Mallee Native Plants

Australian Native Trees and Tall Shrubs For Dry Areas

This is the first list of plants for dry and alkaline soils. They need to be watered regularly for the first few months at least.

  • Acacia pycnantha (Golden Wattle) Australia’s floral emblem. 4-8m high in ideal conditions.
  • Acacia saligna (Golden Wreath Wattle) 3-8m high.
  • Acacia baileyana (Cootamundra Wattle) to 6m. Amazingly, this does well here.
  • Eucalyptus leucoxylon forms
  • Eucalyptus diversifolia
  • Eucalyptus porosa
  • Eucalyptus stricklandii
  • Eucalyptus spathulata
  • Eucalyptus woodwardii
  • Eucalyptus torquata (Coral Gum)
  • Eucalyptus platypus
  • Eucalyptus macrocarpa (Rose of the West or Mottlecah)
  • Eucalyptus ficifolia (Western Australian Flowering Gum)
  • Eucalyptus erythrocorys (Red Cap Gum)
  • Eucalyptus eremophila
  • Eucalyptus forrestiana (Fuschia Gum)
  • Eucalyptus pyriformis (Pear Gum)
  • Eucalyptus sideroxylon (Iron Bark)
  • Grevillea robusta
  • Santalum acuminatum (Wild Peach, Quandong)

This is not an exhaustive list. If you know of more species to add to this list (ie. dryland planting plus alkaline soil), let me know, please.

 

4 Responses to “Australian Native Trees and Tall Shrubs For Dry Areas”

  1. Mike Austin Says:
    August 27th, 2006 at 10:18 am

    We have recently moved to Parrakie, renting the homestead at Clairmour. Clairrmour is a large native garden established by Mrs Clair Lithgow in the 1960s. Unfortunately it has declined since they moved to Adelaide. The house was empty for a number of years before we came. We are keen gardeners and hope to bring the gardens back to their original state. Originally all the trees and plants had name plates, unfortunately a lot of these are now illegible. A steep learning curve is ahead of us to learn the names of them.
    Your site is a great help and I have a large folder of articles I have copied from it.
    Keep up the good work.

  2. Tony F Says:
    March 3rd, 2007 at 12:56 pm

    This list is excellent and very accurate. Of the many native tree species that I have planted on Kangaroo Island, only those mentioned above seem to be thriving in our limestone soils. A great reference and help, thank you.

  3. Tony F Says:
    March 3rd, 2007 at 12:58 pm

    Forgot to mention that I’m also having success with Agonis flexuosa (WA Peppermint Willow). I’m going to try the A. flexuosa cultivar “Jervois Bay After Dark” as it should also do well on dryish and alkaline soils like those I have here near the north coast of KI.

  4. Rick Moran Says:
    January 29th, 2008 at 8:56 am

    A few years ago we purchased an old goat farm at Punyelroo near Swan Reach S.A We are approx 1km from the Murray and about 35m above water.We are currently in the process of re-vegetating the property as the goats had eaten everything besides about 6 trees.We only have between 20-30mm of top soil before we hit solid limestone so we have had to build up soil levels slightly at planting sites.I have 8 of the eucs on your list doing well but have also had great results with euc. Salmonophloia,Callistemon Harkness,Dodonea viscosa and Melaleuca Lanceolata.

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