12 Australian native plants that flower in winter
Winter in Australia does not mean a garden gone quiet. Much of our native flora responds to cooler temperatures and shorter days by bursting into some of its most spectacular displays.
From the frost-touched tableland gardens of New South Wales to the mild, damp winters of the south-west, there is a native plant ready to deliver for your garden in the cold.
Here are twelve of the best Australian native plants for winter flowering, chosen to cover every climate zone, from tropical north to temperate south, with everything you need to grow them well.
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1. Grevillea 'Superb' (Grevillea banksii × Grevillea bipinnatifida)
Where it grows best
Grevillea 'Superb' is one of the most reliably winter-flowering natives available to Australian gardeners and its adaptability makes it a standout across a broad range of climates. It thrives in temperate regions including Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra and the Southern Highlands, where cool winters trigger its most prolific flowering. It also performs well in subtropical gardens across south-east Queensland and coastal NSW, though its flower output is somewhat reduced in areas with very warm winters. It is not suited to the tropical north or consistently waterlogged soils, but given decent drainage and a position that receives at least half a day of sun, it is almost effortless.
User John Dalton on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How to plant and maintain
Plant in well-drained soil, ideally with the addition of a small amount of coarse sand or grit if your soil is heavy clay. Dig the hole no deeper than the root ball and twice as wide, then backfill without added fertiliser. Grevilleas are highly sensitive to phosphorus and standard fertilisers can kill them. Water in well and mulch around the base, keeping mulch clear of the stem. Use a long-handled spade for planting and a pair of sharp bypass secateurs for the light annual tip-prune after flowering, which keeps the plant dense and encourages the following season's buds. Avoid pruning into old wood. Water deeply once or twice a week for the first season, then reduce to occasional deep soaks once established.
Why it's a beautiful winter addition
The flowers of Grevillea 'Superb' are a rich orange and red toothbrush-style cluster that brighten up a grey winter morning. They appear almost continuously from late autumn through winter and into spring, making this one of the longest-flowering natives you can grow. They are irresistible to honeyeaters, so planting one near a window or outdoor seating area turns your garden into a wildlife viewing point all season long. View our full guide on grevilleas.
2. Banksia 'Birthday Candles' (dwarf form of Banksia spinulosa)
Where it grows best
This dwarf banksia is perfectly suited to the dry-summer, cool-winter climates of southern and western Australia. It excels in Perth and the south-west of WA, along the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula and in coastal gardens of Victoria and southern NSW. It tolerates light frost but dislikes prolonged wet winters in heavy soil so good drainage is non-negotiable. In subtropical climates it may survive but is unlikely to flower reliably; it is best left to gardeners in the southern half of the country.
Melburnian, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How to plant and maintain
Plant into sandy or sandy-loam soil in a full-sun position. Like all banksias, 'Birthday Candles' is phosphorus-sensitive, so never use standard fertilisers near the root zone. A hand trowel is all you need for planting this compact shrub, which rarely exceeds 60cm in height. Apply a layer of woodchip mulch to conserve moisture and suppress weeds, but keep it away from the crown. Pruning is minimal — simply remove spent flower cones with sharp pruners to tidy the plant and encourage branching. It is largely pest and disease free once established in the right conditions.
Why it's a beautiful winter addition
The candle-like golden-yellow flower spikes of Banksia 'Birthday Candles' are a cheerful presence in the winter garden. They emerge in late autumn and continue well into winter, standing upright above the fine, serrated foliage like tiny torches. Because this is a dwarf variety, it works beautifully in containers on a sunny balcony or patio, bringing the same warmth and wildlife appeal, particularly for honeyeaters and spinebills, as its larger cousins.
3. Pincushion hakea (Hakea laurina)
Where it grows best
Native to the south-west of Western Australia, Hakea laurina has proved to be remarkably adaptable across southern Australia. It grows with great success in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and many inland regions with a Mediterranean or semi-arid climate. It tolerates moderate frost, extended dry periods, poor soils and coastal exposure. It is best avoided in high-humidity subtropical and tropical climates, where it is prone to root rot and fungal issues, but for the bulk of the country's gardening population it is an outstanding and underused choice.
How to plant and maintain
Plant in full sun to part shade in free-draining soil. Hakeas deeply resent root disturbance, so handle the root ball gently at planting time and use a broad-bladed spade to prepare a wide, shallow hole rather than a deep, narrow one. Stake young plants in exposed positions for the first season. Water deeply with a watering can after planting and then allow the soil to dry between waterings as overwatering is by far the most common cause of failure with this species. No fertiliser is necessary — a generous layer of mulch is all the feeding it needs. Prune lightly after flowering with loppers if a more compact shape is desired.
Why it's a beautiful winter addition
Few flowers in the Australian native palette are as visually striking as those of Hakea laurina. The blooms are deep crimson globes with cream-tipped styles that emerge in all directions. The effect is precisely like a pincushion and the contrast of red and white against the silvery-green leaves is beautiful. Flowering occurs from late autumn through mid-winter, often when little else in the garden is performing. They are also fragrant, which is a welcome bonus on a cool winter morning.
Winter planting tip for natives: Winter is actually one of the best times to plant Australian natives in temperate and southern climates. The cooler soil temperatures reduce transplant shock, natural rainfall reduces your watering burden and the plant has an entire cool season to establish its root system before facing its first summer.
4. Cootamundra wattle (Acacia baileyana)
Where it grows best
One of Australia's most recognisable winter-flowering trees, the Cootamundra wattle produces a cloud of golden-yellow blossom from mid-winter through early spring. It is best suited to temperate, cool highland and semi-arid climates — the tablelands and western slopes of NSW, the ACT, the Adelaide Hills and inland Victoria. It tolerates hard frosts, dry summers and poor soils with ease. It can become weedy in some native bushland settings outside its natural range, so check local guidelines before planting in areas adjacent to remnant vegetation.
How to plant and maintain
Plant in full sun in free-draining soil. Use a long-handled spade to dig a wide, shallow planting hole. Young wattles establish quickly and rarely need staking unless in a particularly exposed site. Water weekly for the first season, then allow the tree to fend for itself — it is one of the most drought-tolerant flowering trees available. A light prune with bypass loppers after flowering will help maintain a tidy canopy and extend the life of the tree, as wattles can become leggy without occasional shaping.
Why it's a beautiful winter addition
When in full bloom it is one of the most spectacular sights the Australian garden has to offer. The feathery, silver-blue foliage is smothered entirely in masses of tiny, golden flowers that catch the low winter sun. The fragrance is slightly honey-like. For gardeners in colder climates who feel the absence of colour most in winter, this is a great option.
5. Correa 'Dusky Bells' (hybrid correa)
Where it grows best
Correas are among the most shade-tolerant of Australian native shrubs and 'Dusky Bells' is one of the best. It performs very well in temperate, cool highland and southern coastal gardens including Melbourne and surrounds, the ranges of Victoria and NSW, the ACT and parts of the Adelaide Hills. It will also grow in dappled shade under established trees, which makes it one of very few winter-flowering natives capable of brightening a shaded garden. It is not suited to tropical climates.
How to plant and maintain
Plant in part shade to full shade in well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. A garden fork used to gently loosen the surrounding soil before planting will help the roots establish in heavier ground. Water regularly for the first season and maintain a thick mulch layer as correas have shallow roots and appreciate consistent soil moisture. Tip-prune lightly after flowering with sharp secateurs to maintain a compact, bushy habit. They respond well to pruning and can be shaped as an informal hedge.
Why it's a beautiful winter addition
The pendant, tubular flowers of Correa 'Dusky Bells' are a soft dusky pink that hang in clusters from arching branches throughout winter and into early spring. In a shaded garden where colour is hard to come by at this time of year, they are a welcome change. They are also loved by eastern spinebills, which hover beneath the pendant flowers to access the nectar within. Few plants offer this combination of shade tolerance, long winter flowering and wildlife value.
6. River tea tree 'Revolution Gold' (Melaleuca bracteata)
Where it grows best
One of the few truly versatile natives for gardeners in the tropical and subtropical north, Melaleuca bracteata 'Revolution Gold' grows happily across a wide range of Australian climates including Darwin, Cairns, Brisbane and beyond. In these warmer regions it tends to flower from late autumn through winter, making it a rare and valuable winter bloomer for northern gardeners. It also performs well in temperate climates further south. It tolerates wet feet, heavy clay soils, coastal conditions, drought and mild frost — an almost unbeatable combination of toughness.
Mark Marathon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How to plant and maintain
Plant in full sun in any reasonably fertile soil. It is one of the more forgiving natives when it comes to soil type and will tolerate boggy conditions that would kill most others. Use a spade or mattock for planting in heavier soils. Water in well and establish with weekly deep watering for the first season. Once established it requires virtually no irrigation. It responds extremely well to pruning and can be shaped into a hedge, screen or standard with hedging shears and loppers. The bright golden foliage makes it visually effective year-round even when not in flower.
Why it's a beautiful winter addition
The white bottlebrush-like flowers of 'Revolution Gold' appear against golden-yellow foliage, creating a two-tone effect that is bold in the winter garden. For northern gardeners especially, the sight of blossom appearing in the dry season is particularly welcome. The contrast between the fluffy white flowers and the glowing leaves is eye-catching from a distance and makes this plant extremely useful as a feature or screen in large gardens.
7. Purple coral pea (Hardenbergia violacea)
Where it grows best
Hardenbergia is one of the most widely grown Australian native climbers because it is tough, beautiful and at home in an exceptionally broad range of conditions. It grows naturally across a huge swathe of eastern and southern Australia and adapts to temperate, subtropical, semi-arid and coastal climates happily. It tolerates moderate frost, extended dry periods and poor soils. In tropical climates it tends to be shorter-lived and may not flower as reliably, but across most of the country it is an easy and rewarding choice.
How to plant and maintain
Plant at the base of a fence, trellis or pergola in full sun to part shade. Prepare the soil with a garden fork and add a little compost to encourage establishment. Provide a support structure from the outset as young plants will immediately begin to twine and establish their climbing habit. Water weekly for the first season, then reduce frequency as the plant matures. An annual prune after flowering with sharp bypass secateurs prevents the plant from becoming a tangled mass and encourages fresh growth and the following season's flowering stems. It is generally pest-free and requires no fertilising.
Why it's a beautiful winter addition
From late winter through early spring, Hardenbergia violacea produces cascading chains of small, pea-shaped flowers in a vivid purple-violet with a distinctive yellow-green centre. En masse, the effect is a waterfall of purple across a fence or trellis at a time when most of the garden is still dormant. There is a white-flowered form available for gardeners who prefer a softer palette and both are equally generous in their flowering. This is one of the best plants you can choose for transforming a bare fence.
8. Rose coneflower (Isopogon formosus)
Where it grows best
The rose coneflower is native to the south-west of Western Australia and is most reliably grown in the Mediterranean and semi-arid climates of that region, as well as in similar conditions in South Australia. Perth gardeners in particular should consider this an essential winter-flowering shrub. It demands excellent drainage, low phosphorus soils and a dry summer. With dedicated attention to drainage and a position sheltered from humid, wet conditions, eastern gardeners in drier inland areas can also achieve success.
Cs california, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How to plant and maintain
Plant in a raised bed or on a slope where drainage is guaranteed. Use a mattock or spade to prepare a mound if necessary, incorporating coarse sand or fine gravel into the soil. Do not add compost or fertiliser. Water in well after planting and then only occasionally as it will decline rapidly in boggy conditions. Prune lightly with sharp secateurs after the flowers have finished to encourage a bushy habit, cutting back into the soft new growth but never into old, woody stems. Handle with care at planting as the fine roots dislike disturbance.
Why it's a beautiful winter addition
Isopogon formosus produces deep rose-pink flower heads in late winter that are fascinating. Each one is a compact, intricate dome of petals surrounding a central cone that persists on the plant long after the petals have fallen. The fine, needle-like foliage gives the whole plant a delicate, textural quality that sets it apart from the more robust natives. For Western Australian gardeners it is a jewel of the winter garden and one that is increasingly being grown in carefully managed conditions across the country.
9. Tea tree (Leptospermum scoparium)
Where it grows best
The many cultivated varieties of Leptospermum scoparium available are superb performers in temperate, cool highland and southern coastal gardens. They are at their best in Victoria, Tasmania, the ACT, southern NSW and the Adelaide Hills. They are tolerant of coastal exposure, moderate frosts and a wide range of soils as long as drainage is adequate. They are not well suited to tropical or very hot, dry inland climates. The double-flowered forms offer some of the best floral displays of any winter-flowering native.
How to plant and maintain
Plant in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil. Water regularly for the first season and maintain a mulch layer to conserve moisture. Once established, tea trees are reasonably drought tolerant. The single most important maintenance task is an annual prune after flowering — cut back by up to one third using sharp hedging shears for larger plants, or secateurs for smaller varieties. This prevents the woody dieback that can affect older, unpruned plants and keeps the flowering wood young and productive.
Why it's a beautiful winter addition
The double-flowered cultivars of Leptospermum scoparium produce flowers that resemble a tiny rose. They smother the fine-textured foliage so completely in late winter that the shrub appears to be a solid mass of blossom. In a cottage-style garden or mixed border, they bring colour to the winter months that few other plants can match.
10. Dwarf bottlebrush (Callistemon 'Little John')
Where it grows best
Callistemon 'Little John' is one of the most versatile compact natives available to Australian gardeners, growing successfully in an enormous range of climates from tropical Darwin to cool-climate Canberra. It handles waterlogged soils, drought, coastal salt spray, moderate frost and intense heat with equal resilience. This adaptability makes it a genuinely national plant — no matter where in Australia you garden, 'Little John' is likely to perform for you. It flowers most prolifically in winter in temperate regions, while in warmer climates flowering may occur over an even longer period.
John Robert McPherson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How to plant and maintain
Plant in full sun in any soil — this is one of the least fussy natives you can grow. Water in well and establish with regular deep watering for the first season, then water only occasionally thereafter. A light tip-prune with sharp secateurs after each flush of flowering encourages the next round of buds and keeps the plant neat and compact. It is also excellent in containers, where it can be watered and fertilised slightly more generously with a low-phosphorus native fertiliser to maintain vigour.
Why it's a beautiful winter addition
The deep crimson bottlebrush flowers of 'Little John' pop against its dense, blue-green foliage in the low winter light. Its compact size, rarely more than a metre in height, makes it ideal for borders, mass plantings or containers on a sunny deck. Because it can flower multiple times a year, winter often sees a fresh flush of blooms that draws honeyeaters and lorikeets in.
11. Small crowea (Crowea exalata)
Where it grows best
Crowea exalata is a compact, star-flowering shrub native to the woodlands and forests of Victoria and south-eastern NSW. It is best suited to temperate and cool highland climates, growing beautifully in Melbourne and surrounds, the Dandenong Ranges, the ACT and the Blue Mountains. Like correa, it is one of the few flowering natives that tolerates part to full shade, making it invaluable in gardens where full sun positions are limited. It dislikes tropical heat and humidity and is not suited to climates north of Sydney's latitude on the coast.
How to plant and maintain
Plant in part shade to dappled light in well-drained, humus-rich soil. Use a garden fork to gently work the soil before planting and add a small amount of composted leaf litter to improve the soil structure. Water regularly for the first season. Croweas are sensitive to dryness at the roots, so maintain a thick layer of organic mulch and water through dry spells even once established. Prune after the main flush of flowering with sharp secateurs to maintain a tidy, bushy shape. Light tip-pruning is all that is required.
Why it's a beautiful winter addition
Crowea exalata has star-shaped flowers in a warm pink throughout autumn and winter. The flowers are produced in abundance on a neat, rounded shrub that fits into almost any garden style, from native to cottage. They will happily grow in a shaded courtyard or under the filtered canopy of an established tree. It is also lightly fragrant, which makes it particularly rewarding in an enclosed garden space.
12. Crimson kunzea (Kunzea baxteri)
Where it grows best
Native to the south coast of Western Australia, Kunzea baxteri has proved remarkably adaptable to temperate and Mediterranean climates across southern Australia. It performs well in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and coastal gardens of Victoria and southern NSW. It tolerates light frost, coastal exposure, poor sandy soils and moderate drought once established. It is best avoided in heavy clay soils without significant drainage improvement and is not suited to tropical or subtropical climates. For gardeners in the southern half of the country who want a large, spectacular winter-flowering shrub, it is an outstanding choice.
Allthingsnative, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How to plant and maintain
Plant in full sun in well-drained to sandy soil. Handle the root ball gently at planting and stake if necessary in the first season, as this can be a fast-growing, top-heavy shrub when young. Water deeply for the first season, then taper off as it becomes very drought tolerant once established. A generous prune after flowering with sharp loppers keeps the plant within bounds — without pruning it can become large and woody, so an annual tidy-up is well worthwhile.
Why it's a beautiful winter addition
Kunzea baxteri is a showstopper. The flowers are brilliant scarlet bottlebrush-like spikes tipped with golden anthers. They appear in late autumn and peak through mid-winter, often covering the entire upper canopy of the shrub in red and gold. For large gardens, boundary plantings or wildlife corridors, this is one of the most impactful native shrubs you can choose. It is a magnet for honeyeaters, which makes it as alive with bird activity as it is with colour on a winter morning.
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A Guide to Australian Native Gardening
How to plan, plant and care for a thriving native garden, whatever your experience level.
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