Canberra Plant Selector

A hardy, adaptable small tree tolerant of most conditions. Fine slender foliage with deeply furrrowed dark bark. Makes a good shelter tree when planted in a group. Relatively insignificant flowers but fruit is woody and cylindrical with ornamental value.

Tetrathca, of Black-eyed Susan, is a group of small hardy shrubs, with lovely pinkish-mauve flowers in late winter and spring. Tetratheca thymifolia is probably the most familiar, and the easiest to find in garden centres. Requires no maintenance.

This is a hardy shade tree that produces masses of pale yellow flowers in clusters from late winter to early spring adding great colour in the winter months. Useful to protect the western side of the house from the hot afternoon sun. Plant away from the house, due to probable mature size of the tree.

Evergreen tuft forming fine textured perennial grass (0.3m x 0.2m) from Europe. Radiating clump of blue green to silvery white soft needle-like leaves. Fine panicles of spikelets in summer turning into buff brown seed heads. Useful for a border, edging, specimen in groups or mass planting. Plant densely for solid cover. Prune foliage back one third in spring. Needs well drained soil. Frost tolerant. Drought tolerant in partial shade.

Small slender perennial (0.3m x 0.3m) from all states of Australia including ACT. Few linear to narrow slender leaves mostly towards the base of wiry branching stems. Deep blue bell flowers on long slender stems in spring and summer. Useful for mass display in a rock or gravel garden or grouped for groundcover or understorey. Prefers well drained mulched soil in full to dappled sun. Dies back after flowering. Frost and drought tolerant.

Evergreen shrub with pendulous branches (2m x 1.5m). Cultivar from Qld of unknown parentage. Soft grey green leaves with weeping silvery new growth. Pale pink bottlebrush flowers with gold tips turning white in summer and autumn. Useful for a feature, screen or hedge. Bird attracting. Prune to maintain shape. Drought and frost tolerant.