Popular garden plants in Australia it's time to rethink
Concern about our environment is now mainstream in Australia. For many of us, our gardens are where we can respond to the realities we are experiencing first-hand: fewer birds and insects, longer heatwaves and less reliable rainfall.
Yet many suburban spaces still rely on the same familiar, exotic plants that do little to address these challenges. After years of widespread use, some have blended so completely into our landscapes that many are assumed to be Australian. It is easy to see why, when they remain readily available and continue to be promoted as easy choices.
The reality is that many of these favourites were selected for a different time, under different climate conditions. As our expectations of gardens change, it may be time to upgrade.
1. Nandina / sacred bamboo (Origin: East Asia)
Why it became popular
Nandina's tidy, predictable and seemingly indestructible nature made it well suited to small gardens, courtyards and pots. Its evergreen foliage and winter red colour added visual interest, while its slow, controlled growth required little intervention. Over several decades, it was planted extensively across eastern and southern Australia.
Why it is time to rethink
Beyond its appearance, nandina offers little. Its berries contain compounds that are toxic to pets and wildlife if eaten in quantity and it provides minimal, if any, habitat value. In some regions, it has also shown invasive tendencies through bird-spread seed, particularly near bushland.
What you could gain by planting something else
Plants such as dodonaea (hop bush), compact tea trees and correa will not replicate every attribute of nandina, but they deliver the qualities that made it popular: toughness, structure and restraint. These alternatives cope better with heat and variable rainfall, offer greater longevity and contribute meaningfully to garden health and local ecosystems.
2. Liriope / monkey grass (Origin: East Asia)
Why it became popular
Liriope tolerates shade, compacted soil and neglect, making it a reliable choice for difficult sites. As landscaping became more standardised, it was widely adopted as a tidy, evergreen groundcover that could be planted and largely ignored.
Why it is time to rethink
Liriope contributes very little beyond coverage. Dense plantings often trap moisture and debris beneath the foliage, creating conditions that favour pests and fungal issues. It offers almost no value to local wildlife and does little to improve soil health or garden resilience.
What you could gain by planting something else
Native alternatives such as dianella and compact lomandra offer the same toughness and strappy form, but with better airflow, greater heat tolerance and real ecological value. They provide shelter for insects and small animals, stabilise soil and help gardens function more reliably in tough climates.
3. Photinia (Origin: China)
Why it became popular
Photinia rose to prominence as a fast privacy option, particularly in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It forms a dense screen and its glossy foliage with red new growth delivered instant impact. In new housing estates with little established vegetation, it offered a ready-made solution for boundary planting.
Why it is time to rethink
Photinia's rapid growth comes at a cost. It is prone to fungal diseases such as leaf spot, particularly in warm or humid conditions, often leading to heavy leaf drop and an untidy appearance. As summers become hotter and more erratic, photinia can demand more input than it reliably returns.
What you could gain by planting something else
Native screening plants such as callistemon or westringia provide the same function with far less ongoing maintenance. They cope better with heat and variable rainfall, support birds and insects through habitat and food, and offer additional interest through flowering.
4. Viburnum (Origin: Europe, Asia and North Africa)
Why it became popular
Viburnum became popular as a dependable hedging plant that sat neatly between formal and informal styles. Evergreen, dense and responsive to pruning, it suited suburban gardens seeking structure without the rigidity of box hedging.
Why it is time to rethink
In hotter conditions, viburnum often requires regular watering to maintain density and leaf quality. For the level of input it demands, it offers limited return, with little seasonal change and minimal value to local wildlife. Some species also produce flowers with an unpleasant scent.
What you could gain by planting something else
Native shrubs such as bursaria or Australian pittosporum provide the same screening and structure while coping far better with heat and variable rainfall. Both offer dense shelter for birds, support insect life and help create more resilient, balanced garden ecosystems.
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5. Murraya paniculata / orange jessamine (Origin: South and Southeast Asia)
Why it became popular
Murraya was widely planted for its glossy foliage, compact habit and fragrant flowers. It responded well to regular clipping and suited formal garden styles, particularly in warmer climates. Its neat appearance and year-round greenery made it appealing for boundary planting and courtyards.
Why it is time to rethink
Despite its tidy appearance, murraya is prone to sap-sucking pests such as psyllids and scale. These insects leave sticky residue on leaves and surrounding surfaces, often leading to sooty mould. Maintaining healthy plants frequently requires intervention, particularly in warm conditions where pest pressure increases.
What you could gain by planting something else
Native shrubs such as westringia or philotheca offer similar structure with far fewer pest issues. They tolerate heat and dry periods more reliably, support local insects and birds and maintain a clean appearance with less effort over time.
6. Gardenia (Origin: Asia, Africa and the Pacific)
Why it became popular
Gardenias were loved for their richly scented white flowers. They became synonymous with classic gardens and were often planted near entrances, windows and outdoor living areas for their perfume and glossy foliage.
Why it is time to rethink
In practice, gardenias are demanding. Yellowing leaves, bud drop, pest infestations and nutrient deficiencies are common, particularly in hot or variable conditions. They can become a source of frustration rather than enjoyment, requiring regular attention without consistent reward.
What you could gain by planting something else
Fragrant native shrubs such as crowea or philotheca provide scent and seasonal interest with far greater resilience. They cope better with heat and variable rainfall, producing subtle citrus-like fragrance that attracts pollinating insects without overwhelming outdoor spaces.
7. Box (Buxus) (Origin: Europe and Asia)
Why it became popular
Box hedging has long been associated with structure, formality and European garden tradition. Its dense growth and responsiveness to clipping made it ideal for creating clean lines and defined spaces.
Why it is time to rethink
In Australian conditions, box often struggles. Prolonged heat stress, alkaline soils and irregular moisture can interfere with nutrient uptake, leading to chlorosis and yellowing foliage. Pest pressure and disease can compound the problem, while regular watering and frequent clipping are needed to maintain form. In warm or humid climates, box can also develop an unpleasant smell after rain or irrigation.
Garden formality
Box hedging originated in the formal gardens of Renaissance Europe, where clipped geometric forms were a deliberate expression of human mastery over nature. It is an aesthetic that made perfect sense in the cool, overcast climates of France, England and Italy where the plant grows slowly, stays dense and requires only light maintenance to hold its shape.
What you could gain by planting something else
Native alternatives such as westringia or correa provide similar structure without the stress. They handle heat far better, require less water and maintain their form with minimal intervention.
8. Japanese maple (Origin: Japan, Korea and China)
Why it became popular
Japanese maples were widely planted for their elegant form, fine foliage and autumn colour. Their modest size made them suitable for smaller gardens and courtyards. In cooler climates, they offered seasonal interest without overwhelming a space.
Why it is time to rethink
Outside cool climates, many Japanese maples now struggle. Leaf scorch, browning and prolonged summer stress are common, leaving trees looking tired for much of the year. As heatwaves become more frequent, maintaining healthy specimens can be challenging.
What you could gain by planting something else
Climate-appropriate trees such as Illawarra flame trees offer fine, maple-like foliage, interesting trunk form and long-term resilience without seasonal decline. They cope better with heat, support local wildlife and provide structure and shade that improves with time rather than deteriorating under stress.
Plants more suited to place
Many of the plants repeated across Australian gardens were selected for a different moment, under different conditions and with different expectations.
As our climate shifts and our understanding of gardens deepens, familiarity alone is no longer enough. The most successful gardens now are those that work with their environment rather than against it, offering resilience, longevity and genuine life in return for less effort.
Moving on is about choosing plants better suited to the gardens we want to grow now, for ourselves and for the wildlife that depends on them.
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