These are some of the plants growing in my Brisbane suburban garden. It’s a heavy clay soil, improving every year. It’s an organic garden run on general permaculture principles, with habitat for wildlife, flowers and host plants for bees and butterflies, and food plants for humans. We have no “pets” but share our garden with resident blue tongues, small birds and lots of worms.
Dense columnar habit Evergreen, red wheel-shaped flowers to 10cm Summer to AutumnBird attracting Suitable for pots Tubestock from Kumbartcho December 2021 Links: http://plantselector.botanicgardens.sa.gov.au/Plants/Details/406 https://www.gardeningwithangus.com.au/stenocarpus-sinuatus-firewheel-tree/
Stenocarpus sinatus – Firewheel tree Read More »
Matthew Flinders: Supposed to grow less than 1 metre high. Red bottlebrush flowers attract small honey eating birds to your garden. Flowers are at their peak in late winter and spring but with some scattered flower throughout the year. Prune after flowering – flowers on new growth Where: – 3 planted on verge in 2020
Callistemon Matthew Flinders Read More »
(was Melastoma affine, also known as Native Lassiandra) 6 March 2021 – after the rain I have found both my Melastomas in flower. But only the one in the front garden appears to be the native Melastoma malabathricum Native Lassiandra is a rounded shrub grows to three metres high with lilac flowers to five cm
Melastoma malabathricum was Melastoma affine (Blue Tongue) Read More »
Often called blue ginger, but is not really a ginger. Given to me by Jeff S. Moved into the new front west garden. Full shade. Discovered by the blue-banded bee on the first day.
Dichorisandra thyrsiflora Read More »
There is some dispute about its status as a native and the weed potential so I will keep this one trimmed back, and remove flowers. Links: https://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2003/cenchrus-purpurascens.html
Cenchrus purpurascens Read More »
Small shrub from Mt Barney & Mt Lindesay. Thin wiry branches are slightly hairy. Whorled leaves. Attractive and prolific pink or purpleflowers with 4 to 10 petals in spring to autumn. Part shade. Moist, well mulched. Attractive to bees and butterflies. Rambling/sprawling shrub to 1.5 metres. Occurs in wet, shaded areas of New South wales,
Bauera rubioides (Dog Rose) Read More »
Shrub to 4m, dense rounded habit, evergreen perennial, white flowers, yellow globular fruit Semi-shade, rainforest understory, edible fruit From Kumbartcho 5/3/2021. Planted in back garden between Eureka lemon and Stenocarpus ‘Doreen’
Sambucus australasica Native Elderberry Read More »
My street tree – planted by council Links Street Tree has its First Trim Street Trees need Verge Gardens too
Lophostemon confertus (MYRTACEA) Brush Box Read More »
Known as Red Kennedy Pea or Dusky Coral Pea Erect Scrambling Plant Evergreen Perennial Vine to 3 Metres High Full Sun / Semi-Shade Soil/Conditions: Adaptable / Well-Drained Dark Green trifolate leaves to 120 mm Dark Red flowers to 40 mm in Winter/Spring Hairy slightly flattened seed pods to 100 mm Flowers are food for Lewin’s
Kennedia rubicunda Read More »
Also known as Turkey Bush. Bushy rainforest shrub to 5 metres (some sites say less). Small white flowers in clusters in spring and summer. Can tolerate full to filtered sun in moist, well drained soil. Tubestock from Kumbartcho December 2020 Planted against the eastern wall at the top of the native bed – didn’t survive
Psychotria daphnoides (Turkey Bush) Read More »
Westringia is a very hardy, versatile little shrub. You can let it grow wild or trim into neat balls. It’s an ideal plant for the nature strip. Westringia fruticosa has white flowers right through the year Westringia eremicola has slightly finer, greener leaves and purple/lilac flowers. Westringia just needs an occasional trim to keep a ball
Westringia fruticosa and Westringia eremicola Read More »
Host plant for Painted Lady Butterfly Evergreen perennial with prostrate spreading habit Green or Silver Grey Leaves to 5 cm x 25 mm Small Yellow flowers in terminal clusters most of the year. I’ve tried this plant several times as a groundcover without success until one plant in a pot against the back wall was
Chrysocephalum apiculatum (Yellow Buttons) Read More »
Commonly called Hairy Pea Bush or Kerosene Bush or ‘Eggs and Bacon’, member of the pea-flower family Fabaceae. Tubestock from Kumbartcho 1 December 2020 planted in front bed under acacia fimbriata Not sure if the one at H26 is Pultenaea retusa or Pultenaea villosa
Prickly for the birds – full sun to partial shade. Prune to keep bushy. Tubestock from Kumbartcho. Planted in middle bed 3 December 2020 Died after extreme rain even February/March 2022 Links: https://www.gardeningwithangus.com.au/bursaria-spinosa-sweet-bursaria/ “ranging from a prostate shrub to a small tree — in cultivation it is usually grown as a small to medium shrub for garden
Tubestock from Kumbartcho 1 July 2024 Shrub to 6 Metres High ( much taller than Sophora fraseri) Full Sun / Shaded Soil/ Conditions: Adaptable, prefers Moist Description: Erect Spreading Habit Evergreen Perennial Sparsely branched Yellow pea flowers to 25 mm long in sprays to 15 cm long in Spring to Summer Green cylindrical seed pods
Tubestock from Kumbartcho Host plant for Large Dingy Skipper and Yellow-banded Dart Butterfly A shorter dianella- to 50cm tall Dark blue flowers and dark blue / purple berries try in the verge garden bed with the westringia in front of the postie path 1 December 2020 – didn’t survive 10 plants for mass planting along
Tubestock from Kumbartcho 1 December 2020 Erect Open Habit Semi-Deciduous to 4 Metres High Full Sun / Semi-Shade Soil/ Conditions: Adaptable / Well-Drained Family: Sterculiaceae Natural Habitat: Dry Rainforest Flowers on bare branches from late winter. Responds well to pruning. Dark Green lobed hairy leaves to 20 cm long Red or Pink trumpet flowers to
Brachychiton bidwillii Little Kurrajong Read More »
Tubestock from Kumbartcho 1 December 2020 Full sun to lightly shaded. Up to 1m high x 1-1.5m Will try this one on the verge – west bed. Not sure if the one at H26 is Pultenaea retusa or Pultenaea villosa Links: https://www.australianplantsonline.com.au/notched-bush-pea-pultenaea-retusa.html
Pultenaea retusa Notched Pea Bush Read More »
Smaller than Goodenia Ovata Tubestocks from Kumbartcho 1 December 2020 to go in bed along north wall. 3 x Goodenia ovata (top) and 3 x Goodenia rotundifolia We will see which the bees prefer.
Goodenia rotundifolia Star Goodenia Read More »
Tubestock from Kumbartcho 1 December 2020 Planted near base of front pond near the dianella
Lobelia quadrangularis Read More »
Wombat berry tubestock fro Kumbartcho 1 December 2020 Planted at base of repurposed pool fence on western wall. Sun or partial shade. Tuberous-rooted, twinning, multi-stemmed scrambling vine climbs up to 6m on a suitable trellis, or forms a clump 3m across without support. Berries attract fruit-eating birds, the tuberous roots attract wombats and other native
Eustrephus latifolius Wombat Berry Read More »
The native senna shrub growing to 3 m in height, not the invasive one. Tubestock from Kumbartcho. It’s had its first flowers and now developing seed pods Links: Species profile— Senna acclinis – Queensland Government https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedSpeciesApp/profile.aspx?id=10753
Tubestock from Kumbartcho 6-10-2020 Full Sun / Semi-Shade Soil/Conditions: Adaptable Description: Spreading Open Habit Evergreen Perennial Blue-Green velvety leaves to 4 cm on Purple stems Pink to Light Purple flowers to 6 mm on spikes to 15 cm in Spring Bright Green spotted seed pods to 45 mm Family: Fabaceae Natural Habitat: Open Eucalypt Forest
Indigofera australis Read More »
Hard plant to photograph. Planted several years ago – very hardy, should remember to prune it more often. Good plant for the small birds. Fairy wrens use it to perch and look for food in the mulch below. Links: https://sown.com.au/dodonaea-triquetra-sapindaceae-forest-hop-bush/
Dodonea triquetra Common Hop Bush Read More »
Taller baeckea from the BCC free native plant scheme planted along the front internal strip.
Baeckea frutescens Read More »
The native pigface Carpobrutus glaucescens growing on the verge is popular with the native bees. Very hardy, grows from cuttings.
Carpobrutus glaucescens Read More »
I have a larger finger lime – CSIRO grafted version – bought a couple of years ago. It’s been moved a couple of times after not being happy in its spot. Finger Limes – tubestock December 2019 I’ve bought two tubestock from Kumbartcho Nursery December 2019 – much cheaper to experiment with. These will take
Citrus australasica Finger Lime Read More »
Tubestock bought Kumbartcho 27 Nov 2020 https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Blechnum~camfieldii http://www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/online-resources/flora/stddisplay.xsql?pnid=57039
Blechnum camfieldii “Water Fern” Read More »
Queensland’s version of the Gymea lily. Tough upright, clumping growth habit with large sword shaped leaves. Grows to 3m high and 3m wide. Suitable for pots. Tubestock from Kumbartcho 27 November 2020 Links: https://www.gardeningwithangus.com.au/doryanthes-palmeri-spear-lily/
Doryanthes palmeri Read More »
Acacia ‘Little Nugget’ is a dwarf form of Acacia pravissima and 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. Or so they say… It must be 4 to 5 metres tall. Provides shade for the bees, popular with
Acacia pravissima ‘Little Nugget’ Read More »
Velvety silvery green leaves to 110mm. Pinch out to encourage bushiness. White / pale blue flowers from summer through to autumn. Small soft nut fruit? Prefers well-drained soils in shade but will grow in sun. Needs hard pruning every couple of years. Tubestock Kumbartcho 27 November 2020. Thriving under the Acacia fimbriata facing SE corner.
Plectranthus argentatus Read More »
Citrus Australis tubestock from Kumbartcho 27 November 2020 The Dooja, round lime, Gympie lime, Australian lime or Australian round lime, native to Queensland. Full sun to part shade. Prune to shape and size required. Like all citruses: attracts Orchard swallowtail, fuscous swallowtail, dainty swallowtail butterflies Links: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citrus_australis https://witjutigrub.com.au/index.php/info-sheets/10-round-lime-gympie-lime-or-dooja-citrus-australis https://www.daleysfruit.com.au/bushfood/roundlime.htm https://sown.com.au/citrus-australis-rutaceae-native-lime-round-lime/
Themeda triandra on left, Poa labillardieri on right Tubestock from Kumbartcho 27 Nov 2020 planted in one of the grass habitat pots for the Double-Barred Finches Links: https://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/trainees-2016/poa-labillardierei.html
Poa labillardieri Common Tussock Grass Read More »
Known as Kangaroo Grass. According to Kumbartcho, local habit is Tussock Forming Erect Habit Evergreen Perennial to 60 cm High Full Sun, Adaptable / Well-Drained Green slender leaves to 50 cm Flowers in spikes to 1.5 Metres high in Spring to Summer Brown pointed seed capsules to 7 cm, often pendulous Family: Poaceae Natural Habitat: Eucalypt Forest
Themeda triandra Kangaroo Grass Read More »
Slender flat sedge native to Australia. The species epithet gracilis refers to the graceful form of the leaves. “SEDGE TO 0.3 METRES TALL Densely tufted grass-like plant with slender pale green foliage. Small yellow-green flowers are held on stalks above the foliage in spring & summer. Quite adaptable & hardy once established, often self-sowing around the
Attractive, compact, dense shrub with white flowers that attract small birds and native bees. This one is in almost full shade against the back fence under the Leptospermum – Wild May There are two in the front garden, one on the western side near the verge, and one on the eastern end of the verge. Baeckea
A prickly grevillea with small pink flowers all year round, much loved by birds of all sizes. The Canberra Gem planted at the front in 2013 has grown to about 3m, although I have seen them kept down to 1 metre in other gardens. In 2017, the double-barred finches made a small, round nest about
Grevillea Canberra Gem Read More »
Hybrid of the Grevillea ‘Honey Gem’, it’s easy to see how this small tree is got its name. As it grows taller, prunning the lower branches provides an attractive view of its twisting trunk. I have/had two, one in the main front garden which gained favourable comments from visitors. A second is near the bins
Grevillea ‘Golden Lyre’ Read More »
Above ground growth needs to be controlled and what that implies for the roots means it’s not really a small garden plant, so it’s in a pot. It’s been shifted around the garden looking for a home, finishing up in the front garden where it can climb the fence. New leaves on the Callerya megasperma.
Callerya megasperma – Native Wisteria Read More »
Yellow flowers on a fleshy, woolly stem. Shallow water or moist soil. Bird and frog attracting plant Tubestock from Kumbartcho October 2020 for new pond This is still doing well in the other pond, now divided into 3 plants.
Philydrum lanuginosum woolly frogmouth Read More »
I’ve moved this pond from the back garden where trees had grown and were overhanging. I put it in the middle of the front garden bed, based on an assignment for Backyard Biodiversity course with UTAS. Pond plants from Kumbartcho Nursery October 2020 Front pond 2 December 2020 about 8am so getting some morning shade.
Erect Clumping Habit Perennial Herb Green triangular stems to 8 mm thick Pale Brown flowers and fruit in clustered spikelets to 20 mm Full Sun Soil/Conditions: Moist / Water to 50 cm Family: Cyperaceae Natural Habitat: Wetlands • Frog Habitat • Dam Edge Stablising Plant From Kumbartcho 6/10/2020 for new pond in front garden
Schoenoplectus mucronatus (Triangular Club Rush) Read More »
Hibiscus splendens is a large, sprawling, dry-rainforest shrub that grows 3-6 metres high. The leaves are hairy and slightly prickly. Stems can be prickly. Flowers are large, pink and typical hibiscus shape. Individual flowers open and close with the sun but only last 1-2 days but new flowers continue to open over a long period,
Hibiscus splendens Read More »
Also known as River Lily, this plant is very hard and adaptable – shade to full sun, pots or in the ground, dry to soggy soils. Strong green strappy leaves with a large, delicate flower, popular with the native bees. The original plant was bought as tubestock from Kumbartcho, and has been moved several times.
Crinum pedunculatum Swamp or River Lily Read More »
First flower winter 2020. It’s taking so long to open. Once the flower opens it is popular with the native bees and the honeyeaters. This is in the front garden on the mound so well-drained and quite dry. Tussock plant with sword-like leaves to 1 Metre high Aspect: Full Sun / Semi-Shade Soil/Conditions: Moist /
Doryanthes excelsa – Gymea Lilly Read More »
Bought from Australian Plants Online July 2020 Planted in front bed
Dampiera diversifolia – kangaroo lobelia Read More »
The Brisbane Local Food group had a great outing and lunch at Neilsen’s Native Nursery today. I managed to resist everything except this. I’ve been looking for Old Man Salt Bush for months. Planted in front west garden. Propagating more from cuttings for the verge. Links: Gardening with Angus
Old Man Salt Bush – Atriplex nummularia Read More »
SHRUB TO 1 METRE TALL BY 40 CM ACROSS Low, open habit, fine foliage and white flowers and green berries throughout the year. An excellent understorey plant in shady positions. (Paten Park Nursery) Tubestock from Kumbartcho December 2019 Planted half way along the back fence in a very shady spot.
Sauropus albiflorus Read More »
Atractive nitrogen-fixing vine with common name of Wild or Native Lucerne Attracts Chequered Swallowtail, Common grass-blue and the Tailed pea-blue butterflies Small purple flowers attract native bees. I got the tubestock from Kumbartcho Nursery and put it in this hanging pot and forgot about it. Transplanted December 2019 in front of pond near the bee
Cullen tenax – Emu foot Read More »
Also known as purple pea bush “A small to medium evergreen Australian shrub that gets small 1cm purple flowers in Aug to Sept. Leaves are green on top with a golden brown underside.” Bought tubestock Kumbartcho March 2019 and struggling in the dry bed against the east wall (water it more), another tubestock bought December
