Growing native plants in the City of Swan
Urban forest (vegetated areas) in our suburbs help absorb carbon, purify the air we breathe, cool our neighbourhoods, provide amenity, and support mental wellbeing and liveability. It also supplies food and habitat for urban wildlife.
Planting a native garden on your property can help increase kurb appeal and property value, as well as connect our green spaces. Native gardens can be sustainable, cooling, waterwise, fertiliser wise and low maintenance.
There are a huge range of local Western Australian plants that can be used to create contemporary garden styles. To get greening, identify your soil type, add suitable soil amendments, choose the right species for your soil, needs and lifestyle, visit your local nursery and then get planting.
Watering
WA plants are adapted to our dry climate and low rainfall. They are used to a bit of stress. Over watering leads to shorter lived plants with excessive growth and less prolific flowering. To keep your garden looking its best, it may be desirable to give some plants a supplementary watering over summer.
Pruning
To keep WA plants looking their best, it may be necessary to do some pruning to help keep the plant in shape and promote flowering.
Mulch
Good mulch consists of a mixture of different sized materials such as leaves, twigs and bark, so water can easily penetrate through to the soil. Mulch reduces evaporation. Select a material which doesn’t absorb too much water otherwise it will reduce the water available to the plants.
Please be aware the movement of wood and plant materials (including mulch) may be restricted or prohibited in some areas to prevent the spread of polyphagous shot-hole borer (PHSB), a small, highly invasive beetle that tunnels into the trunks, stems and branches of trees and plants. Find out about any restrictions at agric.wa.gov.au/borer.
Black cockatoos
You can help support black cockatoos by planting suitable species in your garden for food and habitat. It is important to leave sufficient space (at least three to five metres) between habitat/foraging plants and roads so that cockatoos can fly out safely. Find out more about priority species and safe set-backs via the Keep Carnaby’s Flying – Ngoolarks Forever project.
| Name | Height | Flowering season and flower colour | Other info | Preferred soil |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Trees (up to 15m) | ||||
| Candle Banksia (Banksia attenuata) | Piara | 5-10m | Oct-Feb | Yellow | 🐦🐝⚒️🍆🦅 | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Bull Banksia (Banksia grandis) | Poolgarla, mungite | 10m | Sep-Dec | Yellow | 🐦🐝⚒️🦅 | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Holly-leaved Banksia (Banksia ilicifolia) | 10m | Mar-Jan | Yellow | 🐦🐝⚒️🦅 | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Firewood Banksia (Banksia menziesii) | Buigala | 10m | Mar-Sep | Yellow, orange, red and cream | 🐦🐝⚒️🍆🦅 | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Tallerack (Eucalyptus pleurocarpa) | Dalyeruk | 8m | Aug-Dec | Red orange-brown | 🐦🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Coral Gum (Eucalyptus torquata) | 4-11m | Aug-Dec | Pink and red | 🐦🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly alkaline |
| Rottnest Teatree (Melaleuca lanceolata) | Moonah | 5m | Aug-Jan | White | ❌ | Sand, loam; slightly alkaline |
Shrubs (3 to 5m) | ||||
| Summer-scented Wattle (Acacia rostellifera) | 2-5m | Aug-Oct | Yellow | 🦋🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam; alkaline |
| Common Woolly Bush (Adenanthos cygnorum) | Boyur | 2-4m | Sep-Feb | Red-pink | 🐦🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Parrot Bush (Banksia sessilis) | Budjan, butyok | 4-5m | May-Nov | Yellow | 🐦🐝⚒️🍆 | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Red Pokers (Hakea bucculenta) | 4.5m | Aug-Sep | Red | 🐦🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Pink Spike Hakea (Hakea francisiana) | 5m | Aug-Oct | Pink, red | 🐦🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Harsh Hakea (Hakea prostrata) | Janda, Pulgar/Doolgur | 3m | Aug-Oct | White | 🐝⚒️❌ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Scarlet Kunzea (Kunzea baxteri) | 4m | Sep-Nov | Red, pink | 🐦🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
| Showy Honey-Myrtle (Melaleuca nesophila) | Mindiyet | 3m | Sep-Jan | Pink, purple | 🐝⚒️❌ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
Shrubs (1 to 3m) | ||||
| Prickly Moses (Acacia pulchella) | Mindalong | 1.5m | Jun-Oct | Yellow | 🦋🐝⚒️🦅 | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Basket Flower (Adenanthos obovatus) | Ghooyuk | 2m | May-Dec | Red, scarlet, orange | 🐦🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Woolly Bush (Adenanthos sericeus) | 2-3m | All year | Red-orange | 🐦🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Native Hibiscus (Alyogyne huegelii) | 2m | Jul-Jan | Violet | ❌ | Sand, loam; slightly alkaline |
| Oak-leaved Banksia (Banksia quercifolia) | 1.5-3m | Mar-Nov | Orange, yellow | 🐦🐝⚒️❌🍆 | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Sandplains Brush Myrtle (Beaufortia squarrosa) | Buro | 2m | Jan-Apr | Orange, red | 🐦🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| One-sided Bottlebrush (Calothamnus quadrifidus) | Quartijat | 1-2m | Aug-Dec | Red | 🐦🐝⚒️🦅 | Sand, loam, clay; slightly alkaline |
| Red Rod (Calothamnus sanguineus) | 1-2m | Aug-May | Red-pink | 🐦🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Silky Eremophila (Eremophila nivea) | 1-2m | Aug-Nov | Violet | 🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Obtuse Leaved Grevillea (Grevillea obtusifolia) | Berrung | 0.5-2m | Sep-Oct | Red | 🐦🐝⚒️🦅 | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Candle Hakea (Hakea corymbosa) | 3m | Dec-Jun | Red-pink | 🐝⚒️❌🦅 | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
| Zamia Palm (Macrozamia riedlei) | Baian, djiriji... | 0.5-3m | May-Jun | Red cones | ❌🍆 | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Graceful Honey-myrtle (Melaleuca radula) | 2.5m | Sep-Nov | Pink, mauve | 🐝🦋🐦⚒️❌ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
| Spiked Scholtzia (Scholtzia involucrata) | 1.5m | Dec-Mar | White, pale pink | 🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Morrison Featherflower (Verticordia nitens) | Kotyeningara... | 0.5-1.5m | Oct-Feb | Golden yellow | 🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea preissii) | Balga | 3m | Nov-Jan | White | 🐦🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
Shrubs (less than 1m) | ||||
| Dune Moses (Acacia lasiocarpa) | 0.5-1m | Jun-Aug | Yellow | 🦋🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam; alkaline |
| Grass wattle (Acacia willdenowiana) | 0.5m | May-Oct | Yellow | 🦋🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Coast Jugflower (Adenanthos cuneatus) | 1m | Aug-Nov | Red | 🐦🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Couch Honeypot (Banksia dallanneyi) | Bullgalla... | low | May-Sep | Gold | 🐦🐝⚒️🦅 | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Elegant Beaufortia (Beaufortia elegans) | 1m | Nov-Feb | Red, purple-pink | 🐦🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Yellow-eyed Flame Pea (Chorizema dicksonii) | 0.5m | Aug-Dec | Orange-red, yellow | 🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
| Lemon Scented Myrtle (Darwinia citriodora) | 1.5m | Jul-Dec | Orange, yellow | 🐦🐝⚒️🦅 | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Tarbush (Eremophila glabra) | 0.1-1.5m | Mar-Dec | Orange, yellow, red | 🐦🐝⚒️🦅 | Sand, loam, clay; slightly alkaline |
| Fuchsia Grevillea (Grevillea bipinnatifida) | Berrung | 0.3-1m | Mar-Nov | Red, orange | 🐦🐝⚒️🦅 | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
| Spider-net Grevillea (Grevillea thelemanniana) | Berrung | 1m | May-Sep | Red | 🐦🐝⚒️🦅 | Sand, loam, clay; slightly alkaline |
| Stalked Guinea Flower (Hibbertia racemosa) | 0.3m | Jul-Dec | Red-pink | 🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Orange Stars (Hibbertia stellaris) | 1m | Aug-Dec | Orange-yellow | 🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Devil's Pins (Hovea pungens) | Buyenak, Puyenak | 1m | Jun-Nov | Purple | 🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| White Myrtle (Hypocalymma angustifolium) | Koodgeed... | 1m | Jul-Oct | Pink, white | 🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
| Swan River Myrtle (Hypocalymma robustum) | 1m | Jul-Oct | Pale deep pink | 🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Waldjumi (Jacksonia sericea) | Waldjumi | 0.6m | Dec-Feb | Orange | 🐝⚒️🦅 | Sand, loam; alkaline |
| Rough Honey Myrtle (Melaleuca scabra) | 0.5-1.5m | Sep-Dec | Pink-purple | 🐦🦋⚒️❌🦅 | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
| Conebush or Candle Stick Petrophile (Petrophile macrostachya) | 1m | Aug-Nov | Yellow | 🐝⚒️🦅 | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Purple Wren Flower (Scaevola striata) | 1m | Aug-Dec | Mauve | 🐝⚒️🦅 | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Pixie Mops (Petrophile linearis) | 0.5-0.7m | Aug-Nov | White, pink, purple | 🐝⚒️🦅 | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
Perennial Herbs | ||||
| Catspaw (Anigozanthos humilis) | Kurulbrang, Nallamara | 0.5m | Aug-Oct | Yellow, orange, red | 🐦🐝❌ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos manglesii) | Kurutbrang | 1m | Sep-Nov | Red, green | 🐦🐝❌ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Green Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos viridis) | Koroylbardany | 1m | Sep-Nov | Green | 🐦🐝❌ | Sand, loam; slightly alkaline |
| Tall Speargrass (Austrostipa elegantissima) | 0.5m | Sep-Oct | Silver | 🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Spiny Cottonheads (Conostylis aculeata) | 0.3m | Sep-Nov | Yellow | 🐝⚒️🦅 | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
| Grey Cottonheads (Conostylis candicans) | 0.3m | Aug-Nov | Yellow | 🐝⚒️🦅 | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Blueberry Lily (Dianella revoluta) | Mangar, Mumball, Mangard | 1m | Sep-Jan | Purple, yellow | 🐝❌🍆 | Sand, loam, clay; slightly alkaline |
| Bloodroot (Haemodorum spicatum) | Mardja, Meen, Bohn, Manang | 0.5m | Oct-Jan | Black | 🐝❌🍆 | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Morning Iris (Orthrosanthus laxus) | 0.4-0.6m | Aug-Oct | Blue | 🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
| Purple Flag (Patersonia occidentalis) | Komma | 0.5-0.8m | Aug-Jan | Purple | 🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
Climbers and groundcovers | ||||
| Acacia saligna prostrate (Acacia saligna prostrate) | Coojong... | low | Jul-Aug | Yellow | 🦋🐝⚒️🦅 | Sand, loam; acidic |
| Prostrate Banksia (Banksia blechnifolia) | 0.7m | Sep-Nov | Red | 🐦🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Australian Bluebell (Sollya heterophylla) | Kuruba... | 0.5-1m | Oct-Feb | Blue | 🐦🦋⚒️❌🦅 | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
| Centella "Datu Kola" (Centella asiatica) | Low | Aug-Dec | Pale yellow-white | 🐝❌🍆 | Loam; slightly acidic |
| Kidneyweed (Dichondra repens) | Yilbill | Low | Sep-Feb | White, pale yellow-green | 🦋🐝❌ | Loam; slightly acidic |
| Eremophila "Kalbarri Carpet" (Eremophila glabra) | 0.4m | All year | Yellow | 🐦🐝⚒️🦅 | Sand, loam, clay; slightly alkaline |
| Grevillea "Gin Gin Gem" (Grevillea obtusifolia) | Berrung | 0.5m | Aug-Nov | Cream-pink | 🐦🐝⚒️🦅 | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Native Wisteria (Hardenbergia comptoniana) | Koalla... | Climber | Jul-Sep | Purple | 🦋🐝⚒️❌ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
| Snakebush (Hemiandra pungens) | Low | All year | Mauve | 🐝⚒️ | Sand, loam, clay; acidic-neutral-alkaline |
| Running Postman (Kennedia prostrata) | Kobin | Low | Jul-Nov | Red | 🐦🦋⚒️❌🦅 | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
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Legend Mapping: 🐦 Bird attracting | 🦋 Butterfly attracting | ⚒️ WA plant | 🍆 Bush tucker | 🦅 Black cockatoo food | ❌ Sensitive/Specific notes
Additional Information
- You should only eat bush tucker species if you have adequate knowledge to identify and prepare it, especially as most plants must be prepared first to be edible and some pparts of the plant are edible while others are not
- Soil present on your property may have been altered, for exmaple during construction. You can generally amend your soil to be suitable for a range of plants, and soil amendment is generally recommended for the best results
- Flowering times may differ due to environmental factors
- Most Australian species recommended prefer full sun
- Black Cockatoo priority food species are from the Black Cockatoo Conversation Action Plan (BCCAP) developed by Murdoch University as part of the City of Swan's involvement in the Keep Carnaby's Flying - Ngoolarks Forever project
- BCCAP also includes guidelines for safe set-backs from the road for foraging trees so these birds can access these trees safely.
Guidelines and Resources
- Landscape Guidelines for Streetscapes and Public Open Space
- Urban Forest Plan
- Tree Planting Guidelines
- Verges Online Guidelines
- Plants out of place
- Estimating Soil Texture by Hand – Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
- FireWise Gardening in Western Australia – Department of Fire and Emergency Services
- Waterwise Plant Directory – Water Corporation
- Fertilise Wise Campaign
- Good Natured Gardening – Polyphagous Shot-Hole Borer (DPIRD)
- How to Plant Black Cockatoo Friendly Gardens – BirdLife