Nandina domestica 'Nana'

Nandina domestica 'Nana'

One of the most popular garden and landscaping plants in Australia and much used in the gardens of service stations or at roundabouts, it never fails to please at this time of year if you want some brilliant winter colour. Too common to mention I wonder? I love it because it can be grown tough with minimal water and in poor soil without ill affect. However instead of dot planting it which is the way it often gets used, it needs to be group planted 3 or 5 together and used as a contrast plant with black ,silver or gold foliage as part of an integrated garden design or contrasted with spike shaped Yuccas or Agaves or blended with tawny shaded grasses to carry it through the summer when the Nandina foliage takes on more yellow and bronze tones.

The Coral Tree, Erythrina variegata var. indica

Erythrina variegata var. indica
 Coral Tree

The Coral trees are spectacular at the moment, painting the landscape a vivid scarlet. If you are driving anywhere along the coast or if driving to Sydney via Mt. Ousley road, you realize what big trees they grow into, with a vast canopy. They have fallen out of favour somewhat because of their habit of shedding limbs and growing a new tree from any branch which falls to the ground. This ability to take root from large branches has led to their name of "quick stick". Erythrinas occur naturally over a number of countries and climates and are found in Madagascar,Tanzania, India, Southeast Asia and Australia. New growth is often thorny and persistent thorns often remain on trees trunks, perhaps another reason for their fall from grace.The painter Brett Whitely often included the tiger claw like flowers in his Sydney harbour paintings usually depicting them with an attendant honey eating bird.

Frilly Lizard, Chlamydosaurus kingi

Wall detail of Frilled Lizard at Illawarra Grevillea Park

Our most noteworthy lizard carved into a block of a sandstone wall. The membranous frill in the real lizard is braced by cartilaginous ribs, analogous to the metal supports of an umbrella and is often coloured a striking red and yellow. It was the source of inspiration for one of the costumes in the film Pricilla Queen of the Desert. You have to go to the dry parts of Queensland or the Northern Territory to find it , not in desert but heavily timbered scrub-lands. When pursued it sprints rapidly with its tail held high off the ground.If capture seems inevitable,it whirls around, opens its jaws, erects its frill while emitting loud hissing noises from its wide open mouth. A frenzied attack may follow with much lashing of its thin whip like tail while at the same time biting savagely. Its jaws however are quite weak and it is incapable of inflicting a bite of much magnitude.

Bergenia cordifolia

Bergenia cordifolia ,"Elephant's Ears"

This low growing clump forming perennial is one of the recommended plants for difficult gardening spots such as in heavy shade under trees. It grows well across a range of climates and produces the pretty pink flowers from late winter into spring. In cold climates it flowers later and is grown as much for the leaves as the flowers . The leaves often turn a rich burgundy or plum colour over Winter. Big clumps can be divided up over time and it is an easy plant to dig up and replant in a new spot. Though tolerant of dry conditions , stressed plants may look a bit forlorn and are prone to attack by spider mite which causes the underside of the leaves to turn silver and for the plant to lose some vigor.
There are about 8 species of Bergenia found across Central and eastern Asia growing in damp woodlands, rocky areas and open slopes. The cultivars of note which are available are B. 'Abendglut' and the Bressingham cultivars from the UK including 'Ruby', 'Salmon' and 'White'.
2017 update: I am out of stock and may not grow again.

Qualup Bell

Pimelea physodes, Qualup Bell

Native to the gravelly soils between Ravensthorpe and the Gardener River in Western Australia ,this small shrub was named after Qualup Homestead where it is found growing abundantly. The botanical name Pimelea comes from Pimele meaning fat , a reference to the oily seeds. Pimeleas usually have flat heads of flowers but in this species the true flowers are hidden under large leafy bracts which form a protective bell shaped cover. These bracts start out an apple green and purple colour and become more vibrant over time. In the early morning the flowers release a perfume which is more delicate than the Boronia. This shrub has become more readily available at specialist native plant nurseries and is worth growing in a raised garden bed in full sun or as a container plant.

Melaleuca thymifolia

Melaleuca thymifolia 
 thyme-leaved honey-myrtle

This delightful small(1metre) shrub grows along the east coast of Australia in New South Wales and Queensland and is one of the most familiar of our native plants. The fluffy mauve flowers appear throughout the year if it is given favourable garden conditions such as moist soil with a good covering of mulch.There are a few cultivars which are available including a white flowering form 'White Lace' and a pink variety 'Pink Lace' as well as a compact form 'Little Beauty' which is ideal for foreground planting or low hedges.

Hellebores

Helleborus x hybridus , Lenten rose or Winter rose

Hellebores are fashionable and popular perennials especially in cool temperate gardens where they can be grown to perfection.They like a spot under deciduous trees and are very hardy surviving extremes of cold and quite hot dry conditions in summer though they respond to well composted soil and good general maintenance such as removal of old leaves and spent flower stems. The flowers are nodding ,an adaptation to shed falling snow and allow pollinators a safe haven to do their work. The flowers are often spotted and marked also to attract insects and give them a sense of direction to meet their target. Plant breeders have come up with some wonderful colours so they are available in black, white ,maroon ,green and even primrose shades with both single and double flowering varieties. Here on the coast I have had no success in growing them so I admire them when visiting more temperate gardens.The above specimens were grown by Rose guru Sue Kingsford in her Southern Highlands garden.