Plant Finder

Spreading medium shrub. Leaves are oval-shaped, and green in colour. Flowers are a soft mauve colour (sometimes they are white). Flowering occurs from spring to summer. This plant requires regular pruning. Westringia glabra grows to about 2.5m high and 2m wide.

The deciduous Fig tree grows up to 5m in height and is quite drought tolerant once established. Its edible fruits form over many months and are easily cultivated. Many different varieties are available although care should be taken for weed potential.

The Lemon is an essential Mediterranean Garden plant. Most varieties grow between 2 and 3m in height. Sensitive to frost and poor drainage, once established the Lemon produces good fruit in a range of conditions.

Common Thyme is a well-known garden herb. It forms a sprawling, woody sub-shrub of wiry stems, rarely growing more than 20cm in height. Best grown in a full sun location there are many different forms of this excellent kitchen herb. Will be short-lived in humid conditions but is easily propagated from stem cuttings. It prefers alkaline soil and where drainage is poor it will grow in pots or hanging baskets.

A deciduous woody climber from south-eastern China, this plant is tolerant of low water conditions once established. It produces masses of orange-red trumpets of flowers over summer and is tolerant of a range of soil and climatic conditions however it needs a strong pergola to support its vigour and growth.

The humble grape is one of the toughest and most drought tolerant climbers. Many varieties exist including table grape, wine grape and colourful autumn foliage forms. Specialised pruning is generally required for fruiting varieties. Grape vines prefer dry summers and while cultivars may cope with subtropical regions they are not recommended for the tropics.

The Blueberry Ash is a small tree or large shrub that occurs naturally in eastern Australian forests and adjacent communities. When mature it has a rounded shape with dark green, glossy leaves. It produces fragrant white pendulous flowers during spring and early summer. Suitable for a range of sites, except those with severe frosts, it responds well to pruning and can also provide a useful hedge or screen.

Avocados can grow up to 12m in height but are generally managed through pruning to around 4 or 5m. Best in warmer climates with some summer rainfall, trees are frost-tender until established and need good drainage to thrive. A number of varieties are available and at least two different trees are needed to ensure fruit is produced. The variety 'Hass' has a thicker skin and will fruit as far south as Melbourne. 'Shepard' will do well in tropical zones.

Growing up to 5m in height, Wigandia is often a large shrub rather than a small tree. It produces large coarse leathery leaves and terminal heads of mauve-blue flowers during spring and summer. Pruning of unwanted basal suckers is the main maintenance task.

This broad foliaged perennial grows up to 6m tall. From the distinctive long leaves rise a dropping cluster of inedible banana-like fruits. It grows best in warmer climates with some summer rainfall.

This can be used as either a feature or high profile bedding plant. This species originates from southern China. It grows up to 5m tall and has distinctive floppy ends to the segments of each leaf. Initially slow growing it will develop a stout trunk with age. Best in warmer climates with some summer rainfall.

Not unlike a Banana, this large perennial can grow to 6m in height. Initially slow-growing, it eventually produces a slight ‘trunk’, clasped with the bases of the long, sword-like foliage. It is suitable for cooler climates and is reasonably drought tolerant once established. The roots are potentially invasive and this plant should not be planted near houses or pipes. This is an underrated and very useful plant.

A native shrub from coastal regions of New South Wales and Queensland, this shrub grows around 3 to 4 m in height. It has lobed leaves and produces large pink flowers, 150mm across, in summer. Slightly frost tender until established, it is best used in only partially shaded areas and can be managed by pruning after flowering.

The Japanese Aralia forms a branching shrub up to 3m in height. It has distinctive large, glossy, palm-like leaves and is suitable for very shaded locations. The deeper the shade the deeper green the leaves become. It produces branching heads of white flowers in autumn and is a good indoor plant.

The Kangaroo Vine originates from eastern Australian rainforests and climbs by means of clinging tendrils. The bright green leaves can form a dense screen and are followed by bright copper-coloured new growth in spring. It can be very vigorous but is easily maintained by pruning.

A popular climber and ground cover; this evergreen plant from East Asia has glossy green leaves and very fragrant white flowers that form in spring or summer. Best used in a part-shaded location; once established it is moderately drought tolerant.

This bedding plant is a Bromelliad, producing a clump of narrow, deep-green leaves up to 50cm long. The spikes of blue-green flowers are held on pink stems, providing dramatic colour contrasts. Useful for very dry and shaded locations, it will take some time to produce a dense ground cover.

A tufting and spreading perennial with dark green, strap-like leaves, the Paroo Lily is found across a range of habitats in eastern Australia. Because of this natural variation there are many different forms available for sale, growing from 40cm to 100cm in height. Used for ground cover in shade and full sun locations, its features include attractive blue, star-like flowers and mauve, glossy berries. It should be known that the berries are poisonous.

Salvias are excellent low water use plants, especially those from drier climates. Germander Sage is native to Mexico and produces sky blue flowers from spring to autumn. It grows up to 60cm in height and has a spreading habit once established. It will flower two or three times from spring to late autumn if pruned back.

A tree from coastal northern New South Wales and southern Queensland, this erect tree can grow up from 12 m to 16 m in height. It has dark green foliage and tiny round cones. It is slow growing this tree and best used in a sunny, well-drained garden location.