Drought-Tolerant Plants for Campaspe Shire

Shire of Campaspe

Drought-tolerant,
Water-wise Plants
Shrubs, plants and grasses suitable for planting in the
different areas of the Shire

Information from Council’s Parks and Gardens staff.

Adopted by Council 27 April 2006

i

Shire of Campaspe
Plant List
Purpose
In keeping with the Shire of Campaspe’s commitment to good practice and promotion of good
environmental management, we take pleasure in providing a list of plants that are considered
water-wise and drought-tolerant. These plants are likely to have a better survival rate, require
less manual watering and are suitable for use in residential, commercial and municipal
settings.

We hope that this is just the beginning of what will become an extensive plant list as we
continue to find plants that are suitable for the conditions that we face throughout the Shire.

Background
Traditionally, plant varieties that have been used are accustomed to higher water use. By
using drought-tolerant plants, we can reduce the amount of precious water we use.

Plants have evolved to survive in some of the toughest environments. Dry gardens don’t
have to be dull and boring. We have an amazing selection of plants that have adapted to
survive and thrive in dry conditions. Gardens today are about colour, texture and form,
especially native gardens.

Upon selecting plant types, consultation with your nursery regarding indigenous varieties is
recommended as they are always best in your area.

Gardening Practices
Selecting drought-hardy plants is only just the beginning. Good gardening practices are
essential for a prosperous garden. These include mulching, soil preparation, plant selection,
nutrient values and appropriate water usage. Plants differ in gardening requirements and this
should be taken into consideration. Checking with your nursery will help with your decision-
making.

Succulents
Many succulents are cultivated for their beautiful green, grey, silver, fleshy water-storing
leaves and hairy foliage; not to mention their spectacular, colourful flowers.

Groundcovers
Instead of lawn, think of groundcovers; carpet the ground entirely with low-growing, easy
care, evergreen perennials. Flowers are a feature of many, but more important is their ability
to make a dense carpet.

Ornamental Grasses
You can supplement the plants in your garden with grasses chosen for their ornamental
foliage and flowers, rather than their ability to stand cropping into lawn. Selection and
placement should be done with care. The important thing is to choose a species that will stay
in clumps; those that run will turn themselves into weeds.

Shrubs
Shrubs are cultivated for their form and colour. Australian native plants are becoming
increasingly popular. Grey and silver foliage plants are some of the toughest; the silver
foliage reflects the sun’s heat, keeping the leaves cooler and therefore uses less water. They
also have the ability to tolerate some salts in the soil or water.

ii

References and further reading
Gardening Australia – www.abc.net.au
Goulburn Valley Institute of TAFE, Shepparton
Department of Natural Resources & Environment, data from Atlas of Victorian Wildlife 2002
Grassland Plants of SE Australia, Neil and Jane Marriot
Sports Turf and Amenity Grasses, DE Aldous and ID Chivers
Goldfield Revegetation List, Marily Sprague
Native Grasses, Third Edition, Meredith Mitchell

Acknowledgements

This booklet has been compiled with the help of some important people outside Council.

These people are:

Scott Wise – Rochester Native Nursery, Northern Highway Rochester.
Tim Barden – Ko-Warra Transplants, Mitiamo Road Echuca.

iii

Contents
Abelia grandiflora Glossy abelia 1.
Aptenia cordifolia Ice Plant 2.
Artemisia absinthium Wormwood 3.
Atriplex semibaccata Saltbush, creeping 4.
Austrodanthonia Wallaby Grass 5.
Austrostipa Feather Speargrass 6.
Boronia denticulata Boronia 7.
Bothriochloa macra Red Grass 8.
Brachyscome multifida Cut-leaf Daisy 9.
Chamelaucium unicinatum Geraldton Wax 10.
Coleonema Diosma 11.
Convolvulus sabiatus Convolvulus – ‘Moroccan Beauty’ 12.
Cordyline australis Cabbage Tree, Cabbage Palm 13.
Correa reflexa Common Correa; ‘Dusky Bells’ 14.
Cryptandra scortechinii Ball Cryptandra 15.
Dianella caerulea Paroo Lily; ‘Breeze’; ‘Little Jess’ 16.
Dianella revoluta Australian Native Flax 17.
Dianella tasmanica Tasred 18.
Dietes Wild Iris 19.
Diplarrhena moraea Butterfly Flag 20.
Dodonea boronifolia Fern-leaf Hop Bush 21.
Dodonea viscosa Hop Bush 22.
Dorotheanthus bellidiformis Ice Plant, Livingstone daisy 23.
Eremophila maculata Spotted Emu Bush; Native Fuschia 24.
Eremophila nivea Silky Eremophila 25.
Eriostemon verrucosus syn Philotheca Fairy Waxflower 26.
Festuca glauca Blue Fescue 27.
Gaura lindheimeri Butterfly Bush –‘White Sensation’ 28.
Grevillea lavandulacea Lavender Grevillea –‘Tanunda’ 29.
Hardenbergia violaceae Happy Wanderer 30.
Hebe Hebe 31.
Juniperus horizontalis Horizontal Juniper 32.
Juniperus squamata ‘Holger’ Conifer 33.
Kniphofia hybrids Red Hot Poker 34.
Lavandula angustifola ‘Rosea’ Dwarf pink English lavender 35.
Lomandra longifolia Mat Rush 36.
Lomandra longifolia Tanika 37.
Lomandra nana Pale mat-rush 38.
Microlaena stipoides Weeping Grass 39.
Myoporum montanum Boobialla 40.
Nandina domestica nana Dwarf Sacred Bamboo 41.
Nepeta ‘Dawn to Dusk’ Catmint 42.
Osteospermum ecklonis African Daisy 43.
Pelargonium hortorum Geranium 44.
Phormium tenax Flax 45.
Phormium tenax ‘Jester’ New Zealand Flax 46.
Poa labillardieri Common Tussock Grass 47.
Sedum acre Common Stonecrop 48.
Sedum humifusum Stonecrop 49.
Sempervirum giuseppii Houseleek 50.
Solanum jasminoides ‘Alba’ Potato Vine 51.
Stachys byzantina ‘Silver Carpet’ Lambs’ Ears 52.
Stipa gigantea Stipa 53.
Strelitzia reginae Bird of Paradise 54.
Themeda australis Kangaroo Grass 55.
Westringia Native Rosemary 56.
Yucca elephantipes Yucca 57.

iv

Glossy Abelia
Abelia grandiflora
Features:
Evergreen shrub with arching canes and dark
red stems. The leaves are dark, turning to red in
winter. It grows to 1.8m diameter.

Also good : Abelia floribunda, Abelia chinensis

Conditions:
Responds well to a light prune to keep it
compact. Needs moderately-fertile soil and is
Glossy Abelia

reasonably frost-hardy.

Growing Method:
Watering – until established

Flowering:
Small, perfumed flowers flushed pale mauve to
pink.

Suitable areas in Campaspe:
All areas of the Shire

Other factors to be considered:

Where to see one in Campaspe:

1

Ice Plant
Aptenia cordifolia
Features:
A quick-growing, mat-forming succulent that
produces a carpet of fleshy green leaves and
dazzling pink or red daisy-like flowers; hardy and
easy care. Spreading and climbing habit.

Conditions:
Climate - temperate
Aspect – full sun
Soil – all soil types
Ice Plant

Growing Method:
Watering – very little water needed

Flowering:
Season – summer

Echuca, Rochester, Kyabram, Tongala,
Rushworth, Girgarre, Stanhope, Gunbower,
Lockington, Colbinabbin, Corop

Keep dry in winter
Cut back as required.


2

Wormwood
Artemisia absinthiyium
Features:
Dwarf sub-shrubs and shrubs, some of which
are evergreen or semi-evergreen, grown
primarily for their fern-like silvery foliage tat is
sometimes aromatic and can be repellent to
insects.

Delicate, silk, silver leaves.

Conditions:
Climate – Tolerant of high winds and salt spray.
It makes an effective hedge. Fully to half-hardy.
Wormwood

Aspect –Prefers an open, sunny, well-drained
site. Dwarf types benefit from a winter
protection of sharp grit or gravel.
Soil – free-draining

Growing Method:
Problems – can become leggy. Prune 2 or 3
times a year

Flowering:
Foliage interest.




3

Creeping Saltbush
Atriplex semibaccata
Features:
A vigorous ground cover to 2m across, has grey-
green leaves on long brittle stems with small
clusters of tiny white flowers and small succulent
red fruit.
Creeping Saltbush

Conditions:
Climate - temperate
Aspect – open, sunny position in a native bed or
bank
Soil – free-draining. Common on saline soils in
the Murray River valley.

Growing Method:
Watering – Until established, then an
occasional drink
Rhagodia Spinescens Hedge
Saltbush 80cm x 1.2m – local
species
Flowering:
Season – September to January


Similar varieties:
Enchylaena tomentosa – Ruby Saltbush
Rhagodia spinescens – Hedge Saltbush


4

Wallaby Grass
Austrodanthonia
Features:
Also known as White Top Grass, has a small
fluffy white flower at mature stage. Very fine
leaves. Remains green all year. 30 – 80 cm.

Conditions:
Wallaby Grass

This grass has a high frost and drought
tolerance.

Growing Method:
occasional drink

Flowering:
Season – Flowering occurs in spring to autumn,
with a small number of fluffy white flowers.




5

Feather Speargrass
Austrostipa
Features:
This is a course, tufted perennial grass that
Feather Speargrass
remains green all year. Height 50 – 100cm.

Conditions:
Austrostipa has a high frost and drought
tolerance. Will only require the occasional
watering and should cope well in most soils.

Growing Method:
occasional drink

Flowering:
Season – Flowers during summer and autumn
and, as a singular plant, is not attractive. As a
mass planting, however, this species can look
effective, especially in a revegetation
application.




6

Boronia
Boronia denticulata
Features:
Height – 1m. Western Australian native; grows
into small, rounded shrub with light-green
aromatic leaves. Drought and frost-tolerant,
appreciates mulching.

Conditions:
Climate – temperate
Aspect – sunny or partially-shaded. Shrubbery
cottage garden
Soil – well-drained, sandy
Boronia

Growing Method:
Watering – water well until established
Problems – not known

Flowering:
Season – In spring the plant is covered with
pink star-shaped flowers.




7

Red Grass
Bothriochloa macro
Features:
This Red Grass will grow to 30 – 80cm. It forms
lower leaves with numerous wiry stems. The
leaves produce tinges of attractive red colours
on their ends.
This red grass has been recently trialled as a
lawn species. Due to its tolerance to grazing
and evergreen growth habit, it is proving to be a
drought-tolerant alternative to conventional
lawns.

Conditions:
This grass has a high drought tolerance, but will
Red Grass

only handle a very light frost. It responds well to
cutting and a moderately fertile soil.

Growing Method:
occasional drink

Flowering:
Season – Has a silky leaf in summer to autumn.




8

Cut-leaf Daisy
Brachyscome multifida
Features:
Height 20cm, width 30 cm
A low, dense evergreen native ground cover
with very finely-cut leaves. Small, daisy-like pink
to light purple flowers with yellow centres are
held above the foliage in summer. This frost-
hardy little plant tolerates a range of soils
including sand and clay.

It makes a good border to garden beds and also
does well in containers.
Cut-leaf Daisy

Conditions:
Aspect – full sun
Soil – well-drained

Growing Method:
Watering – water well until established, then
only occasionally

Flowering:
Although it will grow in light shade, a position in
full sun encourages a good crop of the long-
lasting flowers and tight habit.
Season –
After flowering – clip lightly to keep the plant
compact or prune hard every year at the end of
summer.


Many cultivars are available
Frost-tolerant


9

Geraldton Wax
Chamelaucium unicinatum
Features:
Large erect spreading Western Australian shrub
with linear dark green leaves, adds colour and
character to borders. Useful for hedging.
Drought tolerant. Height 2-5m, spread 2-4m.

Conditions:
Geraldton Wax

Aspect – full sun
Soil – Sandy, dry, sharply-drained, neutral to
acid, poor

Growing Method:
Watering – moderately when in growth,
sparingly in winter
Problems – root rot, if the soil is not free-
draining

Flowering:
These plants are valued for abundant small,
clustered flowers in purple, mauve, red, white, or
pink.
Season – Spring to Summer
After flowering – remove dead, dry foliage
occasionally


Can be frost tender when young
Great cut-flower
Many cultivars available


10

Diosma
Coleonema
Features:
Evergreen fragrant foliage. Will grow up to 1.5m
tall and 2m round.

Conditions:
This plant loves a well-drained soil in full sun. It
has moderate to high frost tolerance.

Growing Method:
occasional drink. Once established, it will
withstand long periods of dry conditions well.
Diosma

Fertilising once in spring will improve growth.
Shape and form can be maintained with tip
pruning.

Flowering:
Season – Very small pink or white starry flowers
will cover the bush in late winter.




11

Convolvulus
Convolvulus sabiatus ‘Moroccan Beauty’
Features:
The ground morning glory produces a carpet of
mauve flowers on a 30cm tall ground cover
plant. Very dense and compact ground cover
often utilised for low maintenance areas. Ideal
no-fuss plant.

Conditions:
Aspect – full sun to semi-shaded location
Convolvulus

Soil – most soil types, provided it is free-
draining

Growing Method:
Watering – water well until established
Fertilising – an application of slow-release
fertiliser during spring would benefit overall
performance Convolvulus ‘Silver Moon’
Problems –

Flowering:
Climate - Masses of soft lavender-blue flowers
Season – spring to autumn
After flowering – No pruning required, can be
cut back after flowering.


Convolvulus cneorum ‘Silver Moon’ is also a
suitable groundcover with white flowers


12

Cabbage Tree or Palm
Cordyline australis
Features:
Evergreen tree 3-4m tall and 4m wide.

When buying this plant, check the botanical
name as there is another plant known as
Cabbage Palm (Livistona australis) that is not
drought-tolerant.

Frost-hardy, very versatile.
Cabbage Tree

Conditions:
Aspect – full sun
Soil – no real preference

Growing Method:
Watering – occasional watering once
established

Flowering:
Architectural foliage .


Many new cultivars now available

Tongala Office

13

Common Correa
Correa reflexa

Features:
This is the most variable of the correas. It
comes in many hybrids ranging in size from
prostrate to 3m tall. Leaves range from round
and grey to linear and green, smooth or rough.

Conditions:
Aspect – full sun to full shade, depending on
hybrid.

Soil – generally well-drained soil of any type.

Growing Method:
Watering – will require some watering during
Correa

growth period.

Flowering:
Season – Flowers range in colour from green to
yellow, pink and red in a bell form. Flowers from
autumn to spring.

After flowering – Will respond well to a light
clipping after flowering.


Correa Fire Bird
Different suitable hybrids are available, including
‘Dusky Bells’.


14

Ball Cryptandra
Cryptandra scortechinii
Features:
A dense, rounded shrub to 1m with small
lanceolate leaves.

Conditions:
Climate – frost-tolerant and responds well to a
Ball Cryptandra
light prune

Aspect – Enjoys full sun or some shade.

Soil – will adapt to all soil types

Growing Method:

Flowering:
Season – masses of woolly-headed flowers that
appear in winter and spring; great for cut
flowers.

After flowering – tip prune




15

Dianella Caerulea
Dianella caerulea ‘Breeze’, ‘Little Jess’
Features:
Free-flowing, dark-green foliage with exquisite
sprays of soft-blue flowers in spring, followed by
attractive purple berries.
Dianella Caerulea

Grows to approximately 60cm in height and
width.

Suitable for mass planting, accent plant foliage
or grassy gardens.

Trim, if required, every four to six years to
remove older leaves.

Conditions:
Climate – very hardy exhibiting excellent
drought and frost tolerance
Aspect – full sun or shade
Soil – tolerates a wide range of soils and
climatic requirements.

Growing Method:
Watering – low water requirements
Fertilising – plant in a well-mulched garden,
slow release fertiliser once each spring
Problems –

Flowering:
Season –
After flowering –




16

Australian Native Flax
Dianella revoluta
Australian Native Flax
Features:
Clumping perennial herb. Evergreen, variable,
tuft-forming perennial. Height 30cm – 1m,
spread 50cm – 1m.

Conditions:
Climate – warm to hot conditions
Aspect – full sun to part shade
Soil – most even gravels

Flowering:
In spring produces panicals of small, star-
shaped pale-blue flowers above strap-like
leaves..

All areas of the Shire. This is a local species
that is indigenous to parts of the shire.

Six sub-species are now recognised.

Northern Highway, south of Rochester, to
Toolleen and Bendigo
Big W gardens, Echuca

17

Dianella ‘Tasred’
Dianella tasmanica ‘Tasred’
Features:
Ornamental flax-lily with beautiful foliage colour.
It’s red winter foliage is an outstanding feature.
Even in warmer months, the lower parts of
leaves display red tones.

Grows approximately 40cm tall and 40cm wide.

Used for mass planting, Japanese-style
gardens, accent plant, foliage or grassy
gardens.

Very hardy, with excellent drought and frost
tolerance.

Conditions:
Climate – a wide range of climates
Tasred

Aspect – full sun and shade
Soil – tolerates a wide range of soils

Growing Method:
Plant in a well-mulched garden. Trim as
required, with heavy trimming every few years to
promote growth.
Watering –
Fertilising – with slow release once in spring.
Problems –

Flowering:
Blue flowers are followed by purple berries.
Season – spring
After flowering –


New cultivar, unproven in local conditions, but
has tough parents.


18

Wild Iris
Dietes grandiflora or Iridiodes bicolor, all varieties
Features:
Dietes can be planted in large-scale landscaping
projects because of its ability to cope with poor
conditions and almost total neglect. Good
foliage effects and decorative flowers. It is a
clump-forming rhizomatous perennial, sword-
shaped leaves and basal growth.

Conditions:
Climate – From cool to sub-tropical regions
Aspect – grows best in full sun, but tolerates
some shade
Soil – well drained, need not be rich.
Wild Iris

Growing Method:
Watering – once established, is drought-
tolerant. Needs occasional deep watering in
summer.
Fertilising – not essential, but improved growth,
if given in spring.
Problems – No pests or diseases known.

Flowering:
Season – late spring through summer
After flowering – it is best to do nothing as the
same stems continue to flower over quite a few
years.


Remove dead seed heads
Cut back to 50cm every 3 to 5 years

Common landscape plant
Rochester Post Office (Dietes bicolor)
Hocking Motors, Rochester (Dietes
grandiflora)

19

Butterfly Flag
Diplarrena moraea
Features:
Tufted perennial with short rhizomes and linear
to sword-shaped, dark green, sometimes
glaucous basal leaves.

Height to 60cm, width to 25cm.

Conditions:
Butterfly Flag

Climate – Grows from Tasmania to New South
Wales
Aspect – sun or shade, very hardy – frost hardy.
Soil – well drained. Will not tolerate wet feet.
Neutral to acid.

Growing Method:
Watering – Regular watering until established.
Problems – Trouble-free

Flowering:
Exquisite white iris-like flowers that only last one
day. Continual flowering over many weeks.
Season – spring to summer
After flowering – remover dead-heads.


A native, similar to Dietes


20

Fern-leaf Hop Bush
Dodonea boroniifolia
Features:
A spreading, sticky shrub up to 2m around. The
dark green pinnate leaves have up to 12 leaflets,
with a toothed tip.

Conditions:
Fern-leaf Hop Bush
This bush needs pruning to promote bushy
growth, is frost-resistant and will handle periods
of dryness.

Soil – performs well in most well-drained soil
types.

Growing Method:
Watering – minimal

Flowering:
Season – the flowers appear in winter and
spring and are followed by outstanding large
four-winged capsules that mature to a deep pink
to red for summer.




21

Hop Bush
Dodonaea viscosa
Features:
This tall, bushy shrub can grow to around 3m. It
has shiny, sticky leaves.

Conditions:
A light trimming will keep this plant compact, but
it will tolerate most relatively-harsh conditions,
including frost, wind, dryness and almost any
soil type, provided it is well-drained and in a
sunny position.

Growing Method:
Watering –
Hop Bush

Flowering:
Season – the flowers, which are very small, are
followed by large clusters of three-winged,
papery, reddish fruits in spring and summer.


Dodonaea viscosa ssp cuneata – wedge-
leaf hop bush – is a local species
Common screening plant – purple or green
forms


22

Livingstone Daisy or Ice Plant
Dorotheanthus bellidiformis, syn. Mesembryanthemum criniflorum
Features:
Low-growing annual, bearing obovate to spoon-
shaped fleshy succulent leaves. Ground cover.
Height 10 – 15cm, width to 30cm.
Livingstone Daisy

Conditions:
Climate – hot, dry
Aspect – full sun, bedding border or bank
situation.
Soil – well-drained, sandy soil.

Growing Method:
Watering – regular watering until established.
Drought tolerant.
Problems – trouble-free.

Flowering:
Season – white, crimson, red, orange-gold,
flowers are borne freely from spring to summer.
After flowering – remove dead foliage.




23

Spotted Emu Bush or Native Fuschia
Eremophila maculata
Features:
Narrow ovate leaves; shrub has many hybrids
ranging in size from prostrate to 3m tall.

Conditions:
Responds well to a prune, dependent on size, to
Spotted Emu Bush
maintain a bushy effect. Many well-drained soils
are ideal.

Growing Method:
Watering – occasional

Flowering:
Season - flowers are tubular, with a large curl
on the fringe. As the names suggest, it is
spotted on the throat and will come in purple,
pink, red, yellow or orange and many forms and
colours


Many other species worth considering,
especially Eremophila glabra species.


Indigenous (local) species to Campaspe Shire –
Gunbower Island; good specimens at
Torrumbarry Weir

24

Emu Bush or Silky Eremophila
Eremophila nivea
Features:
Silvery-grey shrub to 1.5m round; has velvet-like
leaves

Conditions:
Enjoys any soil type, provided it is well drained.

Growing Method:
Watering – Moderate watering during growth
period.
Emu Bush

Flowering:
Season – Flowers are a tubular pink to lilac and
produced during winter and spring.


Try not to water the foliage as it can rot.

Lockington supermarket
Rochester Native Nursery

25

Fairy Waxflower, Bendigo Waxflower
Eriostemon verrucosus, syn Philotheca verrucosa
Features:
Small, open shrub to around 1.5m; ovate grey-
green leaves with a strong aroma.

Conditions:
This plant grows well im most well-drained soils
Fairy Waxflower

and responds well to mulch that will break down.
Will handle dry periods and is frost-hardy.
Prune to encourage bushy, vigorous growth.

Growing Method:

Flowering:
Season – It flowers for long periods between
winter and spring with pink and white waxy
flowers.




26

Blue Fescue
Festuca glauca syn. poaceae
Features:
Group of evergreen, tuft-forming perennial
grasses. Height and spread 20cm. Fully hardy.

Has narrow leaves in various shades of blue-
green to silvery-white.

Conditions:
Aspect – full sun
Blue Fescue

Soil –

Growing Method:
Best if divided every 2-3 years, in spring.
Watering – water sparingly
Problems – does not like it wet

Flowering:
Season – bears unimportant panicles of
spikelets in summer.
After flowering – remove spent flower heads
when they have dried off, to keep the plant
looking neat.




27

Butterfly Bush
Gaura lindheimeri ‘White Sensation’
Features:
A perennial, bushy plant with arching branches
of butterfly-like flowers that stay on the bush for
months. Leaves are lance-shaped and mid-
green.

Height 1.2m, spread 1m
Butterfly Bush

Conditions:
Climate – thrives in the heat
Aspect – full sun
Soil – well-drained soil

Growing Method:
Plant in a well-mulched garden. Trim every 3 to
5 years, if required, to remove older leaves.
Watering –
Fertilising – with slow release once in spring.
Problems –

Flowering:
Season – produces racemes of tubular, pink-
suffused, white flowers.
After flowering – in mid-spring, prune back the
stems by one-third to establish a framework,
then again by half, in late February, for blooms
until May. Cut to the ground in winter.




28

Lavender Grevillea
Grevillea lavandulacea ‘Tanunda’
Features:
Usually has short, narrow, grey or grey-green
leaves. The delicate long-styled flowers are
pale to deep pink and sometimes combined with
red or cream. The clusters make a delightful
combination with the greyish leaves. Nectar-
Lavender Grevillea
feeding birds find the flowers particularly
attractive.

Grows to 1m tall and 1-2m across, many
cultivars available, prostrate to small shrubs

Conditions:
Climate – warm to hot
Aspect – full to part-shade
Soil – well drained

Growing Method:
Watering – established plants are able to
tolerate moderate to heavy frosts and extended
dry periods
Fertilising – low phosphorus, eg Native
Osmocote

Flowering:
Season – mainly in winter spring


Many hundreds of suitable varieties; talk to your
local nursery


29

Happy Wanderer
Hardenbergia violaceae
Features:
Strong-growing climber, sometimes trailing in
habit. Leather rich-green leaflet. Australian
plant used in a diverse range of settings.
Happy Wanderer

Conditions:
o
Climate – hardy to -4 , temperate
Aspect – full sun, on pergola, arbour, wall or as
ground cover on a bank.
Soil – moderately fertile, well-drained soil, acid
to neutral, in full sun or part-shade

Growing Method:
Watering – moderate water until established;
then occasional water.
Problems – tough, none known

Flowering:
Season – ‘Pink Cascade’, ‘White Crystal’, ‘Alba’.
From late winter to early summer, purple, violet,
white, pink or lilac pea flowers are borne in
pendant racemes.
After flowering – prune off dead flower heads
and any dead growth.




30

Hebe
Hebe
Features:
Evergreen shrub with rich green leaves. Can
provide good texture, with long flowering
periods. Height 20cm – 1m, width 20cm – 1m.

Conditions:
Hebes adapt well to almost any soil type. They
enjoy full sun have moderate to high frost
tolerance.

Growing Method:
Watering – Regular watering once established.
This plant will cope will in warm environments
and will cope with dry conditions. Will respond
very quickly to watering, which should be done
in its growth period, ie springtime.

Relatively maintenance-free.
Hebe

Flowering:
Season – Hebes can be covered in a mass of
pink, white, blue or purple flowers. This will
occur in late winter and spring, but can happen
spasmodically during summer.


Similar varieties:
Enchylaena tomentosa – Ruby Saltbush
Rhagodia spinescens – Hedge Saltbush


31

Horizontal Juniper
Juniperus horizontalis
Features:
Ground-covering plant that has horizontal
branches and a thick covering of short, needle-
Horizontal Juniper
like blue-green leaves.

Dense ground cover eventually forming a mat up
to 50cm thick.

Conditions:
Climate – full sun
Aspect –
Soil – free-draining soil
Frost tolerant.
Fully hardy

Growing Method:
Watering – moderate water until established;
then occasional water.

Flowering:
Season – ‘Pink Cascade’, ‘White Crystal’, ‘Alba’.
From late winter to early summer, purple, violet,
white, pink or lilac pea flowers are borne in
pendant racemes.
After flowering – prune off dead flower heads
and any dead growth.




32

Conifer
Juniperus squamata ‘Holger’
Features:
Broad, flat conifer which is perfect for both
garden beds and large rockeries. Old foliage is
grey-green, while new growth is yellow, giving a
bi-coloured effect in spring.

Height 1.15cm; width 2m

Conditions:
Climate – hot to cool zones
Aspect – full sun
Conifer

Growing Method:
Watering – minimal

Flowering:
Foliage interest


Foliage plant for contrasting colour
Other similar cultivars are available


33

Red Hot Poker
Kniphofia hybrids
Features:
Evergreen perennial; good accent plant. Flowers
stand on long stems high above grassy foliage.
Clump-forming. Choose planting position with
care, clumps like to remain undisturbed. Flower
colours from cream, orange and yellow to red.

Conditions:
Red Hot Poker

Aspect – needs full sun all day.
Soil – well-drained manure or compost enriched

Growing Method:
Watering – water well until established,
occasional deep watering during flowering

Flowering:
Season – flowering times vary with species from
late spring through summer to autumn. Several
species also bloom from mid-winter to spring.
After flowering – remove spent stalks and dead
leaves




34

Dwarf Pink English Lavender
Lavandula angustifola ‘Rosea’
Features:
Compact evergreen shrub with grey-green
leaves and spikes of small, aromatic, pale pink
flowers. Good garden plant for low hedges and
cottage gardens. Height to 50cm.
English lavender
Conditions:
Climate – tolerates dry conditions, frost-tolerant
Aspect – sunny.
Dwarf pink

Growing Method:
Fertilising – Feed with some lime

Flowering:
Season – Late spring to early autumn
After flowering –remove spent flower stems
annually and trim plants in winter to encourage
bushy growth.


Most lavender are sand plants
Drought tolerance
Many new varieties
Mediterranean varieties are better for
drought tolerance – French and Italian


35

Mat Rush
Lomandra longifolia
Features:
Australian native dense tussock-forming
perennial with linear, mainly flat, leaves. Frost
hardy, accent plant or for mass planting.

Height 1m, spread 2m

Conditions:
Aspect – full sun to part-shade
Mat Rush

Growing Method:
Watering – minimum after established.
Problems – trouble-free

Flowering:
Season – summer, fragrant yellow or cream
cylindrical panicle
After flowering – rejuvenate old clumps by
cutting back foliage every few years.




36

Tanika
Lomandra longifolia
Features:
An improved compact fine-leaf form of the
popular Lomandra longifolia. This attractive
deep-green selection provides a graceful,
versatile plant.

Ideal for mass planting or specimen planting in
garden beds and borders. A great alternative for
Japanese ornamental gardens.

Conditions:
Climate – full sun to shade; tolerates heavy
frost, drought, hot and humid conditions.
Aspect – will tolerate exposure and windy sites.
Soil – performs well in heavy clay or free-
draining soils
Tanika

Growing Method:
Low maintenance; occasionally fertilise and trim
to 30cm above ground level every three to four
years.

Flowering:
Season – attractive yellow flower heads in early
spring
After flowering –


New cultivar is proving to be very tough


37

Pale Mat-rush
Lomandra nana
Features:
Low, sparse to compact, tufted herb with narrow
blue-green strap leaves with spikes of creamy-
yellow wattle-like flowers amongst the foliage.

Conditions:
Climate – temperate.
Aspect – open, sunny native beds or border
situation; good in grassland and woodland
Pale Mat-rush

settings.
Soil – free-draining

Growing Method:
Watering – well until established, occasionally
after that.
Problems – none known

Flowering:
Season – October to December – small,
wrinkled capsule containing several seeds
After flowering – light clip to remove dead
heads and foliage.




38

Weeping Grass
Microlaena stipoides
Features:
Rhizomatous, tufted, mat-forming perennial
grass; bright green foliage – weeping flower
heads 18cm long. It is green all year and will
grow 30 – 70cm tall and has recently been used
in a lawn application. Once established, it is
highly competitive.
Weeping Grass

Conditions:
This plant tolerates drought conditions very well,
needing occasional watering. Responds well to
moderately fertile soils and very well to
moderate to heavy grazing. It has moderate to
high frost tolerance.

Growing Method:
Watering – well until established; then
occasionally

Flowering:
Season – Will flower in summer to autumn.
However, it is mainly used for its foliage,
revegetation and more recently lawn
applications.


Has the potential to become suitable as a lawn
in dry areas. More breeding is being researched

Ko-Warra Transplants

39

Boobialla or Waterbush
Myoporum montanum
Features:
Height to 3m, width to 2m; fairly tall and wide
shrub with white flowers with purple spots;
drought and frost-tolerant.

Conditions:
Climate – temperate; do well in fairly-dry areas.
Aspect – well-drained, sunny position or partial
shade

Growing Method:
Boobialla

Problems – none known

Flowering:
Season – long-flowering; from winter to summer
After flowering – light prune


Local species, but rare
Groundcover forms available Myoporum
parvifolium


40

Dwarf Sacred Bamboo
Dwarf Sacred Bamboo Nandina domestica nana
Features:
The erect branches of this evergreen shrub are
lightly-foliaged with spear-shaped, lime-green
leaves with puckered leaflets. It has attractive
reddish foliage in autumn and winter; a crimson
and scarlet, when planted in full sun.

Frost-tolerant, the taller form is used as a
screen, while the dwarf one often appears as a
low hedge suitable for edging. Taller form gets
to 2m tall with a 1m spread; while the dwarf form
will only be 30-60cm tall, with a spread of 40cm.

Conditions:
Climate – at its optimum in cooler areas, so a
shady position is best in warmer districts.
Aspect – full sun or part-shade
Soil – Fertile soil

Growing Method:
Watering – Until established and occasionally
during summer

Flowering:
Season – has small panicles of star-shaped,
white flowers in mid-summer, followed by
spherical red fruits.
After flowering –



Nandina is common throughout the shire;
including the streetscape in Rochester and
Tongala

41

Catmint
Nepeta ‘Dawn to Dusk’
Features:
Grey-green leaves, deeply-veined.
Height 40cm, width 40cm.

Conditions:
Climate – can tolerate drought, blazing heat and
salt winds

Growing Method:
Watering – occasional watering

Flowering:
Season – 15cm flower spikes of the palest pink
After flowering –cut back by two-thirds, water
Catmint

well and it will repeat-flower.




42

African Daisy
Osteospermum ecklonis
Features:
Height 80cm; width 50cm. Tough perennial,
often used as a ground cover.

Blue-centred white daisy flower.

Conditions:
Aspect – full sun; rockery, embankment, border;
African Daisy

tolerates exposed areas
Soil – not fussy, but must be well drained.

Growing Method:
Watering – regular until established, then only
in hot, dry spells.
Fertilising – complete fertiliser in spring.
Problems – no specific problems are known.

Flowering:
Season – long flowering period from late winter
through until early summer
After flowering – give an overall clipping to
maintain compact growth.




43

Geranium
Pelargonium hortorum
Features:
Soft-wooded evergreen, grows about 30 – 60cm
high and has shrubby, creeping habit. Some
varieties have decorative and colourful foliage.

Flowers borne in rounded head; extensive
colour range.

Good creeping screen.

Potted geraniums are featured widely in
Mediterranean gardens.

Conditions:
Geranium

Climate – prefers hot and warm climates
Aspect – full sun all day for best results
Soil – free-draining acid soil.

Growing Method:
Watering – regular watering until established;
once established, can withstand drought.
Fertilising – apply slow-release or pelleted
poultry manure in spring.
Problems – very few, if plants are growing in
the right conditions.

Flowering:
Season – spring and summer, but geraniums
will spot-flower through the warmer months.
After flowering – prune spent flower heads;
prune back hard when flowering has finished.




44

Flax
Phormium tenax
Features:
Very hardy evergreen, medium-sized, clumping
plant with long strap-like leaves.

Tall, dark, woody flower spikes up to 4 metres.

Height to 2.5m, width to 2.5m.

Conditions:
Climate – ideal for coastal break, can be grown
in a tub, often useful around pools, ponds or in
rockeries

Growing Method:
Watering – moderated to low requirements;
periodic deep soak better than a little, often.
Flax

Flowering:
Foliage interest


Dwarf forms are available

Common

45

New Zealand Flax
Phormium tenax ‘Jester’ ‘Yellow Wave’ and others
Features:
‘Jester’
Has great foliage, summer flowers are also
attractive to bird life.
‘Yellow Wave’
New Zealand Flax
This one has yellowy-green strap-like leaves.
Hardy and easy care, it will form a clump around
1m high.

Conditions:
Climate – suited to all but the humid tropics

Growing Method:

Flowering:
Season – summer
After flowering – remove flower heads




46

Common Tussock Grass
Common Tussock Grass Poa labillardier
Features:
Australian Native Grass species with stems up
to 1 metre tall. Narrow grey green 30am (12inch)
long leaves. Suitable for mass planting
situations.

It is usually used in a revegetation application –
in the wild, it will occur on the lower slopes
where it is wet during winter.

New cultivars:
‘Eskdale’
‘Kingsdale’

Conditions:
Climate – Temperate
Aspect – Full sun to light shade.
Frost hardy.
Soil – Well drained garden soil.
Very drought-hardy, requiring minimal watering.

Growing Method:
Watering – Regular watering until established.

Flowering:
Season – Flower spikelets are purple tinted
during Spring. Whilst the flower, which occurs
during spring and summer, is not colourful, a
mass planting of this plant can be effective and
attractive.


Maintenance is easy, cut back hard, nearly to
ground after summer is over. They will shoot
back a fresh green. As the season progresses
they flower and dry out to a light straw colour.


47

Common Stonecrop
Sedum acre
Features:
Mat-forming evergreen densely-clothed
triangular green succulent. Tough drought
tolerant ground cover.
Common Stonecrop

Conditions:
Aspect –Full sun, scree bed, rockery.
Soil – Free draining, slightly alkaline.

Growing Method:
Watering – Light frequent watering until
established.

Flowering:
Season – In Summer in abundance, over long
periods.

After flowering – Trim back maintain size.




48

Stonecrop
Sedum humifusum
Features:
Mat forming evergreen succulent creeping
drought tolerant. Tight rosette mid green leaves
aging to red.

Conditions:
Climate – Drought tolerant fully hardy.
Aspect – Full sun, rock garden, scree bed.
Soil – Moderately fertile well drained neutral to
slightly alkaline.
Stonecrop

Growing Method:
Watering – In growing period water moderately.
Fertilising – While establishing half strength
liquid fertilizer.

Flowering:
Season – Early Summer solitary terminal flower
approx 25mm (1inch) high and 100mm (4
inches) wide. Bright yellow in colour.
After flowering – Cut back spreading varieties
to maintain shape.




49

Houseleek
Sempervirum giuseppii
Features:
Succulent mat forming rosette 25-40mm (1 inch
– 1 ½ inches) across, pea green when young,
dark spotted at the tips.

Conditions:
Climate – Hardy

Aspect – Full sun, rock garden, scree bed.
Houseleek

Soil – Free draining, with grit. Moderately fertile.

Growing Method:
Watering – Minimum water while establishing.

Problems – Not many, may be affected by rust.

Flowering:
Season – Red flower in summer 75mm (3
inches) high and 40mm (1 ½ inches) wide.
After flowering – Remove spent flowers.




50

Potato Vine
Solanum jasminoides “Alba”
Features:
This is a very fast growing, evergreen climber.
It has thin dark leaves and has a long flowering
season. Reaches its peak in Summer.
Grows to about 5 metres x 5 metres.

Conditions:
Climate – Temperate, frost hardy.
Potato Vine

Aspect – Full sun

Soil – prefers good soil, preferably sandy loam,
though it will tolerate clay.

Growing Method:
Watering – a good deep watering once a week,
but can tolerate dry periods.

Flowering:
Season – Flowers from Spring through to
Autumn.
Flowers are white with starry yellow centres.

After flowering – Use hedge clippers to shape
as often as necessary.




51

Lamb’s Ear
Stachys byzantina “Silver Carpet”
Features:
Edging ground cover. Mat-forming dense white,
woolly perennial with rosettes and furry, veined,
grey-green leaves; 45cm high and 60cm wide.

Conditions:
Climate – Temperate.

Aspect – Sunny position, dry bank, gravel bed,
rock garden.
Lamb’s Ear

Soil – Well drained, gritty soil.

Growing Method:
Watering – Moderate to low water required
once established.

Flowering:
Season – early summer to early autumn; long
erect stems bear interrupted spikes of woolly,
pink-purple flowers.

After flowering –




52

Stipa gigantea
Stipa gigantea
Features:
From 30cm-high clumps of fine dark-green
leaves rise slender stems topped by 50cm
flower heads of silvery-green.

As summer heat up, they turn to a shining gold
feather that shimmers in the breeze.

Conditions:
Climate – drought-tolerant
Stipa gigantea

Aspect – full sun

Soil –

Growing Method:
Watering –

Flowering:
Season –

After flowering – cut down flower stems in
autumn


Many other varieties are available, some local,
especially Stipa elegantissima – Feather
Speargrass


53

Bird of Paradise
Strelitzia reginae
Features:
Clump-forming evergreen perennials; height 2m,
width 1m; grown as a specimen plant.

Conditions:
Bird of Paradise

Climate – In warm areas, grown as a specimen
plant.
Aspect – Full sun or partial shade, with shelter
from winds.

Soil – Fertile

Growing Method:
Watering – Freely in the growing season, until
established. Tough and drought-tolerant once
established.

Problems – Susceptible to scale insect attack.

Flowering:
Exotic orange flowers with blue corollas; height
2m, width 1m.

Season – From winter to spring; flowers are
long-lasting when cut.

After flowering – Remove spent flower stalks
and old growth.




54

Kangaroo Grass
Themeda
Features:
Evergreen, tuft-forming, perennial grass. Form
and foliage colour are variable; generally a low
clump of green to blue-green leaves, turning
purple in autumn.

Height 50cm – 1.2m. Spread 50-60cm.
Kangaroo Grass

Conditions:
Gardens or anywhere a minimal-maintenance
planting is required.
Aspect –
Soil – Free draining

Growing Method:
Watering –

Flowering:
Season – Black-awned seeds can be produced
in summer.

After flowering –


There are three main varieties of Themeda,
australis, “Mingo” and triandra. All attractive
variants.


55

Native Rosemary
Westringia
Features:
Cultivated fro flowers and foliage; evergreen
Australian shrub found in scrub and dry forests.
Good for a hedge or screen; height to 2 metres.
Native Rosemary

Conditions:
Climate – Half-hardy in temperate areas

Aspect – Full sun

Soil – Free-draining

Growing Method:
Watering – water moderately when in growth.

Fertilising – Liquid fertiliser in spring.

Problems – Trouble-free

Flowering:
Season – Late spring to early summer; white to
pale mauve flowers.

After flowering – light tip-prune to keep
compact.



Westringia Fruticosa ‘Smokie’ – a
miniature

56

Yucca
Yucca elephantipes
Features:
The perfect plant to own if you don’t like looking
after plants; yuccas are extremely hardy,
tolerating months without water, full sun or
shade positions, salt.

Grown for their strong architectural growth habit
and attractive sword-shaped leaves and flowers.

Ideal for use in homes, offices, patio courtyards,
rockeries, pebble gardens, seaside gardens and
other hot, dry spots.

Conditions:
Climate – Dry
Yucca

Aspect – Full sun or shade
Soil – Good drainage

Growing Method:
Watering –

Flowering:
Shape and height can be controlled by cutting
the top off in summer to promote branching.

Season –
After flowering –

Moderate frosts and air conditioning.
Some Yukkas have sharp spines, others don’t.


57

Drought-Tolerant Plants for Campaspe Shire

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