreading shrub reaching a height of 1.5 metres with a spread of about 2 metres. The leaves are about three centimetres long, dark green and glossy. The large flowers are held in pendulous clusters, apricot coloured and make their presence felt in winter and spring

Grevillea ‘Apricot Glow’ is said to be a cultivar of G. olivacea, a native of Western Australia. Grevillea ‘Apricot Glow’ is a tall shrub that will reach a height of three metres. Leaves are deep green, oval and similar in appearance to those of the exotic olive.

Grevillea ‘Bonfire’ is said to be an upright shrub reaching a height of two metres. We know of a group of “Bonfires”, in a garden, that are about five metres tall. The leaves are dark green and narrowly divided. New growth has a bronze colour.

Grevillea ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’ is a dwarf, bushy shrub that reaches a height of one metre. This is one many hybrid natives developed by Bywong nursery. Oblong leaves are about four centimetres long, dark green above and paler below. Profuse and conspicuous flowers are red and yellow. They appear for lengthy periods.

Grevillea ‘Butterfly Beauty’ – A shrub growing to around 1 metre tall by 1.5 metres wide.

Grevillea ‘Lemon Daze’ is a small one metre high shrub. Narrow leaves are light green. Large pendulous flower heads are a dazzling yellow and pink. Honeyeaters visit the blooms. The lengthy flowering period extends from autumn to spring.

Grevillea x semperflorens is an upright shrub that, in our garden, reaches a height of two metres. The narrow leaves may be linear or divided into segments crowned with a sharp point. Orange-red flowers are held in pendulous racemes.

Grevillea ‘Allyn Radiance’ leaves are linear, lanceolate, about 15 millimetres long and crowned with a sharp point. Flowers are dark red and carried in dense clusters. The prominent blooms are carried mainly from July to February with sporadic blooming at other times.

In our cold climate garden when in flower Grevillea ‘Amethyst’ is one of our most eye-catching plants. The mauve flowers literally cover the plant. Grevillea ‘Amethyst’ could be cultivated in a rockery or native cottage garden. This hardy hybrid could also be grown as the border to garden beds as a colourful substitute for the ubiquitous exotic box.

Grevillea ‘Austraflora Canterbury Gold’ is a hybrid developed by Austraflora Nursery, Victoria. The hybrid arose in a garden in Canterbury Road, Blackburn, Victoria in 1971 (hence the hybrid name) and was registered in the late 1970s. Grevillea ‘Austraflora Canterbury Gold’ is a low growing shrub.

Grevillea ‘Bedspread’ is a hybrid whose parents are said to be Grevillea ‘Royal Mantle’ and Grevillea wilkinsonii a rare species from southern NSW. It is a dense ground cover with a spread of at least two metres. Dark green leaves are ten centimetres long by five centimetres wide and have serrated margins.

Grevillea ‘Billy Bonkers’ – A low growing shrub to about 1 metre tall, spreading to 3 metres wide. This cultivar was introduced by Richard Tomkin…

Grevillea ‘Blood Orange’ – A shrub growing to 3 x 3 metres. This cultivar was introduced by Chris Hughes at Plants for Living Nursery at Federal NSW, from a seedling that came up in the nursery. The parentage is not, as yet, known for the purposes of this profile. It is likely associated with the G. banksii group of cultivars.

Grevillea ‘Boongala Spinebill’ – a spreading to weeping shrub, to 2.5 metres high by 3 metres wide. It can be dense and bushy and the new growth is a copper-red colour.

Grevillea ‘Bronze Rambler’ – A low growing, ground-covering shrub, to 50 cm tall but it may spread to over 5 metres. It grows horizontally and can even hang pendulously over a wall.

Grevillea ‘Bush Lemons’ is a spectacular hybrid that was developed by Changers Green Nursery, Gin Gin Queensland. We cannot find a record of its parents but this does not detract from this long-flowering Grevillea.

Grevillea ‘Coastal Glow’ is a medium, spreading shrub that has reached a height of two metres in our cold climate garden. Young growth often has a reddish colour. The oblong leaves are 20 centimetres long and two centimetres wide. Some leaves have lobes. The beautiful flowers are toothbrush-shaped, on the ends of branches, seven centimetres long and reddish-purple.

Grevillea ‘Coconut Ice’ – A cultivar with a very popular history. It is a shrub growing to 2 x 2 metres and has a dense, compact habit.

Grevillea ‘Evelyn’s Coronet’ is a rounded shrub that reaches a height of two metres in our cold climate garden.The narrow-oblong leaves are about 20 mm long with turned-down margins. The crown-like flower heads are carried upright on the ends of branches. They are woolly, greyish-pink with bright pink styles.

Many years ago (well about ten), in my northern Sydney suburban garden, I planted my first Grevillea ‘Firesprite’. This is a hybrid between Grevillea longistyla (female) and Grevillea venusta (male). My plant has now grown into a large shrub about 4m high x 3m wide with a mid-dense habit.

Grevillea ‘Fireworks’ – a small shrub growing to about 1 x 1 metre.

Grevillea ‘Flamingo’ – A popular cultivar. It is a spreading to weeping shrub, growing to 3 x 3 metres and has can have a dense compact habit. It is reportedly a hybrid …

Grevillea ‘Flora Mason’ – – A shrub growing potentially to 3 x 3 metres or more wide but can be kept shorter through pruning.

Grevillea ‘Forest Rambler’ is said to be a hybrid between Grevillea shiressii and one of the umpteen forms of Grevillea juniperina. It is a spreading shrub with bright green, prickly leaves and unusual translucent pale purple-pink flowers. Spring is the main flowering period although some flowers may appear at other times. The flowers are rich in nectar.

Grevillea ‘Gold Rush’ – A low growing, compact shrub to about 1 x 1 metre tall and wide.

Grevillea ‘Golden Lyre’ is a hybrid and in warmer areas, north of Sydney (it will not tolerate a situation that is cold and receives winter frosts), it can grow to approximately 2 to 3 metres high by up to 4 to 6 metres wide if given full sun and some summer moisture.

Grevillea ‘Goliath’ – A grafted shrub growing to 4 m tall by several metres wide. It was developed by well known Grevillea breeder, the Late Merv Hodge (1933-2019). It appears to be associated with the Grevillea banksii cultivars and is possibly a hybrid of G. banksii x G ‘Majestic’.

Grevillea ‘Hills Jubilee’ – introduced by Peter Ollerenshaw of Bywong Bursery. It is a deliberate hybrid cross between G. baueri x G. alpina and G. rosmarinifolia ‘Lutea’.

Grevillea ‘Honey Barbara’ – A large shrub that grows to 3 metres high by 2 metres wide. This cultivar is reported to be a hybrid between two cultivars Grevillea ‘Sylvia’ and G. ‘Honey Gem’.

Grevillea ‘Honey Gem’ – A large shrub that grows to 6 metres high by 5 metres wide. This cultivar is reported to be a hybrid between Grevillea banksii (a Queensland species) and G. pteridifolia (a Queensland and NT species).

A cultivar registered by Carol and Brian Roach on behalf of the ANPS Grevillea Study Group. Originally, a single plant was purchased by Carol and Brian Roach approximately 30 years ago, and consequently discovered to be incorrectly labelled as Grevillea ‘Poorinda Hula’.

Grevillea ‘Ivanhoe’ – A large shrub that grows to potentially to 5 metres high by 5 metres wide. This cultivar is reported to be a hybrid between Grevillea longifolia and Grevillea caleyi, two coastal NSW species that are both rare and threatened respectively.

Grevillea ‘Ivory Whip’ – A stunning open shrub growing to 1.5 metres tall x 3 metres wide.

Grevillea ‘Jelly Baby’ – Grevillea ‘Jelly Baby’ is a dense, silver grey, low spreading shrub to 0.4 metres high and to 1 metre wide. G. ‘Jelly Baby’ was a chance seedling which arose at the property of Neil and Wendy Marriott at Panrock Ridge in the Black Range, near Stawell in Victoria.

Grevillea ‘Jubilee’ – A low growing, compact shrub to about 1 metre tall. This cultivar was introduced by Austraflora Nurseries, Montrose, Victoria, in 1982. It is reportedly a hybrid between G. rosmarinifolia and G. alpina.

Grevillea ‘Kay Williams’ – A shrub that grows to 4 metres tall by 4 metres wide. The cultivar is very similar to Grevillea banksii which is one of the original parents. It is thought this cultivar is a cross between G. banksii and G. ‘Sandra Gordon’.

Grevillea ‘Kimberley Gold’ – A stunning open shrub growing to 2 metres tall x 3 metres wide. It is reported to be a hybrid of G. wickhammii (a species found in WA, NT and Qld) and G. miniata (a species also found in WA and NT). Leaves are grey-green with a holly-like shape, to about 7 cm long and 4 cm wide, generally ovate in shape with conspicuous and broad lobes/teeth on the margin. The leaves also have a long thin petiole.

Grevillea ‘Lady O’ is a member of the Proteaceae family and is a hybrid whose parents are a Grevillea victoriae hybrid and Grevillea rhyolitica. Red flowers are carried in terminal clusters that are about five centimetres long. Our plants carry blooms for many months.

Grevillea ‘Lana Maree’ – A popular cultivar. It is a spreading to weeping shrub, growing to 2 x 3 metres and has can have a dense compact habit.

Grevillea ‘Lollypops’ – A shrub growing to 1.5 x 1.5 metres. It is a resulting seedling of Grevillea ‘Billy Bonkers’. It was bred by Richard Tomkin at a nursery in Queensland (see ‘Billy Bonkers’ profile for parentage; Grevillea banksii is largely involved).

Grevillea ‘Long John’ – A shrub that grows to 3 metres high by 5 metres wide. It is reported to be a cross between Grevillea johnsonii x G. longistyla (a NSW species and a QLD species respectively). It also goes by the synonymous cultivar name of Grevillea ‘Elegance’. However, ‘Long John’ is the accepted registered name.

Grevillea ‘Majestic’ – A shrub that grows to 5 metres high by 3 wide. The cultivar is very similar to G. banksii which is one of the original parents. It is thought this cultivar is a seedling of Grevillea ‘Misty Pink’.

Grevillea ‘Mason’s Hybrid’ / ‘Ned Kelly’ – A cultivar which has proven popular in its history. It grows to about 1.5 m across by 2 metres wide.

Grevillea ‘Misty Pink’ – A large shrub growing to 4 x 3 metres.

Grevillea ‘Moonlight’ – A cultivar with a very popular history. It is a large, spreading shrub growing to 5 x 4 metres and has a dense, compact habit. It is reported to be a selected form of Grevillea whiteana. However, there is published genetic data that it is the progeny of a cross between G. banksii and G. whiteana.

Grevillea ‘New Blood’ – A small compact shrub to 0.25 metres to 1.5 metres wide. It is a hybrid of G. juniperina ‘Molonglo’ x G. rhyolitica. Leaves are thin and prickly, mid to dark green, to about 2 cm long by only 0.3 cm wide.

Grevillea ‘Orange Marmalade’ is a hybrid which is an open shrub that has reached a height of two metres in a sheltered position in our garden. Large flowers are carried in terminal racemes and are an unusual orange colour with red styles and resemble the colour of orange marmalade hence the name. Flowers are carried for many months and are attractive to honeyeaters particularly Eastern Spinebills.

Grevillea ‘Parakeet Pink’ – A compact shrub growing to 1.5 x 1.5 metres.

Grevillea ‘Peaches and Cream’ – A shrub that grows to 2 metres high by 2 wide. The cultivar is a cross between a white-flowered form of the Queensland species Grevillea banksii and G. bipinnatifida from Western Australia.

Grevillea ‘Pick o’ the Crop’ – A low growing shrub to about 0.5 to 1 metre tall, spreading to 3 or more metres wide. It generally has a weeping dense habit.

Grevillea ‘Pink / White Candelabra’ – An upright narrow shrub growing to 4 metres tall x 1 metre wide.

Grevillea ‘Pink Midget’ – A compact shrub growing to 0.5 x 0.5 metres tall and wide.

Grevillea ‘Pink Surprise’ is a tall shrub that has reached a height of four metres with spread exceeding two metres in our garden. The large, eye-catching flower spikes are about 15 centimetres long, 5 centimetres wide, pink with long cream styles and attractive to honeyeaters.

Grevillea ‘Poorinda Diadem’ is an erect shrub that reaches a height of two metres with a similar width in our cold climate garden. Large flowers are carried in the leaf axils. They are buff to apricot with long yellow styles. Flowers are conspicuous and profuse.

Grevillea ‘Robyn Gordon’ – A cultivar with a very popular history. It is a shrub growing to 2 x 2 metres and has a dense, compact habit. It is the one of the resulting offspring of G. banksii x G. pinnatifida.

Grevillea ‘Sandra Gordon’ – A tree that grows to 5 metres (potentially 8 metres) high by 5 metres wide. As for Grevillea ‘Honey Gem’, this cultivar is reported to be a hybrid between Grevillea sessilis (a Queensland species) and G. pteridifolia (a Queensland and NT species).

Grevillea ‘Scarlet Sprite’ – A small shrub that grows to 1 metre tall x 1 metre wide. It is a form of Grevillea rosmarinifolia. It has mid green narrow and stiff-prickly linear leaves, to about 3 cm long by only 0.1 cm wide.

Grevillea ‘Spider Mist’ – This is a medium-size compact rounded shrub that typically grows up to a height of 2 metres by 2 metres wide. It has been brought into cultivation by member Brian Roach from a seedling in his garden.

Grevillea ‘Splendour’ is a hardy, colourful hybrid which reaches a height of two metres with a spread of one metre. Large clusters of bright red flowers are carried for most of the year. Honeyeaters are fond of the blooms. Both foliage and flowers are attractive features.

Grevillea ‘Strawberry Smoothie’ – A small shrub that grows to 1 metre tall x 1 metre wide.

Grevillea ‘Sunset Splendour’ (‘Sunset Bronze’) – reportedly originated in a garden in Brisbane and is thought to be a chance hybrid between Grevillea ‘Honey Gem’ and a northern form of G. pteridifolia.

Grevillea ‘Superb’ – A cultivar with a popular history. It is a shrub growing to about 2 x 2 metres and with a dense, compact habit with pruning.

Grevillea ‘Sylvia’ – A shrub that grows to 5 metres high by 4 wide. The cultivar is very similar to G. banksii which is one of the original parents. It is thought this cultivar is a progeny of Grevillea ‘Pink Surprise’.