The best gardens — those that have enduring appeal and look as if they were meant to be — sit in harmony with the environment that surrounds them. They have a sense of place and look as if they evolved naturally rather than being contrived by man (or woman). Plants that are naturally adapted to the climate and location will not only thrive, they’ll give a garden a real feeling of belonging, and this is where native or indigenous plants step in.
Australia has an incredibly rich palette of native plants from which to draw, making it much easier than many people realise to create a variety of garden styles. A native garden does not have to be a bushland-style garden; it could be tropical or coastal, modern or formal, cottage-style or resort-inspired.
As with exotics, native plants can be clipped and shaped, grown as flowering annuals, used as groundcover, showcased in planters, employed as screening or edging, and called upon to add seasonal floral interest … they can even
