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 doesnβt 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 Carnabyβs Flying β 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 | π¦πβοΈππ¦ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Bull Banksia (Banksia grandis) | Poolgarla, mungite | 10m | Sep-Dec | π¦πβοΈπ¦ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Holly-leaved Banksia (Banksia ilicifolia) | 10m | Mar-Jan | π¦πβοΈπ¦ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Firewood Banksia (Banksia menziesii) | Buigala | 10m | Mar-Sep | π¦πβοΈππ¦ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Tallerack (Eucalyptus pleurocarpa) | Dalyeruk | 8m | Aug-Dec | π¦πβοΈ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Coral Gum (Eucalyptus torquata) | 4-11m | Aug-Dec | π¦πβοΈ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly alkaline |
| Rottnest Teatree (Melaleuca lanceolata) | Moonah | 5m | Aug-Jan | β | Sand, loam; slightly alkaline |
Shrubs (3 to 5m) | ||||
| Summer-scented Wattle (Acacia rostellifera) | 2-5m | Aug-Oct | π¦πβοΈ | Sand, loam; alkaline |
| Common Woolly Bush (Adenanthos cygnorum) | Boyur | 2-4m | Sep-Feb | π¦πβοΈ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Parrot Bush (Banksia sessilis) | Budjan, butyok | 4-5m | May-Nov | π¦πβοΈπ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Red Pokers (Hakea bucculenta) | 4.5m | Aug-Sep | π¦πβοΈ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Pink Spike Hakea (Hakea francisiana) | 5m | Aug-Oct | π¦πβοΈ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Harsh Hakea (Hakea prostrata) | Janda, Pulgar/Doolgur | 3m | Aug-Oct | πβοΈβ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Scarlet Kunzea (Kunzea baxteri) | 4m | Sep-Nov | π¦πβοΈ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
| Showy Honey-Myrtle (Melaleuca nesophila) | Mindiyet | 3m | Sep-Jan | πβοΈβ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
Shrubs (1 to 3m) | ||||
| Prickly Moses (Acacia pulchella) | Mindalong | 1.5m | Jun-Oct | π¦πβοΈπ¦ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Basket Flower (Adenanthos obovatus) | Ghooyuk | 2m | May-Dec | π¦πβοΈ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Woolly Bush (Adenanthos sericeus) | 2-3m | All year | π¦πβοΈ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Native Hibiscus (Alyogyne huegelii) | 2m | Jul-Jan | β | Sand, loam; slightly alkaline |
| Oak-leaved Banksia (Banksia quercifolia) | 1.5-3m | Mar-Nov | π¦πβοΈβπ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Sandplains Brush Myrtle (Beaufortia squarrosa) | Buro | 2m | Jan-Apr | π¦πβοΈ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| One-sided Bottlebrush (Calothamnus quadrifidus) | Quartijat | 1-2m | Aug-Dec | π¦πβοΈπ¦ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly alkaline |
| Red Rod (Calothamnus sanguineus) | 1-2m | Aug-May | π¦πβοΈ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Silky Eremophila (Eremophila nivea) | 1-2m | Aug-Nov | πβοΈ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Obtuse Leaved Grevillea (Grevillea obtusifolia) | Berrung | 0.5-2m | Sep-Oct | π¦πβοΈπ¦ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Candle Hakea (Hakea corymbosa) | 3m | Dec-Jun | πβοΈβπ¦ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
| Zamia Palm (Macrozamia riedlei) | Baian, djiriji... | 0.5-3m | May-Jun | βπ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Graceful Honey-myrtle (Melaleuca radula) | 2.5m | Sep-Nov | ππ¦π¦βοΈβ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
| Spiked Scholtzia (Scholtzia involucrata) | 1.5m | Dec-Mar | πβοΈ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Morrison Featherflower (Verticordia nitens) | Kotyeningara... | 0.5-1.5m | Oct-Feb | πβοΈ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea preissii) | Balga | 3m | Nov-Jan | π¦πβοΈ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
Shrubs (less than 1m) | ||||
| Dune Moses (Acacia lasiocarpa) | 0.5-1m | Jun-Aug | π¦πβοΈ | Sand, loam; alkaline |
| Grass wattle (Acacia willdenowiana) | 0.5m | May-Oct | π¦πβοΈ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Coast Jugflower (Adenanthos cuneatus) | 1m | Aug-Nov | π¦πβοΈ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Couch Honeypot (Banksia dallanneyi) | Bullgalla... | low | May-Sep | π¦πβοΈπ¦ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Elegant Beaufortia (Beaufortia elegans) | 1m | Nov-Feb | π¦πβοΈ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Yellow-eyed Flame Pea (Chorizema dicksonii) | 0.5m | Aug-Dec | πβοΈ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
| Lemon Scented Myrtle (Darwinia citriodora) | 1.5m | Jul-Dec | π¦πβοΈπ¦ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Tarbush (Eremophila glabra) | 0.1-1.5m | Mar-Dec | π¦πβοΈπ¦ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly alkaline |
| Fuchsia Grevillea (Grevillea bipinnatifida) | Berrung | 0.3-1m | Mar-Nov | π¦πβοΈπ¦ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
| Spider-net Grevillea (Grevillea thelemanniana) | Berrung | 1m | May-Sep | π¦πβοΈπ¦ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly alkaline |
| Stalked Guinea Flower (Hibbertia racemosa) | 0.3m | Jul-Dec | πβοΈ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Orange Stars (Hibbertia stellaris) | 1m | Aug-Dec | πβοΈ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Devil's Pins (Hovea pungens) | Buyenak, Puyenak | 1m | Jun-Nov | πβοΈ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| White Myrtle (Hypocalymma angustifolium) | Koodgeed... | 1m | Jul-Oct | πβοΈ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
| Swan River Myrtle (Hypocalymma robustum) | 1m | Jul-Oct | πβοΈ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Waldjumi (Jacksonia sericea) | Waldjumi | 0.6m | Dec-Feb | πβοΈπ¦ | Sand, loam; alkaline |
| Rough Honey Myrtle (Melaleuca scabra) | 0.5-1.5m | Sep-Dec | π¦π¦βοΈβπ¦ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
| Conebush or Candle Stick Petrophile (Petrophile macrostachya) | 1m | Aug-Nov | πβοΈπ¦ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Purple Wren Flower (Scaevola striata) | 1m | Aug-Dec | πβοΈπ¦ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Pixie Mops (Petrophile linearis) | 0.5-0.7m | Aug-Nov | πβοΈπ¦ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
Perennial Herbs | ||||
| Catspaw (Anigozanthos humilis) | Kurulbrang, Nallamara | 0.5m | Aug-Oct | π¦πβ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos manglesii) | Kurutbrang | 1m | Sep-Nov | π¦πβ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Green Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos viridis) | Koroylbardany | 1m | Sep-Nov | π¦πβ | Sand, loam; slightly alkaline |
| Tall Speargrass (Austrostipa elegantissima) | 0.5m | Sep-Oct | πβοΈ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Spiny Cottonheads (Conostylis aculeata) | 0.3m | Sep-Nov | πβοΈπ¦ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
| Grey Cottonheads (Conostylis candicans) | 0.3m | Aug-Nov | πβοΈπ¦ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Blueberry Lily (Dianella revoluta) | Mangar, Mumball, Mangard | 1m | Sep-Jan | πβπ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly alkaline |
| Bloodroot (Haemodorum spicatum) | Mardja, Meen, Bohn, Manang | 0.5m | Oct-Jan | πβπ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Morning Iris (Orthrosanthus laxus) | 0.4-0.6m | Aug-Oct | πβοΈ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
| Purple Flag (Patersonia occidentalis) | Komma | 0.5-0.8m | Aug-Jan | πβοΈ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
Climbers and groundcovers | ||||
| Acacia saligna prostrate (Acacia saligna prostrate) | Coojong... | low | Jul-Aug | π¦πβοΈπ¦ | Sand, loam; acidic |
| Prostrate Banksia (Banksia blechnifolia) | 0.7m | Sep-Nov | π¦πβοΈ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Australian Bluebell (Sollya heterophylla) | Kuruba... | 0.5-1m | Oct-Feb | π¦π¦βοΈβπ¦ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
| Centella "Datu Kola" (Centella asiatica) | Low | Aug-Dec | πβπ | Loam; slightly acidic |
| Kidneyweed (Dichondra repens) | Yilbill | Low | Sep-Feb | π¦πβ | Loam; slightly acidic |
| Eremophila "Kalbarri Carpet" (Eremophila glabra) | 0.4m | All year | π¦πβοΈπ¦ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly alkaline |
| Grevillea "Gin Gin Gem" (Grevillea obtusifolia) | Berrung | 0.5m | Aug-Nov | π¦πβοΈπ¦ | Sand, loam; slightly acidic |
| Native Wisteria (Hardenbergia comptoniana) | Koalla... | Climber | Jul-Sep | π¦πβοΈβ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
| Snakebush (Hemiandra pungens) | Low | All year | πβοΈ | Sand, loam, clay; acidic-neutral-alkaline |
| Running Postman (Kennedia prostrata) | Kobin | Low | Jul-Nov | π¦π¦βοΈβπ¦ | Sand, loam, clay; slightly acidic |
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 β Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
- FireWise Gardening in Western Australia β Department of Fire and Emergency Services
- Waterwise Plant Directory β Water Corporation
- Fertilise Wise Campaign
- Good Natured Gardening β Polyphagous Shot-Hole Borer (DPIRD)
- How to Plant Black Cockatoo Friendly Gardens β BirdLife