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Australian Native Plants

natives for winter shade/summer sun position

17 years ago

I have a strip along a fence that I want to plant with waterwise plants that flower in summer - likely to be native, but I'm not precious about that. Anything that can live in the following conditions I would be happy to consider:

Complete shade during winter and hammering full sun in summer! I live in Perth, so the summer conditions the plants would have to bear are pretty harsh.

Any suggestions please, folks?

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Comments (2)

funnelweb
17 years ago
Gees, that's a tough one! I live on the opposite coast and though I do try and manage to succeed with a few West Australian natives, I've really not much of an idea of your (Perth) conditions - I've never been there. Suggestion: Take a look at what the neighbours are growing; maybe have a yarn to an expert at the Perth Botanical Gardens; Also ask a few questions at your local nursery. Mind you, I don't think much will succeed in the conditions you described. Good Luck!
innyanga
Original Author
17 years ago
Yeah, ta funnelweb - not an easy locale for whatever goes in there.

Actually, it's a neighbour's place, not mine, but thought that was all a bit complicated to explain here (which I just have...the plans of mice etc). Anyway, think I've sorted out the options, which I'll post for the benefit of any interested readers:

Alternate any two of the following:

Westringia Fructicosa 'Smokie'
Callistemon Little John
Allyn Magic dwarf lilly pilly
Dianella revoluta
Dietes (last resort - not a favourite of mine, but tough)

Alternatively:
Succulents - again, not my favourite plant type, so I wouldn't go this route...but the neighbours might feel otherwise.

OR:
Fill the strip with a permanent mulch (rainbow stone, or whatever), and line it with plants in nice pots. That way, they could have winter colour with cheap but attractive pot plants like impatiens. When the sun starts to encroach, the winter plants could be transferred to a shady spot around the back and pots of summer plants brought in that can take the full blast of the sun.

Think that's about as well as I can do in the absence of any better suggestions here.

Cheers
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