Beutiful photos from Conifers. Also, you are right-Thuja occidentalis is grown throughout the Atlanta area. wrt comments from Pineresin.Thank you for the corrections in nomenclature. Would like to add a few comments: 1. Taiwania flousiana vs. cryptomeriodes-I have read that flousiana grows a leader very easily and has a less blue green color, and this is the same behavior I have seen in the specimens I have grown. Can't comment on whether flousiana is actually a distinct species. 2. darjeelingsensis vs. cashmeriana vs. pseudohimlaicia-I have acquired several Cuppressus "darjeelingsensis" and a couple of "psuedohimalaica" from a US supplier (these are the names used by the supplier). The supplier calls the seed-grown trees darjeelingsensis and trees grown from cuttings, pseudohimalaica, and the pseudohimalaica have the weeping bluish branchlets that I have seen on trees called cashmeriana in botanic gardens in the US. The two pseudohimalaica I have, have only survived one mild winter here, so I don't know if they are viable in Atlanta, but they will be a wonderful addition to the local landscape if they are hardy here. (The Atlanta Botanic Garden grows their "cashmeriana" indoors in pots). The ABG "cashmeriana" and the "cashmeriana" grown at the Huntington Botanical Garden in Pasadena have the same appearance as the pseudohimalaica). 3. I have seen that Cunninghamia "unicaniculata" listed as lanceolota in almost all references as you indicate. Some suppliers in the US distinguish between them, perhaps because of the appearance, which is quite distinct, and climate preferences. In terms of climate preferences, the unicaniculata sold commercially in the US have behaved more like konishi than lanceolata for me. I understand that there is also controversy as to whether konishi shoud be a separate species (from lanceolata). 4. Chamaecyparis thyoides var. Henryae-quite right.

Tinal I like Callitris too, you could also think about a Casuarina, or Allocasuarina. They are fast growing, and they have two attributes which I like. The needles fall on the ground under the trees and make a lovely soft mulch, which other plants dont grow in, and that lovely soft sound when the wind blows through them, its really peaceful. They are easy to propagate yourself, if you happen to have some close by, you could even think about collecting the seed yourself and growing them and then planting them out. But that may take a few years to get what you want. Another idea for you to ponder. Popi

Its natural habitat is coastal hills and eastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range, in rainfall zones above about 600 mm p.a. I find it hard to believe it would thrive in Broken Hill's climate and alkaline soils, unless well irrigated. But then I recall seeing some very healthy trees of Pittosporum rhombifolium there, another species from a moist coastal climate. So maybe it would be OK. C. rhomboidea was used as a formal hedge in the Mt Tomah Botanic Garden, planted somewhere around 1988 I think. It has performed quite well, kept trimmed to a height of about 2 m and turning a rich brown in winter. But with maturity it has lost the foliage close to the ground, so you can see through beneath the plants.

Artie What about Native Plumbago (Plumbago zeylanica). It's native here as well as in Africa, Asia and the Pacific. I've come across references to "white or blue flowers" but have only seen the white. I'd be interested to know whether there are blue versions in anyone's gardens. The plant is variable, but is more ground-cover-ish than the introduced plant. There's also: Cinnamomum oliveri - our answer to the Camphor laurel, Cinnamomum camphora. Celtis australis - surely better than Celtis sinensis. Aphananthe philippensis, Native Elm -different Generic name, but definitely in the Ulmaceae, and a truly lovely little tree. There's a native poppy, too -forget its name, but it's a little annual and an interesting shade of orange - Papaver something. Native Daffodils (Calostemma luteum and C. purpurea) are very good value, being bulbs which flower at Christmastime. They're closely related to the introduced plant (and just as poisonous. Don't let the kiddies eat them). There are plenty of native Hibiscus, including the lovely "Barambah Creek" if you can't be bothered with prickles. Native Capers - Capparis species - have lovely perfumed flowers and always come with a horde of dancing butterflies. Slow growing and prickly, though. (Good for birds, of course, especially blue-wrens, which, amazingly considering their size, love to eat the "Caper White" butterflies.) There are some very good minature versions of Callitris, the native cypress, some of which must like your area? Native orchids? There are a lot of these. Best of luck with the project. Trish