20 deep-rooted Australian native plants adapted to heat
Plants that evolved in climates shaped by unreliable rainfall and long dry summers often survive not only because of how their leaves look, but because of how their roots function.
Taproots, fibrous networks and moisture-seeking sinker roots allow them to draw on water well below the dry surface layer.
The following 20 plants are garden-scale Australian natives whose root systems are adapted to reach subsoil moisture, stabilise soil or tolerate extended heat. When planted well and established properly, they offer practical options for hot, dry gardens.
1. Showy Copperwire Daisy (Podolepis jaceoides)
Showy Copperwire Daisy survives heat through a woody perennial rootstock that stores energy underground. Native to grasslands and open woodland, it can retreat during dry spells and reshoot after rain, relying on stored carbohydrates and deeper moisture rather than constant surface water.
Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Climate: Temperate south-eastern Australia with warm summers and cool winters.
Planting tip: Full sun and lean soil. Avoid heavy compost. Loosen soil to spade depth and water deeply but infrequently during establishment.
2. Tough Scurf Pea (Cullen tenax)
An arid-zone legume with a strong taproot that drives through clay or sandy soils in search of reliable moisture. In inland landscapes where rainfall is sporadic, this depth allows the plant to remain upright and productive through extended heat. As a nitrogen fixer, it also enriches otherwise poor soils.
Harry Rose from South West Rocks, Australia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Climate: Arid and semi-arid regions, adaptable to dry temperate gardens.
Planting tip: Plant in mineral, well-drained soil. Avoid enriching heavily. Break up compacted ground before planting so the taproot can descend freely.
3. Native Rosella (Hibiscus heterophyllus)
In riverbank and woodland environments shaped by wet and dry cycles, Native Rosella develops roots that penetrate deeply into friable soils. During dry seasons, it relies on this depth to sustain growth once surface moisture has disappeared.
Poyt448 Peter Woodard, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Climate: Warm temperate to subtropical regions with distinct wet and dry seasons.
Planting tip: Plant in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil. Prepare the soil deeply and water thoroughly but allow it to dry between soakings.
4. Tall Baeckea (Sannantha pluriflora)
From dry heath and woodland, this shrub forms a root system that threads downward through sandy or gravelly soils. Its resilience lies not in rapid growth but in steady establishment below ground, supporting foliage density through warm summers.
John Tann from Sydney, Australia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Climate: Temperate to subtropical regions with well-drained soils.
Planting tip: Plant in full sun. Avoid heavy feeding. Good drainage is essential, particularly in humid climates.
5. Rice Flower (Pimelea ferruginea)
Native to sandy coastal environments, Rice Flower extends roots beyond the quickly drying surface layer. This allows it to continue flowering and holding structure even when the upper soil profile becomes hot and dry.
C T Johansson, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Climate: Southern coastal regions with sandy soils and dry summers.
Planting tip: Plant in sharply drained soil and avoid rich amendments. Water deeply but sparingly once established.
6. Fern-leaf Grevillea (Grevillea pteridifolia)
Growing in northern Australia’s monsoonal climates, this species must withstand long dry seasons following intense rainfall. Its anchoring root system penetrates deeply into free-draining soils, allowing it to draw on stored subsoil moisture during extended heat.
Dinesh Valke from Thane, India, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Climate: Warm temperate to subtropical regions with distinct wet and dry seasons.
Planting tip: Full sun and excellent drainage. Avoid phosphorus-rich fertilisers.
7. Sugarwood (Myoporum platycarpum)
Adapted to semi-arid inland landscapes, Sugarwood establishes a deep-rooted framework suited to hot, open conditions. Its stability comes from below-ground penetration rather than rapid top growth, allowing it to persist through drought.
Ian McMaster, CC BY 3.0 AU, via Wikimedia Commons
Climate: Inland and dry temperate regions.
Planting tip: Plant young in full sun. Prepare soil deeply and favour occasional deep soakings over frequent light watering.
8. Willow-leaved Hakea (Hakea salicifolia)
Like many hakeas, this species establishes an early taproot that anchors it securely. Once established, it accesses moisture below the drying surface layer and often maintains form during extended heat.
Climate: Temperate and subtropical eastern Australia.
Planting tip: Well-drained soil is critical. Avoid disturbing the root ball and limit compost additions.
9. Coastal Daisy Bush (Olearia axillaris)
In exposed coastal dunes, Coastal Daisy Bush relies on a dual strategy: deeper anchoring roots that access retained moisture and surface laterals that respond quickly to light rainfall. This combination supports survival in sandy, wind-exposed sites.
Melburnian, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Climate: Southern coastal Australia.
Planting tip: Full sun in sandy soil. Use coarse mulch rather than fine organic mulch.
10. Gold Dust Wattle (Acacia acinacea)
Like many wattles, this compact species develops a strong taproot early in life, allowing it to survive in dry woodland soils. Its root depth gives it resilience through hot summers, drawing moisture from far below. As a nitrogen-fixing species, it also improves soil fertility over time, supporting surrounding plants in low-nutrient conditions.
Patrick_K59, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Climate: Temperate and semi-arid regions.
Planting tip: Plant young and avoid overfeeding. Lean soil encourages stronger root development.
11. Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra)
Kangaroo Grass develops a remarkably deep fibrous root system that can extend well beyond a metre in suitable soils. This structure evolved in fire-prone grasslands with variable rainfall, where persistence depends on depth rather than surface irrigation.
Climate: Temperate grasslands and inland regions.
Planting tip: Full sun. Break up compacted soil before planting and avoid high nitrogen fertiliser.
Tools for Australian Gardeners
12. Old Man Saltbush (Atriplex nummularia)
Old Man Saltbush combines a strong taproot with wide lateral roots that spread through dry soils after episodic rainfall. This dual system allows the plant to quickly absorb surface moisture and continue drawing from deeper reserves during extended heat.
(c) Kym Nicolson, some rights reserved (CC BY), CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Climate: Semi-arid and inland regions.
Planting tip: Prepare a broad planting area rather than a narrow deep hole. Reduce irrigation once established.
13. Lemon Emu Bush (Eremophila citrina)
Native to Western Australia’s arid inland, this shrub develops moisture-seeking roots suited to rapidly drying desert soils. Its silver foliage reflects heat, but its resilience is secured underground.
Climate: Arid and dry temperate regions with excellent drainage.
Planting tip: Plant in full sun and raise slightly if drainage is marginal. Avoid rich compost.
14. Banksia praemorsa (Cut-leaf Banksia)
From south-western Australia’s Mediterranean climate, this species combines anchoring roots with specialised proteoid roots that maximise nutrient uptake in poor soils while tolerating summer drought.
Climate: Mediterranean and dry temperate climates.
Planting tip: Full sun in sharply drained soil. Avoid high-phosphorus fertilisers.
15. Wedge-Leaf Hop Bush (Dodonaea viscosa subsp. cuneata)
Inland and semi-arid populations of this species develop a woody root framework suited to exposed slopes and reflected heat. It tolerates low rainfall through depth and toughness rather than softness.
Rexness from Melbourne, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Climate: Arid and dry inland regions.
Planting tip: Full sun. Avoid heavy soil enrichment and water deeply during establishment only.
16. Mat Rush (Lomandra longifolia)
Although fibrous rather than taprooted, Lomandra forms a dense root mass that stabilises soil, improves infiltration and tolerates compaction. This makes it reliable through dry periods in both coastal and inland gardens.
Climate: Coastal and temperate regions.
Planting tip: Break up compacted soil before planting. Ideal for slopes and erosion control.
17. Native Fuchsia (Correa reflexa)
Naturally occurring on rocky slopes, this species sends roots downward through crevices to access moisture trapped below surface stone, supporting survival through dry spells.
Climate: Cool temperate regions.
Planting tip: Ensure excellent drainage and avoid overwatering during summer.
18. Mulla Mulla (Ptilotus nobilis)
This arid perennial anchors itself with a pronounced taproot that reaches into sandy inland soils. It survives intense heat by relying on stored moisture below the surface rather than shallow irrigation.
Climate: Arid and semi-arid zones.
Planting tip: Full sun and sharp drainage. Avoid rich soils.
19. Maroon Bush (Scaevola spinescens)
Maroon Bush develops a deep taproot adapted to red inland soils where rainfall is unpredictable. This depth supports persistence through prolonged dry heat.
Mark Marathon, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Climate: Inland low-rainfall regions.
Planting tip: Full sun and lean soil. Break compaction before planting.
20. Spotted Emu Bush (Eremophila maculata)
Like many inland Eremophilas, this species forms roots that seek moisture below the drying surface layer. It maintains flowering and structure through hot summers once established.
Climate: Semi-arid and dry temperate gardens.
Planting tip: Best on slopes or raised beds with excellent drainage. Water deeply but infrequently.
Looking below the surface
When we assess whether a plant will survive a hot summer, it is easy to focus on what we can see. Leaf shape, colour and texture offer clues and they do matter.
But root depth and structure often determine how a plant responds when rainfall becomes irregular and heat lingers. Species that evolved with episodic moisture are able to access water beyond the dry surface layer, which is why they hold their form while shallower-rooted plants begin to fail.
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