You can also plant dianella and any of the native daisies. There are so many natives which don't look like the classical "native". If I were you, I would visit your local native nursary and just get a feel for what you like. In the end if you like the plants, you will be happy with the garden.

I do a nursery crawl every Wed. with friends! There are so many to choose from - I would like some verbal pictures, from others, of what, they think, goes with what, colour matches and seasonal variations. You may say "Well ask your friends" but we need some fresh input... thanks for your response. Hadn't thought of dianella. The stiff leaf would be a good contrast for the softer leaf of the day lilies. Nice one. Laurie

I have a suggestion for those who share my passion for rainforest vistas, but I'm not sure if it fits in with the flowering groundcovers suggested so far. It may seem cliched, but I cant go past Bird's Nest ferns, Cordylines and Orchids in the understorey. Little in the way of 'seasonal variation' but the foliage is magnificent.

Thanks artiew. Doesn't fit with the section I have in mind- however I have just done a new pond one section of which would suit your suggestions "spot on". I am also planning a seasonal wetland where, once the shade has grown will also fit. Many thanks. Laurie

Have a look at some of the prostrate Grevilleas, Banksias and Myoporums, and the very pretty Boronia denticulata. There are some magnificent larger shrubs as well such as Dryandra spp., Grevillea spp., Eucalyptus caesia, Banksia coccinea, and Chamelaucium uncinatum (Geraldton Waxflower). Western Australia has many of the prettiest Australian native plants. You choices are limitless.

Thanks Robert. I appreciate your list. Suspect I have dieback in the bush section of the block so the Banksias probably won't do. Have lost three that I tried - 2 are surviving. Interestingly the surviviors were planted within the canopy of Jarrah as this is how I observe them in the forest area. Will get back to the drawing board.

Laurie, having done my mix of exotics and natives on the weekend - have a think about these ones -

hibertia
chorizema (flame pea)
calothamnus sang. (small one which gets to 50cm I think)
melaleuca fulgens
ground cover woolly bush
patersonia
Orthrosanthus

Two things I do when I mix natives and exotics - I try and match/contrast colour or I try and match foilage types. It seems to be working ok.

Good luck.

Aggie

"ground cover woolly bush" is that a low spreading version of the Albany woolly bush? If so were did you get it from?
Colin

Hi Colin

I have both a spreading form of the Albany woolly bush and another prostrate woolly bush called adenanthos meisneri. It is described on the CALM florabase as -

Description:
Erect or semi-prostrate, lignotuberous shrub, 0.2Â1.5(Â2) m high. Fl. red, pink, purple, cream, JulÂApr. White/grey or brown sand, gravel.

Picture is also on florabase.

I bought mine from Benara and Trees A Green - but I think they may have it at Lulfitz's and Zanthorrea. It is beautiful.

Aggie

Thanks Aggie. I will check it out.

Thanks Agnes. The Adenanthos meisneri sounds interesting and different. I have patersonia growing naturally in my bush section + chorizema so will collect seed and do my own. Great fun!! Laurie

I grow everything from all over the world, together. I keep things from overwhelming their neighbors through pruning and careful placement of the larger ones. Eventually it will look like the jumbled mess that nature is up close. I am careful about leaf color and avoid anything that looks too civilized or has large over-hybridized flowers. So it is mostly natives of Mediterranean climates from around the world. I especially like things that spread by underground runners and self sow as long that they are not too vigorous. Most self-sowers can be kept under control by judicious deadheading and runner pulling. I avoid plants that have been labelled noxious weeds in our climate, even those that might not be a problem where I live. I have seen enough broom and pampas grass in the wild to want to perpetuate the problem.

Chuck - I would be interested in what you have mixed together and think has worked well. I particularly like mixing annuals through with some of my natives. I also like growing thyme with my native rosemary.

I have a lot of deciduous fruit trees in my front yard and so have gone for a cottage/potager garden look using a lot of similarly leafed natives - mainly kunzeas, leucospermum, melaleucas, westringias etc. I also like using the strappy native irises.

What runners do you enjoy - I have a running postman - sp. kennedia - and it is very pretty with a bright red pea flower and is now flowering in mid winter.

Aggie

Melaluca incana, the grey leafed honey myrtle, is a small to medium shrub with very pretty, blue grey leaves. The colour goes well with yellow and orange, but looks best with pink and purple. It has very soft foliage so is lovely planted near a path. It does have small cream flowers in spring, but it's value is really as a foliage plant. It looks quite different from other natives and would mix well with exotic plants. Photographs rarely do it justice.