If you are considering some garden landscaping help to nudge your garden into shape, why not go with Australian natives?  The beauty of them is that they don’t gobble up water and they actually don’t even need to be fertilised to the same extent that many other species do. Not only will this save on costs, it also helps to protect our resources.

Another benefit is that they don’t have the kind of lush growth that attracts insect pests or other diseases, so there is less need for pesticide use.

You may think that the flowers of Australian natives are not as showy as say, roses and many of the annuals popular these days, but they have a beauty that is more subtle and must be examined properly to be appreciated. They have many qualities that make them a good choice for gardens that must endure the often hot, dry conditions found in this country.

Many native species are unique and won’t grow in other climates apart from where they are found; this even means other parts of Australia. For instance, kangaroo paw grows best in Western Australia and while it can be purchased in other states, it usually ends up dying unless the soil in your garden and the climate is similar to its natural area.

When you purchase plants like grevilleas you have to look closely at the flower to see just how beautiful they are. Each one is a work of art. Once you realise how beautiful each part of the flower is, you will understand that there can be beauty without it having to jump out at you. Of course, some people love their garden to be a blaze of colour and that’s fine, but sometimes the quiet beauty is more relaxing.

There are many benefits to planting a native garden –

• It is low maintenance so you save on work as well as on water, pesticides and fertiliser.
• Native plants are not expensive or difficult to source.
• They withstand drought conditions so you are not likely to lose them due to water restrictions.
• They attract native insects such as butterflies and lizards as well as native birds to the garden.
• Many such as grevilleas, have a long flowering period.
• Others have interesting seed pods to extend the time of their attractiveness.
• They are versatile, with shrubs, trees, and groundcovers, hedging and edging plants available.
• Better breeding means that the blooms of many are bigger or more colourful than the originals, so you can have some that are showier.
• They are for the most part, easy to establish.
• Growing our native species in the garden helps to preserve them.