An Introduction to Coastal Gardens - City of Stirling

The benefits of local native plants in your garden:
• They are survivors that belong in the coastal
environment – this means they are wind and salt
tolerant, and therefore extremely resilient and adaptable;
• They require very little or no regular watering;
• They do not require soil improvers or fertilizer;
• They are easy to maintain – no more expensive tree
lopping and pruning around power lines;
• They are visually attractive, with many different colours,
shapes and sizes;
Hardy, local plant species (recommended)
Local native plant Common name Colour (Foliage green unless stated) Approximate size
Grevillea preissii (prostrate) - Red Shrub / Medium
Westringia dampiera - White / Purple markings Shrub / Medium
Conostylis candicans Grey Cottonhead Yellow Groundcover / Small
Rhagodia baccata Berry Saltbush Dark red berry Shrub / Medium-Tall
Scaevola crassifolia Thick Leaved Fan Flower Blue Shrub / Small
Olearia axillaris Coastal Daisybush Grey foliage / Yellow Shrub / Medium-Tall
Leucophyta brownii Cushion Bush Grey foliage Shrub / Small-Medium
Eremophila glabra Tar Bush / Emu Bush Yellow / Red Shrub / Medium
Ficinia nodosa Knotted Club Rush Dense brown spikelets Sedge / Small
Melaleuca huegelii Chenille Honeymyrtle Purple / Lilac / Pink Shrub / Tall
Calothamnus quadrifidus One-sided Bottlebrush Red Shrub / Tall
Grevillea crithmifolia (prostrate) - Cream Shrub / Medium
Hemiandra pungens (prostrate) Snakebush Mauve Shrub / Small
Kennedia prostrata Scarlet Runner Red Groundcover / Small
Austrostipa elegantissima Feather Speargrass - Grass / Medium-Tall
Plants to avoid
List of common garden escapee species - most prolific seeders and highly invasive.
• They are generally low-lying, and
therefore will not obstruct views;
• Once established, they will naturally regenerate;
• They are generally shallow rooted, therefore ideal for
typical coastal gardens that have shallow topsoil over
limestone;
• Plant stock is grown locally, which supports the local
plant nursery industry;
• Will provide habitat for local native fauna.
Invasive plant with weed potential Common name Colour (Foliage green unless stated) Spread
Gazania linearis Gazania Orange / Yellow / White Increasing individuals
Pelargonium capitatum Rose Pelagonium Pink / Dark pink Increasing individuals
Leptospermum laevigatum Victorian Tea Tree White Increasing individuals
Matthiola incana Stock Mauve / Purple Increasing individuals
Lachenalia species Soldiers Yellow / Orange / Red / White Increasing individuals
Lavandula stoechas Lavender Mauve/ Purple Increasing individuals
Alyssum linifolium Flax-leaf Alyssum White to purple Increasing individuals
Limonium lobatus Statice White to purple Increasing individuals
Freesia alba x leichtlinii Freesia Cream Increasing individuals
Agave americana Agave, Century Plant Large flowers / Spikes Discarded green waste
Note: Increasing individuals through wind blown seed, suckering or bulb division.
Key points on coastal gardens
• It is important to remember that while the sizes of
these plants is a guide, height and spread will depend
significantly on watering, maintenance and condition of the
plant. Native species do not require a lot of water, so if they
are exposed to excessive reticulation they will often grow
bigger than average.
• The ideal time to plant is around late April to May, after the
first good autumn rains. Water as needed until winter rain
sets in. This will give plants more time to establish before
summer (See ‘Men of the Trees’ website for how to plant).
• As the coastal environment is particularly exposed
and subject to high levels of wind and salt, using plant
protectors for new plants can assist initially in building up
resilience until they are strong and hardy.
• If you choose to mulch your garden, be sure to keep the
mulch away from the plant stem – as this can cause ‘collar
rot’ in some native species.
• If you are interested in adding native coastal species to your
garden, there is no need to remove all other existing plants.
Some of these may have adapted well to the conditions and
will compliment any changes in design.
• If you have a lot of green waste to dispose of, contact the
council for information on how best to do this. Dumping
green waste in public areas of bushland is a serious
problem and can lead to severe infestations of weeds.
Photograph below: Coastal flora
supports garden surprises such
as this Jewel Beetle.
Image courtesy of David Pike