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Australian Native Plants

New member with ambition! Hello

20 years ago

Hi

Well I've just signed up because I could really use some help.

I live near Hobart in a house with a garden that consists of wallaby

grass, two trees, cracked concrete path and a hills hoist. Inspiring I know!

I've got my heart set on creating a beautiful native garden. Specifically I'd

like to create a wildflower and decorative grass effect across what is now the lawn

to minimise mowing. Hide the hideous concrete paths and coverup the patch of dirt

which is my driveway on the shady side of the house.

I live beachside with strong winds, poor sandy soil and because I'm on tank water

only watering the garden is not an option. Although I will admit that the 8 months

I've lived here there has been plenty of rain at least 2 days a week. The wallaby and

kangaroos grasses which seeded themselves grow quite vigorously and I see no reason at

all to discourage them.

Right now the garden is basically useless because all of it is at the front of the house

with full exposure to the street. So I'd like to do some screening as well for privacy.

I suppose my first priority though is to fix the entrance where I lovely cracked concrete path

is adjacent to bare earth. This area gets practically no sun at all and I'm looking for a low

growing ground cover for that. My first thought is native violets. I can't put anything high there

because it needs to remain as access to the water tank in case I need to buy water. Which hasn't happened

yet.

Anyway. I love this forum and look forward to chatting with you.

Cheers

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Comments (3)

nathanhurst
20 years ago
I don't really have time to expound on length about growing a wildflower grassland, but it is something I've been working on in melbourne for many years.

I'll try and come back and talk in depth, but at this stage I suggest you have a look at a few species which I think makes for an interesting look and should deal well with salt:

Leucophyta brownii
Any of the Frankenias
Wahlenbergia stricta
Apium insularae
Tetragonia tetragonioides
Ammobium calxifolium(not sure this is the right name, it's a common dune plant with interesting, though prickly, flowers)

Go and talk to Plants of Tasmania nursery on mt wellington - they should have a range of interesting species.
WildViolet
Original Author
20 years ago
Thanks for the tips. I'm very fond of Leucophyta brownii, that's
definately one for the garden. I'm also checking out my local dunes
(I live on the bayside) to see what kind of foliage grows there and
how it naturally occcurs.

Cheers
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popi_gw
20 years ago
Hello WildViolet I wish you all the best for your new garden adventure. Sounds like a wonderful plan you have, to turn your garden into a lovely native masterpiece. I might add, I am on tank water, or was up until a few weeks ago, and I have planted hundreds of plants over the past 6 years, mostly native, and have never watered them. They have all thrived with just the patchy rainfall. I have propagated a fair few of these plants, just by collecting seed from the local bushland. So maybe you might like to think of doing that. That gives an extra amount of enjoyment, when standing there and admiring your creation. All the best. Popi

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