Australia is known for its top-notch wildlife and the home for many amazing plants and unique shrubs. Plants play a central role in the four major components of the ecosystem; tundra, grasslands, deserts, and forests. There is a wide range of exciting flora to appreciate in Australia.
The native forests and gardens are the best way to ensure that animals feel safe in their natural habitat. There are approximately 24,000 species of Australian native plants. Here are some of them you probably did not know.
Spider flower (Cleome hassleriana)
Native bluebell (Wahlenbergia stricta)
Golden Everlasting daisy (Xerochrysum)
The flannel flower (Actinotus helianthin)
Rice Flower (Ozothamnus diosmifolius)
Silver Spurflower (Plectranthus argentatus)
Everlasting Strawflower (Xerochrysum bracteatum)
Callistemon Little John Bottlebrush or weeping bottle-brush (Callistemon viminalis)
Trigger Grass (Stylidium graminifolium)
Small Crowea, Dwarf Crowea or Low Crowea (Crowea exalata)
Not all Australian plants are succulents and cactus – there are beautiful flowers, too!
Popular Australian Plants
Australia boasts of most of the best hybrid native plants the earth has seen in many years. They have fantastic color ranges and sizes. They also have beautiful flowering plants. Here are some of the famous Australian native plants.
Blue gum (Eucalyptus gunii)
Blue gum, also called cider gum, is a low-maintenance Australian native tree that achieves a mature size of 9m to 21m in height and 5.4m to 12m in width. It can grow in any type of soil as long as it is moist and well-drained, though it can also stand poorly-drained soil. It thrives well in partial sun to full sun exposure. It prefers acidic or neutral PH.
Eucalyptus is fragrant, showy, and evergreen. Throughout summer, fall, and winter, it blooms in spring with pale-blue flowers that attract birds. It is deer and drought-resistant.
Bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus)
Crimson bottlebrush is an evergreen shrub with arch-like branches. A mature plant is 3 inches to 7.5 inches tall and 3 inches to 20 inches wide. It grows well in moist, well-drained sandy, clay, or loamy soils with acidic or neutral PH and full sun exposure.
Bottlebrush is fragrant, showy, and evergreen and attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and birds. It blossoms in spring, all summer, fall, and winter.
Yellow Wattle (Acacia pycnantha)
Yellow wattle, also called bailey acacia, is a shrub or small tree that grows as tall as 6m to 9m and 6m to 12m wide. It grows in moist, well-drained acidic or neutral loam or sandy soil.
It is showy and deer-resistant and requires exposure to full sun to flourish. It blooms throughout spring, summer, fall, and winter. It is ideal for wall-side borders.
Kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos flavidus)
Kangaroo paw is a low-maintenance perennial plant that is showy and evergreen. It grows well in well-drained neutral or acidic loam or sandy soil. It requires full sun exposure to flourish. A kangaroo paw plant can grow up to 1 to 6 inches in height and 1 to 3 inches wide. It is drought, rabbit, and deer-resistant and attracts birds. Kangaroo paw is suitable for patio and containers, beds, and borders.
Australian Native Plants List with Pictures
The beauty of Australian flora and fauna is beyond imagination. Australia flaunts some of the most beautiful and unique plants. These native plants are popular, and you can easily incorporate them into any garden and landscape style. Check out these great Australian native plants and pictures.
Adenanthos Coral Carpet or flame bush (Adenanthos cuneatus)
This plant does look like a coral carpet
Bird’s nest fern (Asplenium nidus)
Bird’s nest fern looks great as a pot plant
Asteromyrtus Fireball (Asteromyrtus brassii)
Asteromyrtus Fireball vivid red flowers
Tasmanian Waratah (Telopea truncate)
Anitpodean Tasmanian Waratah srubs grow lovely, delicate red flowers
‘Misty Pink Grevillea’ (Grevillea banksii x sessilis)
Another Pink flower found ‘down-under’!
Swan River Myrtle (Hypocalymma robustum)
Swan River Myrtle is a shrub native to Oz with delicate white and yellow blossoms.
Some of the most attractive trees growing naturally, and some that are best for growing in your yard are Australian natives. These plants are either perennial or annual, and all grow in different climatic conditions. The native plants have significant benefits to both humans and animals.
Some of the most outstanding Australian native trees and shrubs are flowering while others are fruit-bearing plants. The native trees provide shade for people and food, and a home for wild animals. The shrubs can make unique statement plants in your garden and create an ideal habitat for animals, including crawling insects.
Wattle tree (Acacia)
Illawarra plum tree (Podocarpus elatus)
Tucker Bush cherry tree (Syzygium austral)
Grevillea tree (Grevillea robusta)
Acacia Honey Bun (Acacia howittii)
Acmena Cherry Surprise (Acmena smithii)
Acacia Minicog (Acacia cognata)
Infographic – Try these Australian plants for your garden at home
5 Australian plants suitable for growing in your home garden or pots
Australian Native Shrubs
The native shrubs of Australia are a significant resource. They make the environment attractive and offer homes and food to some animals. The Mediterranean climate and the adjacent semi-desert regions of Australia provide the ideal conditions for the survival of most of the shrubs in Australia.
A broad range of Australian native compact shrubs makes a fantastic feature shrub. The best thing is that most shrubs are low-maintenance after their establishment. Check these tremendous selections.
Wax flower (Philotheca buxifolia)
Black Eyed Susan (Tetratheca thymifolia)
Heart-leaf flame pea (Chorizema cordatum)
Native Fuchsia (Correa jezabell)
The Dampiera (Dampiera stricta)
Chamomile Sunray (Rhodanthe antimonides)
Brown Boronia (Boronia megastigma)
Australian Native Plants for Garden
Apart from the naturally growing native plants in Australia, some species are fit for growing in the garden. All you need is to choose a plant that accepts the soil and sun conditions in your garden. Check out some Australian native plants for the garden.
Brachyscome Daisy or swan river daisy
Brachyscome
Swan river daisy is a perennial plant that grows 12 to 18 inches tall and spreads up to 1 to 3 feet wide. It produces blue, lavender, pink, or white flowers in summer and fall. It grows best in rich, well-drained slightly acidic to alkaline soil and requires full sun exposure to flourish.
Balm Mint bushes
Mentha spp.
Mint bush is a perennial herb that can grow as tall as 12 to 18 inches and spread to 18 to 24 inches. It thrives in moist, well-drained loamy soil with acidic or neutral PH. Its season of interest is summer.
Spider flowers
Grevillea
The spider flower is an Australian shrub that grows 120cm to 180cm tall and spreads 120cm to 180cm in well-drained neutral or acidic loam or sandy soil. The spider flower plant blooms in spring, summer, fall, and winter and requires partial to full sun. the spider flower is drought and deer-resistant.
Austromyrtus Midgen Berry
Austromyrtus dulcis
The midgen berry is a perennial shrub that thrives in all well-draining soil types. It produces small white flowers in spring and summer. It flourishes in tropical and sub-tropical climates and requires partial shade to full sun.
Juncus pallidus Pale Rush
Juncus pallidus
Pale rush is an evergreen plant that grows in all soil types as long it is boggy, moisture-retentive, and has acidic, neutral, or alkaline PH. Juncus pallidus Pale Rush thrives in partial shade to full sun.
Colorful Australian Native Plants
Here are some native Australian plants that spruce up the environment.
Fan flower
Bush pearl
Flowering gum
Grey cottonheads
Callistemon ‘All Aglow’
Small Australian Native Plants
Some Australian native plants are small and suitable for growing in pots and containers. Here are examples of such small plants.
Lily lily
Westringia
Aussie Flat Bush
Grevillea Crimson Villea
Green John or Callistemon viminalis
FAQ
What Is the Plant That Is Only Found in Australia?
Sturt’s desert rose is only found in Australia
A Sturt’s desert rose (Gossypium sturtianum) is only found in Australia. It is a large shrub with a maximum height of 3meters. It tolerates any soil type that is dry and well-drained with acidic, neutral, or alkaline PH. It is drought-resistant. It thrives in full sun. Sturt’s Desert Rose blooms from winter all year round, producing mauve flowers.
What Are Some Indigenous Plants in Australia?
Australia has many varieties of indigenous plants ranging from flowering to fruit-bearing. Here is a list of some of these plants.
Acacia (wattles)
Eucalyptus (gum tree)
Native bluebell
Grass tree
EremopHila
Melaleuca
Bull Kauri
Palm Valley Myrtle
Hillgrove Spotted Gum
Sturt’s Desert Rose
What Is a Famous Plant in Australia?
Eucalypt native forests are iconic and essential in the conservation of Australia’s biodiversity. The Eucalyptus gum tree is the most famous tree in Australia’s environment. It is a unique addition to any home garden, not the surrounding at large. Native Australians use almost every part of the eucalypt tree for their own benefit.
Eucalypts are a significant source of wood due to their size, wood quality, and their widespread distribution. Eucalypts have various features like durability, weight, wood color, shape, and strength, ideal for many applications. Oil from eucalypt leaves is suitable for making perfumes and aromatherapy. A eucalypt is also ideal for fuelwood, chipping, and paper pulp.
What Is Australia’s Native Flower?
Golden wattle – symbol of the Golden land ‘down-under’.
The golden wattle (Acacia pycnantha) has been a well-known Australian floral emblem since 1901. It is a small evergreen tree or spreading shrub. It mainly grows in the under storey or woodlands, open scrubs, and open forest in southern Australia, new south Wales, and the capital of Australia. Australia has over 760 different varieties of wattles. Australians hold the golden wattle flower high and use it to make various products.
Other resources relating to Australian plants native to Australia
Hi, my name is Clarisse Walters, and I have a big passion for all things gardening related. My great grandfather owned the most beautiful garden, and as a child I enjoyed nothing more than helping him tend it over the summer months.
Through Essential Garden Guide, I want to share my passion and knowledge with others so that you have all the information and tools you need to become green fingered yourself. Once you know the basics of gardening and the different types of plants, you will be able to begin creating the garden of your dreams.
