12 low-effort Australian natives for bold colour and interest
If you are short on time but still want a garden that feels striking and generous, there is a way to achieve it. Australian natives are often dismissed as merely textural, yet many deliver saturated colour and long flowering displays while asking for little in return.
When they are placed and planted well, they reward you with presence and performance rather than problems.
The plants below offer bold colour and strong visual interest, yet they are content to be left alone once established.
1. Grevillea ‘Moonlight’ (Grevillea ‘Moonlight’)
Grevillea ‘Moonlight’ is one of the most reliable large flowering shrubs for temperate, subtropical and Mediterranean climates. It thrives in full sun with excellent drainage and copes with heat, dry spells and coastal exposure.
It brings scale and presence. Large creamy flower clusters appear for much of the year and glow in low light, maintaining visual interest even in winter.
To plant successfully, choose a sunny position with sharp drainage and use a spade to dig a hole no deeper than the root ball. Avoid enriching the soil, water in deeply and mulch lightly. After flowering, prune lightly with sharp secateurs to maintain density.
2. Sea Urchin Hakea (Hakea petiolaris)
Sea Urchin Hakea performs best in warm temperate, Mediterranean and inland climates where drainage is excellent and humidity is low. It thrives in full sun and copes well with dry periods thanks to efficient roots and drought-tolerant foliage.
What it offers is sculptural contrast. Rounded pink to cream flower spheres sit above silver foliage and even out of flower the leaves remain distinctive against darker planting schemes.
Choose a sunny position with very sharp drainage and use a spade to dig a hole that's twice as wide as the nursery pot. Prune lightly after flowering with hand pruners but avoid heavy cutting. Staking is rarely required unless planting a larger specimen.
3. Scarlet Honey Myrtle (Melaleuca fulgens)
Scarlet Honey Myrtle performs best in warm temperate, Mediterranean and inland climates where drainage is reliable. It thrives in full sun and handles dry periods due to its moisture-efficient foliage and strong drought tolerance.
It delivers saturated colour over an extended season. Vivid red tubular flowers attract nectar-feeding birds and its upright yet slightly arching habit makes it a strong mid-layer shrub.
Water in well during establishment and avoid heavy fertiliser. Prune lightly with lopping shears after flowering to maintain density and encourage fresh growth.
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4. Strawflower (Xerochrysum bracteatum)
Strawflower performs across temperate, subtropical and inland climates in full sun with excellent drainage. It is heat adapted, lean-soil tolerant and built for exposed conditions, often flowering more heavily when not overfed.
It provides intense, long-lasting colour. Papery, reflective bracts appear in saturated shades of orange, pink, red and yellow and hold their clarity through heat. The flowers can be cut and dried without losing form.
To plant successfully, use a hand trowel or sharp garden knife to dig a clean hole. Deadhead regularly with floral shears to encourage repeat flowering. Alternatively, it will readily self-seed if the heads are left and allowed to fully dry on the plant.
5. Silky Eremophila (Eremophila nivea)
Silky Eremophila performs best in arid and semi-arid climates where drainage is excellent and humidity is low. It handles intense heat as the fine hairs on the leaves reflect sunlight and reduce moisture loss.
It provides contrast and luminosity. The silver foliage forms a backdrop for its purple flowers that appear through the warmer months. These blooms are well suited to nectar-feeding birds such as honeyeaters.
Melburnian, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
To plant, avoid enriching the soil, water in lightly during establishment and allow the soil to dry between waterings. Prune gently with sharp secateurs after flowering to maintain a compact form, avoiding heavy cutting into old wood.
6. Showy Honey Myrtle (Melaleuca nesophila)
Showy Honey Myrtle performs well in temperate and coastal climates with full sun and reliable drainage. Small moisture-efficient leaves and a woody framework allow it to tolerate wind and salt exposure.
It produces dense seasonal bloom. Large mauve pom-pom flowers cover the shrub in spring, creating strong colour impact and shape.
To plant successfully, water in well during establishment and avoid heavy fertiliser. Prune lightly with sharp secateurs after flowering to maintain shape.
7. Silver Cassia (Senna artemisioides)
Silver Cassia performs best in arid, semi-arid and inland climates with full sun and excellent drainage. It handles heat and poor soil because its root system is adapted to dry, low-nutrient conditions.
It offers bright, winter colour. Fine silver foliage becomes covered in yellow flowers, adding sharp contrast and structure to cooler-season planting.
Choose a sunny position and dig a hole twice as wide as the pot using a spade, keeping the depth level with the root ball. Avoid enriching the soil and prune lightly after flowering to maintain density.
8. Cut-Leaf Banksia (Banksia praemorsa)
Cut-Leaf Banksia performs best in Mediterranean and temperate climates with full sun and sharp drainage. Its specialised proteoid roots extract nutrients efficiently from poor soil and its tough, leathery leaves reduce moisture loss in dry conditions.
It brings strong vertical colour. Upright flower spikes in bold red or yellow tones rise above deeply cut foliage, adding structure and seasonal weight.
Choose a free-draining position. Avoid fertilising at planting and prune gently after flowering if shaping is required.
9. Blue Leschenaultia (Leschenaultia biloba)
Blue Leschenaultia performs best in climates with excellent drainage and low humidity. It thrives in full sun and is particularly well suited to Western Australia and southern coastal regions where winters are wet but summers are dry.
It provides intense, almost electric blue colour. In full bloom, the shrub appears lit from within and contrasts beautifully with silver foliage and warm-toned plantings.
Calistemon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Avoid enriching the soil and keep watering light once established. Prune lightly with sharp secateurs after flowering to maintain shape, but avoid heavy cutting into older wood.
10. Coastal Sheoak (Allocasuarina distyla)
Coastal Sheoak performs across temperate and coastal climates and tolerates wind, salt and poor soil. It thrives in full sun, establishes reliably in well-drained soil and typically grows between 1 and 3 metres high.
It contributes structure and subtle seasonal interest. As the cones develop, they shift from green to coppery or reddish-brown, contrasting with the fine green foliage.
MargaretRDonald, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
For most gardens, choose a sunny position, plant it firmly, water in well and let it establish without support.
11. Sturt’s Desert Pea (Swainsona formosa)
Sturt’s Desert Pea performs best in arid and semi-arid climates with full sun, low humidity and good drainage. It is ideally suited to inland regions with dry summers.
It delivers unmistakable impact. Large scarlet flowers marked with a deep black centre sit above low grey foliage, creating one of the most dramatic colour combinations of any Australian native.
To plant successfully, choose a sunny position in sandy or gravelly soil. Avoid enriching the soil and water in lightly, allowing the soil to dry between waterings. Once established in the right conditions, it tolerates heat and dry periods with ease.
12. Native Hibiscus (Alyogyne huegelii)
Native Hibiscus performs best in Mediterranean, warm temperate and inland climates with full sun and very good drainage. It handles dry summers confidently once established, provided the soil does not remain wet through winter.
It offers bold bloom scale. Large satiny purple flowers open over an extended season and are clearly visible from a distance.
To plant successfully, choose a sunny position, avoid enriching the planting hole and water in well during establishment. Prune lightly with sharp secateurs after flowering to encourage repeat blooms.
A striking garden that's not demanding
These Australian native plants are impressive because they are capable of delivering saturated colour, architectural form and seasonal interest without constant correction.
The work lies in thoughtful selection and the first season of establishment. After that, the garden begins to carry itself.
With the right mix of silver foliage, electric blue, scarlet blooms and strong vertical form, a native garden can be anything but dull. Plant thoughtfully, then step back.
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