Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design Re: How green is my Garden - HELP ME CHOOSE SOME PLANTS!!!!!! 34Aug 20, 2009 9:02 am 'A bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world.' Louis Pasteur Vegie garden: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=27637&start=0 My Backyard Adventure Re: How green is my Garden - HELP ME CHOOSE SOME PLANTS!!!!!! 35Aug 21, 2009 12:40 pm Fu Manchu Here's a heap of ideas. Like I said, some I don't like but you might. Sansevieria- mother in laws tongue, very very tough. Good structured plant that will fill the area planted. a few types available at various heights. Alocasia macrorrhzia- elephant ears. Fatsia Japonica- might yellow a little in the sun but may do OK. more of a shaded or indoor plant but is tough as well and should survive. Acanthus Mollis, has a fantastic flower and is green and leafy. Begonia Dragon Wings, A taller begonia that when dry is going to wilt and and bounce back ok with some water. Good colour flowers and lush green foliage. Easy to propagate at home, just don't sell the cuttings or you'll be in the poo. If have seen them grow in full sun too many times to ignore their suitability for your spot. Dianellas, loads of different types in loads of different heights and colours. Look flax like in some cases. Much tougher than flax. They will fill the garden bed they are planted in. Gold Diosmas, there are tall and low flatter ones available. excellent for clipping (one of the best) and the golds have the ability to throw in some vibrant colour to the garden. Ipomoea- ornamental sweet potato. Loads of in your face tough growing colour from the leaves. Can die off in the late winter/ early spring but very very tough. Doesn't have a huge thirst for water. They can take up some space but worth it. knock your socks off stuff. Sedum- autumn joy, a good landscape feature plant when done in mass. The flowers are a soft pink but they can go a bit yuck in extreme cold... sometimes but don't forget the seasol Euonymus- an excellent small formal hedge. They do get scale insects but preditory insect pest control is the easiest and cheapest option for control. Excellent small dark green leaves. This one is what I used for a formal hedge in front of my place... Alternathera dentata purpurea, it has a blood red/purple leave. It does need loads of clipping for a hedge but it looks awesome Very striking. It goes off here in the early spring when the cold sets in. bounces back fine year after year. excellent in among other plants for lush tropical colour or just something to stand out among the green. works in many garden types. Caprosmas. The old mirror bush. Very very tough and so many good colours available. Tequila is a ripper Acalyphas- One I love using in landscapes. They come in small low forms or tall vibrant forms of yellow or red. Often seen in tropical places but is extremely water wise. They do fine. I have seen an excellent example growing 50m from the waterline (not beach) in Quinns here in Perth. Must have been there as long as anyone could remember. It was exposed to salt air and high winds in the worlds second windiest capital city... Perth. Kanga paws of all sorts West Aussie plants... even better Melaleuca little nessie- a beautiful compact small grower with a lovely flower show. Lomandra cracker jack or seascape. Wispy blue green leaves. A fav of mine for great effect in all types of garden designs and types. nandina domestica- sacred bamboo. Brunfelsia sweet petite. small green leafy (more yellow in WA ) that has flowers changing colour as the days go on. Myrsine Africana- African Box. One of the best small or medium sized hedging plants. Just swear at it and it will grow. small dark green leaves, it looks a treat even when not clipped. can almost cover a fence if you wanted or it can be kept to 30-40cm. Breynia nivosa rosea- a few common names one is confetti bush. These are striking in their colour and make incredible hedges. They can sucker a little but those are dead easy to control. Pinks, greens, white, red are common colours and they are always changing. They can drop leaves in the coldest part of the year but they come back quick enough and not many plants would create a gob smacking hedge like these. There are loads of ideas and different type. All should fine in the east with little water as they do here and they are varieties tested with experience. Super ideas. Not all of them are natives right ? Here's some feedback on a couple that I've used .... Dianella ... very hardy native grass. I have a few different types. One smaller blue-ish one (seems to be steady at about 40cm high) and a larger green one (about 70cm high). Looks great as a border. Will spread, but responds well to yanking out any of the shooters that don't fall into line. Flowers are small and colourful and the stems they are on need to be cut back once the flowers are done. Might seem pricey, but (if you have the patience) you can take one pot and cut it into about 3 clumps. Needs almost no water once established. Diosma ... another hardy native shrub. Can get these in gold and green. Responds well to a harsh cut back. Nice little flowers. Needs almost no water once established. Kanga Paws ... although I love them (and the varieties they come in) they are hard work. I've found them hard to keep alive and hard to keep them looking good. Seem to be tempremental to shade/sun, amount of watering, soil pH. Check if they'll suit your climate and soil type before forking out on these. If you can get them to work - they look great. Hi VK, Think it's worth investing time in an Owner Builder course to equip you with basic knowledge on Australian Building Industry and its regulations. Also, I suggest… 11 23494 Murraya could be a great option for you. It creates a great tall screening hedge but doesn't drop fruit like lily pilly. The flowers smell divine. 2 10253 |