Artie

Maybe you need a load of crushed sandstone as well.

I have had another grevillea die, I am beginning to think they are not such a good buy.

Popi

If you are an impatient gardener then indigenous (to your area) plants are the way to go. They nearly always grow fastest and flower quickest than even many other Aus natives.

Another way is to have areas with microclimates similar to other parts of the country - ie hot baking sun in a dry area could let you grow WA plants. I have tried this, with great success. Admittedly Sydney has been rather dry since planting out, but if you choose plants which are a bit hardier, they should be OK. I have also found that some plants grow much faster than others, ie grevillea and acacia. Plant these out first to give some height, then plant the understory.

Thanks for the feedback troops :)

Popi - if I could start again, I would emulate Don's efforts with the crushed sandstone etc, and have nothing *other* than Proteas in the mound : as it is, I have sprinkled Banksia and Grevillea amidst Callistemon and myrtles - all plants with different food and water requirements. For all that, I havent lost a grevillea yet, and my Saw Banksias must be some of the toughest proteas out there ...

Greg - local provenance would be awesome, *if* I could get reliable information out of many of the locals. Have been trying to source the Byfield Fern, and I believe there is a Byfield Grevillea : other than that, some of my natives are reputed to be 'native to Central Queensland', but that roughly equates to 'native to Victoria' when you compare area/climate/topography in this region. Although Rocky's climate does seem to be heading more toward Emerald than Gladstone these days ....

pos02 - at this stage, I am still trying to establish the 'fast-growing canopy' : I dream of the day when I can give the understorey that all-important dappled shade that so many plants thrive in. Of all the plants that I've tried, the lillipillies are the only ones that seem to have really taken off, although my bottelbrushes are now coming on strong (nice and thick - just need more height). I'm not too impressed with my tropical Grevillea at the moment - they need a good prune, but I'm not willing to risk sunburn - but my groundcover 'toothbrush' Grevillea are doing fantastically well. I replaced the sole wattle that I owned (Acacia Simsii) with a Syzygium Angophoroides about a month ago - the wattle had shown no sign of growth after 6 months in the same place. I have seen them growing in my area, so it may have simply been poor positioning.

Grevilleas really do not like too much nutrient. I do apply a little native fertiliser in Spring and Autumn, but avoid overdoing it.
I have found that the first twelve months the plant needs time to develop its root system. It is the next few years that sees the form of the shrub start to appear. That sandstone trick is good, however as long as you have the correct pH and a good free draining soil, in a few more years you will be surprised at the difference.

Thanks Robert : I know that Grevillea are phosphorus-intolerant, but its good to hear that there is hope for the future :)

The 'Robyn Gordon' is particularly sapling-like at the moment, and I long to prune it back, but I fear that the heat will make short work of any plant with depleted foliage.

Artie
For what it's worth, my mother likes to reminisce about the view from the train window when she was returning to boarding school in Rocky 1932-35. She describes the camp fires of depressed (as in,in the depression) swaggies camped under brigalow trees in Park Avenue. The last stand of remnant brigalow persisted until relatively recently when Leincester (sic) Place was built behind Emmaus College. I guess my point is that the shrubs etc which associate with local brigalow communities might appeal to you but you'd probably have to get the propagation bug. A sad day when the Council closed its nursery to the public as it had a good range of indigenous spp. There is an ex-Council person based at the Capricorn Coast now who could be good to run into...

If I ever finish clearing out the filing cabinet, I might find some species lists from out The Caves way, which relate to N. Rocky. But I'm sure as your micro-climates develop, the softer of the Byfield spp will do well for you too. I see in the Mackay SGAP book I was quoting from earlier G.venusta common named as Byfield Spider Flower. Could be the grevillea you have heard of? G. venusta is a parent I believe of G. Orange Marmelade which does well around M'kay.

Off to plant a displaced Brachychiton volunteer while it's raining.
Rose

Artie

I know exactly how you feel. To compensate for this, I have satiated my impatience with annuals - which I liquid fertilise. Sunflowers have been particularly rewarding - a few are almost 6ft. I know it is a bit childish, but it really helps me feel like a gardener.

My native tubes are pathetic, but the ones which are about 4 yrs old are fantastic. I had grevillea thelamanniana from tubestock get to over 1 mt tall and 2 - 3 m wide. The long flowering marlock eucy is now at max height (is about 4-5 yrs old) at about 4 ms and looks great...

All in all, I lack patience big time... sunflowers are helping with this emotional difficiency.

Aggie

Rose - thanks, and I'll definitely chase up that Grevillea. I do have an 'Orange Marmalade', and it is doing extremely well for such a young plant.

Aggie - sunflowers ? Its a novel idea, but I'm prepared to wait for the trees and shrubs to take off, particularly now that we've finally had rain !

Artie, I am just a desperate gardner... The sunflowers make me feel that what I am planting is actually growing.

God left out patience when He made me... ;)

Aggie

Agnes, liquid fertilise your midyims! I often use growth hormone (plant starter) and standard fertilisers for natives. composted manure works just as well for gums as for roses :)

It's probably best to hold off manuring until you feel there is going to be some rain, though.

Hi all
Once again, I have managed to trim the native beuhinia to the ground and the grevillea 12" high to begin with now 9" with the whipper snipper. I have placed the grevillea in a pot for its own protection but it was looking pretty seedy anyway. I also decapitated my hydrangea. I usually get someone to do the mowing and trimming but did it myself yesterday. Today's question is I have put a new England tea tree in a medium (approx 16' diameter) pot with good potting mix and wonder if anyone can tell how well they do in pots?
Jan

Nathan

Thanks - I will fertilise my midyims. Extremely excited about them, bought another 3 yesterday - sad really.

Aggie

Hi Artiew,
Natives are a long term project,"All good things come to those that wait." I have been told, still waiting also. Good luck. Peter r

Nature has a delightfully humbling effect on us when we garden. It is better than a psychiatrist or a "happy pill" in solving our ego problems. It is one of the main reasons I garden.

It is a waste of time getting worked up over a unco-operative plant or a harmful change in the weather; we just have to ride with it. Plants will always react differently to my expectations but that makes my pleasures (successes) even greater.

I reckon gardening can be a great teacher of many excellent Human virtues.