Archive for the 'Drought Tolerant Plants' Category

Acacia iteaphylla (Flinders Range Wattle)

Acacia iteaphylla (Flinders Range Wattle)

Acacia iteaphylla is also called the Gawler Range Wattle, or the Port Lincoln Wattle, indicating how wide spread in the wild these are.

This is one of my favourite wattles. I’ve had a hedge of them for over 20 years, and here they are the first to flower, beginning in Autumn. I noticed another hedge of them in the town in good bloom. This uaually means that there hasn’t been much rain here because the blooms spoil in the rain.

Well grown plants reach 3-5m tall by 3-6m wide. They have pale yellow sprays of flowers and can be pruned. It is very adaptable and is drought resistant and lime tolerant. Some forms have pretty new growth, and can be pendulous or upright in growth habit. Use as an ornamental or low windbreak as well as a hedge.

Drought Tolerant Australian Native Plants For Alkaline Soil

No Comments »6th May, 2008; Category: Drought Tolerant Plants, Hardy Australian Native PLants

Alkaline soils can be difficult to manage. Most gardening programmes emphasise the use of lime forgetting that many places beyond the east coast of Australia have alkaline soils. This is particularly so in South Australia.

A hint that I was given was to plant in raised beds. As little as 10cm above the surrounding soil will reduce the alkalinity effect. This of course also provides better drainage in heavier soils.

Moderately lime tolerant plants

Prostrate to 1m tall

Acacia lasiocarpa

Acacia pulchella

Acacia rhetinocarpa

Anigozanthos flavidus

Anigozanthos humilis

Baeckia crassifolia

Billardiera heterophylla (also a climber)

BillardieraÂ cymosa (also a climber)

Billardiera versicolor (also a climber)

Boronia caerolescens

Bossiae cinerea

Senna odorata

Chorizema cordatum

Correa decumbens

Correa ‘mannii’

Correa ‘Dusky Bells’

Correa reflexa prostrate forms

Dampiera rosmarinifolia

Dianella laevis

Dianella tasmannica

Dianella revoluta

Dodonaea microzyga

Eremaea violacea

Eremophila densifolia

Eremophila glabra prostrate forms

Eremophila ‘Kalbarri Carpet’

Eremophila metallica

Eremophila veneta

Eremophila weldii

Planting To Enhance Drought Tolerance

No Comments »3rd May, 2008; Category: Drought Tolerant Plants, How to plant, Using Australian Natives

A new book was launched today at the South Australian, Australian Plants Society Autumn Plant Sale. This book is a tool, rather than a list of plants. It provides a process whereby the gardener can establish whether a plant could be grown in their garden given the natural rainfall, soil pH, soil structure and whether any modifications could be made to the growing conditions.

In the words of the author

‘Realistically it provides a simple method of matching plants to your conditions mimicking the intuition good gardeners develop over many years and recognizes a siteâ€™s limitations.Â Modifications are discussed to extend the range of suitable plants.Â It is not limited to native plants nor to Australia.Â It benchmarks each gardenâ€™s attributes so the process works anywhere in any climate!’

This tool would work well with the lists of plants that have been published, so that the best choices can be made and if that plant must be one of them, it provides ideas for modifying the conditions so that there is a good chance of success. See details for purchasing here.

More Plants for Dry Conditions

1 Comment »27th January, 2008; Category: Drought Tolerant Plants, Hardy Australian Native PLants

I was thinking about the list so far realizing that there are many plants which fit this category which I do not actually know apart from what I read in specialist books. There is great information available if it can be found. In most cases it is important to remember that these plants need to have good drainage. Raising the planting hole or the garden bed as little as 100mm (4″), will provide sufficient drainage.

More Plants for Dry Conditions prostrate to 1 metre high.

Hakea purpurea prostrate form

Hakea ‘Burrendong Beauty’

Hardenbergia violacea, purple, pink, white

Hardenbergia comptoniana

Chrysocephalum apiculatum

Chrysocephalum semipapposum

Hibbertia cunieformis

Hibbertia sericea

Homoranthus flavescens

Isopogon anethifolius

Isopogon formosus

Kennedia beckxiana

Kennedia macrophylla

Kennedia prostrata

Kennedia retrorsa

Leptospermum juniperinum variety horizontalis

Macrozamia communis

Melaleuca pauciflora

Melaleuca pulchella

Melaleuca scabra

Melaleuca thymifolia

Melaleuca violacea

Prostanthera calycina

Prostanthera magnifica

Ptilotus obovatus

Thryptomene saxicola ‘Paynes Hybrid’

Verticordia grandis

Verticordia nitens

Verticordia plumosa

Westringea ‘Jervis Gem’

Plants That Tolerate Dry Conditions

No Comments »26th January, 2008; Category: Drought Tolerant Plants, Hardy Australian Native PLants

A list like this could have some surprising species. Drought tolerance is a subjective thing in a plant. It depends on the amount of natural rainfall, whether it fell in the usual time of the year for the area, whether the garden is mulched, what shade is available, protection from hot drying winds etc. It is easier to change the conditions in a garden than in a paddock. In general, if conditions have been average then these plants should manage 3-4 months of summer with little extra water. Of course if some water is available they will do better. One deep watering is far more beneficial than many light weekly waterings in any situation. Be aware that many Australian native species have a ‘quiet’ time during summer and manage on little water as a result. Excessive watering in this case is likely to kill the plants. It pays to know about the plants that are grown.

This list is intended for garden culture. These are some plants I know of. There will be many that can be added.

Some Plants that tolerate dry conditions prostrate to 1 metre tall.

Acacia brownii

Acacia lasiocarpa

Acacia mitchellii

Acacia pulchella

Astroloma humifusum

Astroloma pinifolium

Banksia petiolaris

Boronia caerulescens

Boronia filifolia

Boronia inornata

Calocephalus brownii

Calothamnus vallidus

Carpobrotus rossii

Carpobrotus modestos

Cheiranthera linearis

Dampiera linearis

Dampiera marifolia

Dampiera rosmarinifolius

Darwinia neildiana

Eremaea fimbriata

Eremaea violacea

Eremophila densifolia

Eremophila glabra forms

Eremophila glabra ‘Kalbarri Carpet’

Eremophila teretifolia

Eremophila veneta

Eriostemon pungens

Eriostemon verrucosus

Grevillea baxteri

Grevillea ‘Crosbie Morrison’

Grevillea juniperina (prostrate)

Grevillea nudiflora

Grevillea ‘Poorinda Royal Mantle’

Grevillea thelemanniana prostrate forms

Grevillea ‘Ellendale Pool’

Grevillea ‘Ellendale Lace’