Acacia pulchella (Western Prickly Moses)
No Comments »26th July, 2008; Category: Acacia, Drought Tolerant Plants, Hardy Australian Native PLants
A variable shrub, spreading, can be dwarfed or up tp 1.5m tall by 1-2 wide. Pulchella means beautiful, and to prolong its life, prune after flowering. In fact I have discovered that wattles can be pruned quite successfully and in some cases quite severely. This Acacia flowers in July until November.
It needs well drained light to heavy soil, dappled shade to full sun. Even though it is prickly, it can be used quite successfully to control human foot traffic, and animal access. This is another which can be propagated by seed or cuttings. Watch for new growth following pruning for cutting material. This Acacia is drought hardy and lime tolerant.
See here for growing from seed, and here for growing from cuttings.
Acacia lasiocarpa
No Comments »24th July, 2008; Category: Acacia, Drought Tolerant Plants, Hardy Australian Native PLants
Acacia lasiocarpa is a Western Australian species which was regarded as Acacia pulchella.
This is a variable shrub .5-2m x 1-3m, dense to open, or spreading. Some varieties have small spines. It has yellow globular flower heads at the ends of the branches. It grows in reasonably well drained light to heavy soil, in dappled shade or full sun. It is drought hardy and lime tolerant and is ornamental. This plant can be propagated by seed or from cuttings.
See here for information on taking cuttings.
See here for growing wattles from seed.
Acacia iteaphylla (Flinders Range Wattle)
2 Comments »22nd July, 2008; Category: Acacia, Drought Tolerant Plants, Frost Hardy Plants, Hardy Australian Native PLants
Acacia iteaphylla (Flinders Range Wattle)
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
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)
Billardiera 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
More Plants for Dry Conditions
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’