Author: bf1961

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Agave attenuata

Agave attenuata

These hardy plants give a garden instant pop if you need a big plant in a hurry these are your best bet. They are everywhere around the suburbs and can get quite large in clumps so can be easily thinned out and given away to friends and family. Just bury the chunky stem in a small mound to support their weight facing into the light and they will quickly take root. soon you will have pups springing out of the base and can take these as cuttings.

I don’t think they are attractive if “over used”

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Liriope muscari

Liriope muscari

This plant is at its most useful in a mass planted border. Likes shade but or  dapple light so good filler in front of a larger shrub. Drought tolerant and can be divided from a large clump

Make sure soil is well drained

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Plumeria obtusa – Singapore Frangipani

Plumeria obtusa – Singapore Frangipani

This is an evergreen variety of the iconic Frangipani so you don’t need to gather up all those leaves every year.  The thing to be wary of is the sap, it can irritate the skin and very dangerous if it gets into your eyes. They can get quite big and don’t look good if pruned regularly so you need to put them where they will have 5 meters of free space, maybe in a high spot so they don’t need to stretch for the sun and will hold a better shape.

Needs fertilising and rich soil if you want lots of flowers

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Ixora coccinea (pron. x-or-ah)

Ixora coccinea

Pronounced x-or-a this shrub is an evergreen native of India and very popular in tropical environments. Tough plant likes semi shade and fertile conditions for flowering.  Grows to just over 1 meter high and wide it is a good plant for the mid section of a garden in between other large plants. Best part is there is dozens of different colour flowers available in this plant

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Westringia Fruitcosia

Westringia Fruitcosia

Another really tough water wise native and can be used as a low hedge.  Covers with a small white flower and looks similar to a rosemary herb but has no aroma. can get to 2 meters in a dome shape. Easy to propagate from a hardwood cutting or is stocked at the Paten Road Native Nursery

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Conifers – Brilliant urban trees

Conifers  – Various

From Thuja to Junipers and the pine trees conifer come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours. An evergreen tree that holds a classic teardrop shape without the need for significant space or maintenance. Quite hardy in dry conditions and they like rocky / stony ground. They tick a lot of boxes for me as they provide a majestic, architectural back drop to any garden large or small. Great for screening narrow boundaries and as they don’t drop leaves or litter they can grow above the roof line with no issues.

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Gazania – African Daisy

Gazania – African Daisy

Really tough once established, cheap and easy to propagate and spread around as a border or filler in between shrubs. A few variations to leaf and flower colour these are a great way to add colour in a sunny or semi shady spot.

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Nandina – Domestica

Nandina – Domestica

Called heavenly bamboo this little clumping plant makes the list due to its hardy drought tolerance and flexibility in landscaping. It makes no mess is easy to keep under control adds colour and fills up small spaces between plantings or looks great as a mass border

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Cupaniopsis anacardioides – Tuckeroo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

cupaniopsis anacardioides – Tuckeroo

Good all round residential yard or street tree. The Tuckeroo is an evergreen fast growing tree that holds a good shape and does not have invasive or big surface roots. Has a smooth trunk which grows to 2 meters but is not a large tree reaching 5-8 meters. Flowers and fruit will attract birds in Spring

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Harpulia pendula – Tulipwood

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harpulia pendula – Tulipwood

Another good yard or street evergreen tree. Dense growth habit and makes very little mess. Will reach 5-8 meters. Non invasive roots but look for a single trunk when young