Dawsonia superba, Giant Moss

Dawsonia superba ,Giant Moss

This giant moss which is native to the east coast of Australia resembles a ground cover of minature pine trees. It changes colour from bright green to blue depending on how much water it receives.

Given shade and a spot in moist leaf mulch or around rocks it is easy to grow.
2017 update: Disappeared from my garden long ago though possibly available from specialist native nurseries

Tagetes lemmonii, Mexican Marigold

Tagetes lemmonii ,Mexican Marigold

This small shrubby Marigold which grows to about 1 metre is noted for the strong scent emitted from the foliage when it is brushed against or crushed. Anyone who has been on an "army bivouac" through Lantana scrub and encountered the wild passionfruit (Passiflora foetida) would recognise the smell . It is the combination odour of the stinking passionfruit and the Lantana. This may not sound inviting but it is certainly memorable and a talking point in the garden.if you plant one near a walkway or stairs. It is a fairly hardy shrub, tolerates light frost and begins to flower in late winter through spring, with odd flowers throughout the year.
2017 update: I usually have plants available for sale.

Crithmum maritimum, Rock Samphire

Crithmum maritimum, Samphire  
growing out of a rock wall in Sydney

This aromatic succulent herb is a maritime plant found on sea cliffs in England and southern Ireland as well as in Europe and the mediterranean. The spicy tasting leaves are rich in iodine and are added to salads and or can be pickled in vinegar. The name samphire is a phonetic corruption of the French herbe de St. Pierre. In Spain it is know as hinojo marino.

It is mentioned in Shakespeare's King Lear "Halfway down hangs one that gathers samphire:dreadful trade" Perhaps this is a reference to those who fell to their deaths while gathering samphire for the London markets .The market cry in Shakespeare's day was for "crest marine" as it was a popular salad and pickled item. Another common name for it was pierce stone and that is how it grows ,sending long roots down through rock crevices and growing in what seems impossible stony ground. The foliage is an attractive bluish grey colour and the jagged pattern of these leaves make it a great foliage contrast plant with rosette succulents or with Senecio serpens ,the blue chalk sticks. The flowers are interesting umbells of pale yellowish green though they do seem to attract flies to do the pollination.
2017 update: Still not widely known or used. I have a stock plant and can propagate on request.

Rose,Tea Rose General Gallieni,1899

Tea Rose General Gallieni 1899

This is another one of those free blooming roses which looks great in spring when the normal strawberry pink flower colour takes on more of a copper and cream colour. Later flowers become darker with more of a raspberry and crimson look to them. The flowers are also quartered and have a bit of a square look to them. I find the bush a bit angular in its growth form with some branches almost horizontal to the ground . However the Tea roses are the best to grow in warm temperate and sub tropical climates as they form quite large shrubs and show good disease resistance and just never stop flowering.
2017 update: One of the best 'Teas' and available from specialist rose nurseries

Trachystemon orientalis,

Trachystemon orientalis

This is the first time I have seen this perennial in flower. These dainty blue flowers with the white flash are just starting to emerge and will eventually grow to about 15cm. Later will come large coarse textured leaves which look a bit like Comfrey and grow to about 30cm. I cut down these leaves just before winter as they were looking a bit tatty. It is certainly a plant well suited to growing under trees in a woodland style garden.

The flowers are a bit similar to the herb Borage to which it related. I am not sure however that it is a plant for the coast as it is native to Turkey, Bulgaria and Georgia. Apparently in Turkey it is used as a vegetable called "aci hodan" or "dogu hodani".The flower stems, young leaves and the rhizome are all cooked and eaten.
2017 update: I no longer grow this as it prefers a cool temperate climate.

Diosma alba syn Coleonema album

Diosma alba grown as a low hedge edged with sun hardy Bromeliads

Diosma, a lovely soft aromatic shrub from South Africa is sometimes called by the botanical name Coleonema album and the common name "Breath -of-Heaven". It makes an ideal low hedge to just over a metre in height and it will even tolerate a bit of shade. It is a naturally compact shrub but benefits from shearing during which the warm scent from the leaves is released. Because of its low water requirements it can be grown with spiky or rigid formed plants such as succulents or bromeliads which contrast well with its soft foliage.

Rose ,Veilchenblau,1909 a Rambler

Rose 'Veilchenblau' a Rambler from 1909

This is the kind of rose you can grow over an old shed or chook house or even down an embankment. The colour is bright and difficult to describe .It's a sort of violet,lilac blue mix, made more telling by the white centre to the flower. The bunches of flowers are on short stems emerging from the long cane like growth. It is mainly spring flowering but small bunches of flowers appear at other times of the year. It is very hardy and reliable. Plants available from specialist rose nurseries.