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Brachychiton rupestris (Bottle Tree)

3 Comments »3rd January, 2009; Category: Hardy Australian Native PLants, Parks and Gardens
Brachychiton rupestris (Bottle Tree)

Brachychiton rupestris (Bottle Tree)

I found this unusual tree in a park in Nerrandera. It grows to a height of 10-20 metres  and a width of 5-15m. It has yellow belll flowers in clusters, each flower about 5 cm long, in Spring and Summer. It grows in full or part sun, in acidic to mildly alkaline sand loam or clay, and tolerates some dryness. It is suitable hills areas and inland planting. The foliage can be partly deciduous, and stock will eat it.

This plant is suitable for pots, parks and large gardens in favourable areas. As it is so slow growing, it would take many years to be a large tree. More information can be found here.

This plant has been used by Aboriginal people as bush tucker. Warning: the seed pods of Brachychiton rupestris (Bottle Tree) have irritating hairs.

Foliage, roots and seeds are edible, however seeds must be roasted. Another warning! Be sure of the identity of all bush tucker plants before eating!

Templetonia retusa (Cocky’s Tongue)

3 Comments »1st January, 2009; Category: Drought Tolerant Plants, Hardy Australian Native PLants, Plants of South Australia, Using Australian Natives

Templetonia Retusa

Templetonia Retusa

This lovely shrub is very hardy and well worth a place in a shrubbery. It can grow to 2m high  and 3 m wide although I have never seen this size in garden conditions. It can be pruned and this will keep it to a reasonable size.

There are large, red pea shaped flowers very attractive to birds and butterflies, during winter and spring. This is a hardy plant suitable for front line coast and inland situations. It is moderately frost tolerant and requires good drainage. This can be achieved by creating a planting mound at least 5-10cm higher than the surrounding soil, if drainage is a problem. Templetonia retusa is found in South Australia and Western Australia. More information can be found here and here.

Kennedia prostrata (Running Postman)

No Comments »30th December, 2008; Category: Climbers and Ground Covers, Drought Tolerant Plants

Kennedia prostrata

Kennedia prostrata

Kennedia prostrata is a dryland creeping plant which, given good conditions will become a dense, flat ground covering plant. In particularly dry areas it is a little sparse, but given more than 350 mm rainfall, the plant will cover an area quite well, up to 3 metres across. Ants will carry the seed around and sometimes more plants will pop up around the garden. As can be seen from the photos, well grown plants are attractive in flower.

This species grows in acid to alkaline conditions, is moderately frost tolerant, and can be trimmed if necessary. It flowers from winter through to early summer, depending on the area. More information can be found here and here.

Kennedia prostrata

Kennedia prostrata

Prostanthera aspalathoides (Mint Bush)

No Comments »28th December, 2008; Category: Drought Tolerant Plants, Hardy Australian Native PLants

Prostanthera aspalathoides (Mint Bush)

Prostanthera aspalathoides (Mint Bush)

Prostanthera aspalathoides, (Mint Bush)  is another mallee heath plant found in western Victoria and in the mallee in dry areas of South Australia. It is a pretty shrub in flower and red and yellow forms are found in some areas.

This photo was taken in Little Desert National Park. It grows in the mallee sands and there- fore needs good drainage. The occasional trim after flowering is useful for keeping the bush compact. Nectar feeding birds, like Honeyeaters, love the nectar filled flowers.

This is a species that grows in acid to highly alkaline soil, and is drought and frost hardy. It is suitable for second line coastal planting, and grows to .7m high.

Prostanthera aspalathoides, yellow form (Mint Bush)

Prostanthera aspalathoides, yellow form (Mint Bush)

Dampiera rosmarinifolia

No Comments »26th December, 2008; Category: Conservation Parks, Drought Tolerant Plants

Dampiera rosmarinifolia

Dampiera rosmarinifolia

My son has been scanning our slides, and has burned them to a DVD for me for Christmas. I am going to feature some of the photos on the blog. Many of these were taken as my interest in Australian native plants increased and our holidays took us camping in National Parks.

Dampiera are suckering plants which form clumps, increasing from an underground root stock from which new growth arises. When this happens is a good time to prune out old growth and tidy the clump. This photo was taken in Little Desert National Park in Western Victoria and I suspect it is a subspecies of Dampiera rosmarinifolia. I will check that when I get access to my reference books again.

This is a hardy plant and has grown very well in our 350 mm of rain which we usually get in the winter. It flowers in the spring with these dark purple flowers. We have a pink and a mauve version of this also. It needs well drained soil which can be achieved by mounding the soil. Even as little as 10 cm will improve drainage.

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