Sustainable Natives

Callicarpas are a very interesting and versatile shrub to use in

A great low spreading hybrid shrub specially propagated for its habit.

Great in most soils. Flowers several times a year including autumn and spring.

Hardy plant that grows up to 1m x 1m in part shade in well drained soils. Will look great in rockeries and in terraced or sloping ground. Could make a great informal hedge row.
Flowers throughout spring with small star shaped deep mauve/purple flowers.

A strong fragrant herb that will make a great addition to an edible garden. This plant grows up to 50cm tall and 1m wide but should be clipped regularly to keep its shape.  Ideally suited to moist dark pockets in sand or clay soils. Can be used to flavour drinks or in salads.

versatile groubd cover grevillea that spreads 1m wide and jis best suited on embankments, terraces and on sloping ground. Can withstand full sun and can cope with clay soil. Numerous apricot coloured flowers appears in spring. Fertilise with low phosphorus native slow release. Once established can tolerate partial drought but not recommended.

Hymensporum flavum or “Native Fragipani” is a strongly aromatic plant which can grow to 15 metres, and flowers in summer.
The yellow flowers are roughly 4cm in length.
This tree is evergreen and can withstand long periods of drought and wet once established.
The tree can also handle foot traffic and really tough full sun conditions in most soil types.
Hymenosporum can be a focal tree or be used as a screen tree at least 3 metres apart. Remnant vegetation still exists on the Central Coast of NSW.

Backhousia mytifolia or “Cinnamon or Grey Myrtle” is a local Central Coast shrub that flowers profusely around Christmas. Its height varies on its position. In shady spots the shrub can grow up to 8 metres, but in semi shade will grow on average to 4 metres. The small creamy flowers is not scented but attracts lots of bees and butterflies. This small tree/ shrub prefers semi shaded spots with regular watering for optimal health. Can handle all soil types, just ensure that organic matter is added to sandy soils. The tree is known to have very hard timber used for numerous purposes.
The leaves have an aromatic smell and are perfect companion with the lemon myrtle ( Backhousia citriodora) for teas.
Great plant for screening as it has a dense foliage.

there are some great Australian Plants that can be used for Christmas trees, that can survive happily in a container to be moved inside for decorating.
The first plant is the Casuarina glauca “Greenwave” which grows to only 2 metres in height and naturally grows into a ball, is a dense Evergreen shrub that can easily be pruned into a conical shape.

I recommend the 300mm pot size which is closest to full height.
Another great plant is the Daintree pine which is slower but has that conical shape.

Another great plant is the Graptophyllum ilicifolia or “Mount Blackwood Holly” which has a massof red shiny flowers in December, and makes a great replacement for Holly.
Graptophyllum excelsum “Letter Leaf” grows to 1.5m – 2m tall and does not have the distinctive Holly leaf.