Two have gone onto a raised mound, and the third at ground level but with a dose of gypsum in case there is clay below the root ball. Mounds need only be 120 mm above ground level to achieve the drainage required.

This is the hardiest of the kangaroo paws and is used in breeding the new hybrids that are in many nurseries these days. I must say that I like the species plants even though I admire the new colours.

The strappy leaves on this plant can grow up to a metre tall and the clump to a metre across. However the flower spikes can grow to two metres . The seed I was given came from plants that had these very tall spikes and many flowers on the stalk.

It grows best in moist, light to medium soils, in partial to full sun, but will tolerate dappled shade. It can be damaged by frost.

Black ink disease is a problem in misty areas or locations where there is not enough air movement. Slugs and snails will cause a lot of damage.

Do what you can to improve the drainage of the clay. Liberal sprinkling with gypsum, at least a Kg per sq metre is required. The rain will wash it in or you can water it in.

Here are some shade loving plants that tolerate full sun, and vice versa! Most of these will require some water in Summer once established, to keep them at their best. A mulch in summer will assist with evening out the soil temperature.

Plants for Full Sun amd Full Shade

Dianella revoluta and Dianella tasmanica are good ones.
Bauera rubioides (will need summer water)
Banksia robur
Boronia denticulata
Brachysema lanceolatum
Callistemon citrinus and forms of this- Anzac, Burgundy, Endeavour, Mauve Mist, Western Glory,
Calytrix tetragona
Senna artemisioides
Chorizema cordatum
Correa decumbens
Correa ‘Dusky Bells’
Correa pulchella forms
Crowea exalata
Crowea saligna
Dampiera diversifolia
Epacris impressa
Eriostemon verrucosus
Grevillea buxifolia
Grevillea lanigera
Hardenbergia violacea any colour
Hibbertia scandens
Kennedia nigricans
Prostanthera ovalifolia (summer water)
Viola hederacea

There are some things to consider.

• There is a need to ensure that watering is deep.
• Choose plants from areas which have the same rainfall situation ie same amount of rain, at the same time of year. This is to ensure that plants will get minimum exposure to the high salinity.
• If possible place highly desirable plants near an alternative water source, eg rain water, to get them well established without the saline water.

List of Australian Native Plants with salt tolerance.

1^st Line Coast

Ground Covers, Climbers and Low Spreading Plants

Correa decumbens

Dianella revoluta

Eremophila glabra prostrate cerise form

Eremopohila glabra prostrate red form

Grevillea ‘Seaspray’

Isolepis nodosa

Kunzea pomifera

Leuocophyta brownii

Orthrosanthos laxus

Rhagodia spinescens

Scaevola crassifolia

Templetonia retusa prostrate form

Shrubs 1-2m

Atriplex cinerea

Callistemon rugulosus

Eremophila calorhabdos

Eremophila glabra (Rottnest Island)

Hakea cycloptera

Olearia axillaries

Templetonia retusa

Westringia fruticosa

Shrubs over 2m.

Atriplex nummularia

Callistemon teretifolius

Hakea drupacea

Melaleuca nesophila

More lists will be available soon.

Grevillea robusta

Grevillea robusta with Dryandra in Floral Arrangement

The second street back from the coast is the beginning of 2nd line coastal plantings. The further back from the coast the garden is, the plants can be less tolerant of the salt laden winds, especially with good protection from wind breaks or other barriers.

In some instances, the nature of the soil will also determine the plantings. For example, the soil could be rocky and gravelly, or pure sand dune sand.

Most of these varieties are known by their original geographical location if they have some distinctive feature. Like Correa reflexa ‘Sellicks Beach’ mentioned here. This immediately indicates that it would be a good plant for coastal planting.

Correa reflexa form

Eremophila youngii

How do we drought proof our gardens? How do we manage the plants we have so that they can remain reasonable looking in a time where water restrictions make it difficult?

There are some actions that I want to take over these next few weeks with my own plants.

Australian Plants Common Name Database

Posted at 6:42 PM, 27 October 2006 by Brian Walters

One of the complaints often levelled at growers of Australian native plants is that they seem to insist on referring to plants by their confusing scientific names. Sometimes there is no choice. Many plants just don’t have accepted common names and in other cases, the same common name can refer to several different plants (‘native fuschia’, for example can refer to Epacris impressa, Correa reflexa or Eremophila maculata, depending on who you’re talking to).Still, urging people to grow Archirhodomyrtus beckleri is not likely to result in increased nursery sales of that plant, whereas, recommending ‘rose myrtle’ might. So, perhaps we should use common names more often.

The Australian Plant Common Name Database can help with this – it can track down common names for a wide range of Australian plants. The database works in both directions; ie. you can enter a common name to find out its scientific name or vice versa. It also works at the generic level. For example, enter “Banksia” and the database will return all the common names for the various Banksia species.

Definitely a very useful resource.

The Hardenbergia violacea, a lovely royal purple form that is quite bushy rather than a scrambler or climber, are ready bto pot on this week. Some of the other pea flowers are nearly ready also. Unfortunately I lost the Sturt Desert Peas and will need to try again, perhaps at the end of August.

I hope to put occasional relevant photos on the posts particularly of plants flowering in the relevant season. For example many Hakeas and Eremophilas are coming into flower in the district. I am also trying to put together a collection of photos of local species in flower. Most of what I have is on 35mm film. I need to learn the art of dealing with scanned photos too until I am able to get some digital photos.

The trick is to have the photos of a size that does not take forever to download. Son feels he has achieved this.