Amazing Australian native garden designs
Australia has an array of native plants, roughly 24,000 species in fact. Distinct and diverse, some of these plants have been a source of food, medicine and aesthetic appeal for millennia.
Today, many of these plants are used for native garden design ideas, from sustainable pioneers to patriotic horticulturists, green thumb wizards experimenting with different plants to botanical gardens keen to promote Australia’s beautiful trees, shrubs and flowers.
A brief history of Australian native plants
For upwards of 40,000 years, Aborigines have used the land and resources at their disposal, including the plants. According to Beth Gott, at least half of food eaten by Aborigines came from plants – fruits, grains, greens and roots.
Australian native plants have many common uses beyond food too. Grasses and sedges make baskets, mats and nets; tree bark makes buckets, dishes, even canoes; the gum from the eponymous eucalyptus trees aids burns and ailments; native mints act as remedies for colds and coughs.
Europeans were introduced to Australia’s native plants in the 1700s, first through illustrations then samples and specimens. And as the Australian population and culture changed, so too did the landscape, bringing about the destruction of many native species.
Luckily, though, conservation efforts and greater awareness have helped combat this. Now, many species once in danger of eradication are being cultivated…
Planting seeds for the future
We Aussies are spoilt for choice when it comes to picking native species to include in our garden designs. Often known for their resilience and beautiful looks, Australia’s plants can bring your native garden alive with colour, awash with lush greens or bathed in a canopy of rich foliage.
Australia’s flora ranges drastically depending on their location. Like most plants, each Aussie native favours certain garden conditions. For example, the climate, soil and tropical conditions in Queensland assist the growth of tropical, fruit-bearing trees whereas South Australia is conducive to root vegetables.
Whatever your garden design ideas, native plants can certainly add another dimension. Pretty much anything’s possible. Maybe you’d like to add some native ground cover, separate your borders with a line of shrubs, create a centrepiece of majestic orchids, fashion a tree-lined grove for a shady reprieve or perfect a vibrant flowerbed.
Basically, no matter the size or scope of your garden, whether rundown or pristine, manicured or wild, you’ll be sure to find some truly stunning Aussie plants waiting for you.
To find the right plant for your garden conditions, make sure you check out our Mega Guide to Australian Native Plants. You can browse through a plethora of native trees, shrubs, flowering plants and orchids, view picture galleries of each species and read the best methods for planting and maintaining each one.
It’s a fantastic guide, which even allows you to filter by favoured weather conditions, growing difficulty and types of plants, to cater to your exact needs and have you reaping exactly what you want to sow.
Native Australian garden design ideas
This wouldn’t be much of a post without including some images of great Australian native garden designs. So here we’ve picked some of our favourite native gardens - flip through the gallery above to take a look. Hopefully they’ll give you some ideas and inspirations!
Tell us in the comments below, which of these gardens is your favourite?
Written by Alex Kuchel. First appeared on Australian Outdoor Living.
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