10 Australian native plants perfect for beginner gardeners
If you’re new to gardening, Australian natives can feel a bit overwhelming; not because they’re difficult, but because there are so many choices, variables and advice.
The truth is, many native plants are extremely forgiving once they’re in the ground and established. The key is choosing plants that tolerate imperfect conditions and reward you clearly when they’re happy.
The ten plants below are reliable places to start. They’re resilient, visually satisfying and well suited to gardeners still learning how their space behaves.
1. Xerochrysum (Paper Daisy)
Paper daisies are one of the most satisfying native plants you can grow, especially if you’re new to gardening and craving visible reward. From a small patch of soil, they produce an almost ridiculous abundance of papery flowers that seem to appear all at once and keep coming for weeks. When they’re in bloom, they transform an ordinary garden bed into something truly striking.
What makes paper daisies so approachable is how uncomplicated they are. They don’t need rich soil, careful feeding or constant watering. In fact, the less you interfere, the better they often perform. Their bright, long-lasting flowers attract bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects in huge numbers.
To plant them successfully, sow seeds directly where you want them to grow, ideally in full sun. Avoid overwatering and let the seedlings compete a little — it encourages stronger plants. Once they finish flowering, allow some blooms to set seed. In many gardens, they’ll return on their own the following season.
2. Dampiera stricta (Blue Dampiera)
Dampiera stricta is one of those native plants that surprises people. At first glance it looks modest, but once established it produces vivid blue flowers and keeps flowering steadily rather than all at once.
It’s naturally adapted to poor, sandy or gravelly soils and copes well with heat, wind and dry conditions. Unlike many flowering plants, it doesn’t collapse if you forget to water or if the soil isn’t perfect. When it’s happy, success is obvious: neat grey-green foliage, steady new growth and regular flashes of blue flowers that attract bees and small pollinators.
To give dampiera the best chance of success, plant it in full sun to light shade with excellent drainage. Water well during the first few weeks to help it establish, then ease back. Light pruning after flowering encourages a denser shape and more blooms, but it will still perform if you leave it alone.
3. Brachyscome (Native Daisy)
Brachyscome is one of the easiest ways to experience quick success with native plants. It flowers generously for long periods, spreads softly and recovers quickly if it dries out or gets trimmed back too hard. For beginners, it’s reassuring because it looks good even when you’re still figuring things out.
What makes brachyscome approachable is how little it asks of you. If it’s getting sun and the occasional water, it will usually perform. When it’s happy, you’ll see constant small flowers and fresh green growth. If it looks tired, a light trim almost always brings it back.
To plant successfully, choose a sunny or lightly shaded spot and don’t overprepare the soil. Plant it, water it in well and then let it settle. Resist the urge to fertilise heavily — brachyscome prefers neglect. It's really one of the most adaptable native plants you can grow, performing well in rockeries, cottage-style gardens and even containers. As long as drainage is reasonable, it adjusts easily to different conditions.
4. Correa
Correas are ideal for beginners because they grow slowly, stay neat and don’t demand constant intervention. They’re especially useful if your garden has shade, which often confuses new gardeners trying to choose plants.
Correas reward patience rather than fuss. They flower in cooler months when many plants aren't, which makes them all the more satisfying. They work well as low hedges or clipped forms because of their dense growth habit. Regular tip pruning encourages compact growth, allowing you to shape them gradually without stressing the plant.
Plant correas in part shade with protection from hot afternoon sun. Focus on good drainage and avoid fertiliser. Once established, they largely look after themselves, which makes them a great, confidence-building plant. Correas offer remarkable variety, with differences in size, leaf texture and flower colour, while still sharing the same reliable, beginner-friendly nature.
5. Native Violet (Viola hederacea)
Native violet spreads without aggression, fills gaps naturally and softens hard edges without taking over. For beginners, it’s comforting because it tells you quickly if it’s content with steady growth and regular flowers.
This plant is especially useful if you’re unsure what to do in shaded areas or under a canopy. They are a good option under eucalypts, as they don’t need deep, rich soil and also act as a soft living mulch. Once established, they reduce evaporation and suppress weeds, improving conditions over time.
Plant native violet in shade or semi-shade where the soil stays reasonably cool. Water it in well at planting, then step back. It often performs best when left slightly alone.
6. Lomandra
Lomandra is one of the most dependable plants you can put in the ground. It’s an excellent choice for beginners because it tolerates almost everything — heat, bogs, drought, frost, poor soil and missed watering.
In spring and early summer, lomandra produces upright flower spikes made up of many tiny flowers. While subtle, they attract insects and add seasonal interest to the garden. Lomandra has a dense, fibrous root system that holds soil together. This makes it excellent on slopes, along paths and in areas where soil tends to wash away during heavy rain.
Plant lomandra in sun or part shade and water during establishment. After that, it’s remarkably self-sufficient. If it starts to look tired after a few years, cutting it back hard will usually refresh it completely.
7. Crowea (Crowea exalata)
Crowea is a beautiful native shrub that surprises many beginner gardeners. Its glossy green foliage looks lush year-round and in spring it produces masses of star-shaped pink flowers that arrive reliably.
What makes crowea especially beginner-friendly is its moderate growth habit. It grows slowly, holds its shape naturally and doesn’t demand regular pruning to look good. Crowea holds its density in dappled or morning light, making it ideal for suburban gardens with limited sun.
When planted in well-drained soil and left largely alone, crowea rewards patience rather than constant attention. Crowea works equally well in relaxed native gardens and more structured spaces. It doesn’t scream “bushland”, but it also doesn’t feel exotic or out of place.
8. Chrysocephalum (Yellow Buttons)
Chrysocephalum is a lesser-known native that’s perfect for beginners who want flowers without drama. It’s low-growing, cheerful and tolerant of poor soil and dry conditions.
What makes it approachable is its resilience. If they start to sprawl or look tired, a quick trim almost always triggers fresh growth and another flush of flowers. That fast feedback is very encouraging for beginners. Success looks like consistent yellow blooms and fresh grey-green foliage.
Plant in full sun with free-draining soil and avoid heavy mulch around the crown. It’s happiest when left uncomplicated.
9. Dianella (Flax Lily)
Dianella is a versatile, low-maintenance plant that works in many situations. It provides structure, seasonal flowers and decorative berries without requiring close attention.
For beginners, dianella is helpful because it adapts. It tolerates different light levels and irregular watering, making it ideal when you’re still learning.
Plant in sun or part shade and water during establishment. Once settled, it needs little care beyond the occasional tidy-up. Dianella can be easily divided in autumn or early spring. Lift the clump with a spade, slice it into sections with a sharp knife and replant immediately. These plants are tough and respond quickly, making division an easy way to refresh existing plants and create more for free.
10. Philotheca myoporoides (Wax Flower)
Philotheca myoporoides offers glossy green foliage and masses of small, star-shaped white flowers, often lightly scented, which appear in spring.
What makes philotheca approachable is its resilience once established. It tolerates pruning, copes with heat and light frost and doesn’t require constant feeding or attention.
To give it the best chance of success, choose a position with excellent drainage and plenty of sun. Slightly raised areas or gentle slopes are ideal, as philotheca dislikes sitting in wet soil. Water regularly during the first growing season, then ease back once roots are established.
If you’re new to gardening, it’s best to start with plants that don’t punish you for learning. Many Australian natives are naturally resilient and well suited to our conditions, which makes them a sensible place to begin rather than a risky one.
Having a small kit of the right tools helps immensely. A gardening belt keeps essentials close at hand, reducing unnecessary trips back and forth and helping you work more efficiently. Pair this with a small set of quality hand tools — a trowel and hand fork will cover most planting and maintenance tasks — and a sharp, well-made pair of secateurs for clean pruning.
You don’t need specialist knowledge or perfect soil to have success. Choose one or two natives from this list, plant them thoughtfully and see how they respond. Once you experience a few wins, native gardening stops feeling confusing and starts to feel like the most straightforward choice of all.
