Indigenous Plants of Monash - City of Monash

Sugar Glider Petaurus breviceps
Indigenous Plants of
Monash
A guide to native plants suitable for residential
gardens in the City of Monash
Acknowledgements:
Andrea Cehovin assisted with Map Design
Australian Plant Society – Waverley assisted with soil information
City of Monash Horticulture services assisted with plant species
selection
Photos provided by:
Australian Native Plants Society www.anps.org.au
Australian Plants www.australiaplants.org
Australian Plants Society Victoria www.apsvic.org.au
City of Whitehorse www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au
Knox Environmental Society www.kes.org.au
National Australian Botanical Gardens www.anbg.gov.au
Swinburne University www.swinburne.edu.au
Yarra Ranges Shire www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au
Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes
Powerful Owl Ninox strenua
References:
Australian Plants Society, Victoria – www.apsvic.org.au
Australian Plants Society Maroondah, Inc (2001) Flora of
Melbourne. A Guide to the Indigenous Plants of the Greater
Melbourne Area, Australian Plants Society Maroondah, Inc.
Scott, R., et al (2002) Indigenous Plants of the Sandbelt.
A Gardening Guide for South-eastern Melbourne, Earthcare
St Kilda
Knox City Council, Gardening with Indigenous Plants in Knox,
Knox City Council
Disclaimer:
City of Monash
293 Springvale Road, Glen Waverley 3150
380 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill 3168
Enquiries Ph: (03) 9518 3555 TTY: (03) 9518 3655
Website: www.monash.vic.gov.au
The information in this brochure should be used as a guide
only. For more information on soil types, indigenous vegetation
communities in Melbourne and Victoria and plant species
consult the references provided or visit the Department of Sustainability
and Environment website www.dse.vic.gov.au.
Common Heath Epacris impressa
Indigenous Plants of Monash
Clays
grasses and herbs. The shrub component is usually sparse.
What are Indigenous Plants?
Indigenous Plants are plants which occur naturally in a specific
area.
Benefits of Indigenous plants and gardens
Heavy soils that can retain a lot of moisture
Plenty of plant nutrients.
Add gypsum to make clay soils more friable (1kg per
square metre; repeat at yearly intervals if necessary).
Adding sand and humus also helps improve friability.
Many native plants grow well in clay soils.
These community types are now found only in remnants across
the City of Monash.
What plants should I plant in my garden?
The plants you choose will depend on:
Indigenous plants are adapted to the local environment
(rainfall, soil and drainage conditions)
They are usually Low maintenance
They have Lower water requirement
Indigenous Plants promote and improve local biodiversity
Provide habitat for local fauna
Strengthen local ecosystems
Pre-Urban Environments of Monash
The City of Monash sits on the boundary of two geological regions
in Melbourne, which gave rise to two soil groups which
dominate the area: Tertiary Sands and Silurian-derived Sedimentary
Hills (see map).
KEY:
Soil Properties:
Sands:
Tertiary Sands
Silurian-derived Sedimentary Hills
Dominant Plant Communities of Monash
The above soil types supported the following dominant plant
communities:
Valley Heath Forest
North-East part of Monash, extending east and southeast in the
vicinity of Dandenong Creek and protruding westward along
Monash Freeway from the corner of Waverley and Blackburn
Roads.
This plant community is dominated by a low, open forest to
15 m tall with a sedgy/grassy understorey with a component of
small ericoid shrubs and grass-trees.
Where you live – large or small garden space and orientation
What type of garden you want – formal or informal
What the existing Flora is – weedy, native, indigenous, nonnative
The plants in this brochure are representative of soil groups and
vegetation communities (understorey, middle storey and canopy)
found in Monash.
For advice on plants and garden design visit you local Native
Flora Nursery.
Suppliers of Native Plants
Tertiary Sands:
Derived from sandstone and wind-blown sand
Soil types: Dark loams, Clays, Local sands, Dark grey sands
over clay, Light grey sands over clay, Deep sands free of lime.
Silurian-derived Sedimentary Hills:
Soil Types: Light grey loams over clay (moist in winter and dry
out in upper layers in summer), Moist dark loams (along water
curses/drainage lines), Clays, Local sands, Gritty dark grey
loams over clay, Red loams.
Retain some moisture as depth increases
Drainage is excellent
Nutrient-deficient soils
Digging in humus, clay or loam soil will improve water retention
Soil wetting agents can also be used.
Loams:
Good drainage
Retain some moisture and allow the roots of native plants to
readily penetrate downwards
Swampy Woodlands
Along Dandenong Creek
This plant community was dominated by Eucalypt woodland
to 15 m tall with ground layer dominated by tussock grasses,
sedges and herbs. Shrubs are often scattered throughout.
Grassy Woodlands
Across most of Monash including the Tertiary Sand areas.
This plant community is dominated by a variable open
eucalypt woodland to 15 m tall over a diverse ground layer of
We encourage the purchase of plants and/or seeds from nurseries
in your specific soil type area (e.g. Sand-belt or Silurian),
and seeking details of the plant source form your chosen supplier.
Greening Australia www.greeningaustralia.org.au
and
Australian Native Plants Society www.asgap.org.au
provide information on Native Flora Nurseries in the Melbourne
Metropolitan Region.

Ground Cover
Thin Leaf Wattle
Climbers
Size:
Description:
Flowering:
Requirements:
Features:
Acacia aculeatissima
Low Plants
Creeping Bossiaea Bossiaea prostrata Button Everlasting Helichrysum sorpioides
Size:
Description:
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Cup-Leaf Daisy
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Running Postman
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Common Apple Berry
Size:
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Small-leaf Clematis
Size:
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Brachyscome multifida
Kennedia prostrata
Billardiera scandens
Clematis microphylla
Billy-Button
Erect Guinnea Flower
Dwarf-Rice-Flower
Myrtle Wattle
Showy Bossiaea
Craspedia variabilis
Hibbertia stricta
Pilelea Humilis
Acacia myrtifolia
Bossiaea cinerea
Purple Coral Pea Hardenbergia violacea Snowy Daisy Bush Olearia lirata
Size:
Description:
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Mountain Clematis Clematis aristata Dusty Miller Spyridium parvifolium
Size:
Description:
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0.2-0.6m H x 1-2m W
Light open sprawling shrub with prickly
phyllodes and yellow balls along wiry
branches
June to December
Dry, well drained soil; Partial sun/shade
Once established tolerates extended dry
periods; Birds - Seeds
Prostrate x 0.5-1.5m H
Spreading or matting ground cover with
grey-green leaves and yellow and brown
pea flowers
October to November
Well drained, dry to moist soils; all aspects
Attractive foliage; Birds - Seeds
10-40cm H x 0.2-1m W
Fast growing, low spreading with soft, dark
green leaves and profuse variable lilacblue,
pink and white flowers
Peaking Spring and Summer
Moist clay soil; full to partial sun
Once established tolerates dryness; Ornamental
plant; Butterflies – Nectar
Prostrate x 1-2.5m H
Open trailing or densely matted perennial
with crinkly, hairy green-grey leaves and
single scarlet pea flower-heads.
April to December
Dry well drained soils; Full to partial sun
Drought tolerant once established; Butterfly
caterpillar habitat
Light, soft climber
Dark green leaves with wiry margins and
greenish yellow flowers
June to January
Well drained dry to moist soil; Suited to all
light aspects;
Bushier if grown in open aspect; Edible pale
green berries; Birds – Nectar, Berries
Medium sized climber
Dull green leaves with masses of cream
tarry flowers and feathery fruits
June to November
Well drained dry to moist soil; partial sun/
shade
Male and female reproductive parts on
separate plants
Dense creeper/ wiry scrubber
Fast growing with leathery dark green
leaves and sprays of mauve to purple (to
pink or white) pea
July to November
Dry, well drained soil;
Full to partial sun; Provides Light Screen
Vigorous Climber
Shiny green leaves, masses of creamy white
starry flowers
August to March
Well drained, dry to moist soils
Grows in all aspects; Male and female
reproductive pats on different plants; Attractive
feathery seed heads
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30cm H x 0.5-1m W
Variable tufted perennial herb with rosettes
of board hairy leaves and Yellow single
flowers
September to November
Moist well drained soil (tolerates poorly
drained soil); Full to partial sun
Spectacular in flower; May be grown in
containers; Butterflies – Nectar
30cm H x 20-30cm W
Woolly spreading perennial herb with velvety/hairy
leaves and a single flat yellow
flower-heads per stem
September-December
Dry to moist well drained soils; Full to partial
sun
Dies back after flowering; Butterflies – Nectar
0.4-1m H x 0.6-1m W
Rounded to erect shrub with narrow greygreen
leaves and light yellow distinctly
stalked flowers
Peaking August – November
Moist well drained soil; All aspects
Drought tolerant once established; Butterfly
caterpillar habitat
10-50cm H x 0.3-1m W
Erect or straggling perennial sub-shrub with
green and grey-green leaves and dense
creamy-white flower-heads
September to January
Moist well drained soil; Full to partial sun
Tolerates dryness once established; Butterflies
Nectar
1-3m Hight 1-2m Wide
Fast growing rounded or erect shrub with
cream to yellow flower spikes
July to September
Well drained, dry to moist soil; All aspects
Drought resistant once established; Ornamental
bush; Heavy prune may be beneficial;
Birds – Seeds
1-2m H x 1-2m W
Dense low rounded and spreading shrub
with alternate dull green (bonze new
growth) leaves and profuse single yellow
and red pea flowers
August to December
Dry to moist well drained soil; Prefers dappled
shade
Ornamental; May be pruned hard
2-5m H x 2-3m W
Soft open shrub with dark green leaves and
masses of small white flower heads
September to December
Moist well drained soil; Partial to full shade
Excellent shrub brightening a sheltered
position in spring
1-3m H x 1-2m W
Dense upright shrub with heavily veined,
dark green leaves and clusters of small
white flowers
July November
Dry to moist well drained soil; Partial to full
shade
Once established tolerates dryness; Flowers
better in shady areas;
Grasses, Lilies & Irises
Chocolate Lily
Size:
Description:
Flowering:
Requirements:
Features:
Large Shrubs & Trees
Wirilda
Knobby Club-Rush
Size:
Description:
Flowering:
Requirements:
Features:
Wiry Tussock Grass
Size:
Description:
Flowering:
Requirements:
Features:
Grass Leaf Trigger Plant Stylidium graminiflorium
Size:
Description:
Flowering:
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Black She-Oak
Size:
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Silver Banksia
Size:
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Arthropodium atrictum
2-1m H x 0.2-0.8m W
Dwarf perennial herb with slightly fleshy
dark green leaves and chocolate or caramel
scented, solitary violet flowers
September to December
Dry well drained soil; Full partial sun
Adaptable
Isolepis nodosa
0.5-1.5M H x 0.6-2m W
Tall coarse, wiry, densely tufted perennial
rush with clustered brown spikelets
Most of the year
Poorly drained moist soils, Full to partial sun
Once established tolerates dryness; Good
contrast plant
Poa sieberiana
15-30cm H x 40cm W , stems 0.9m high
Dense green greyish tuft
Spring and summer
Moist, well drained soil; Full to partial sun
Extremely variable and very adaptable;
Grows larger in shade; Birds – Seeds; Butterfly
caterpillar habitat
0.2-0.6m H x 20-30cm W
Basally tufted perennial with green and
grey green grass-like leaves and spikes of
small pale to bright pink flowers
September to December
Moist, well drained soil; Full to partial sun
Tolerates both wet and dry periods when
established
Acacia retinodes
4-8m H x 3-5m W
Spreading shrub with long, narrow bluishgreen
phyllodes and Lemon-yellow balls
Peaking November to July
Adaptable to all soil types; Full to partial sun
Ornamental; Suitable for wind screen; Birds
- Seeds
Allocasuariana littoralis
4-8m H x 2-5m W
Upright small tree with fine branches with
reddish to crimson female flowers and dark
brown pikes as male flowers
March to June
Dry well drained soil; Full to partials Sun
Good wind screen; Old bark is ideal for
growing epiphytic orchids; Birds - seeds
Banksia marginata
1-10m H x 1-5m W
Variable dense to open shrub with stiff
linear leafs pale to bright yellow flowers
September to April
Dry to moist well drained soil; Full to partial
sun
Attractive new growth encouraged by
pruning; Good wind screen; Birds & Butterfly
- nectar
Tips for Gardening
Most Natives prefer well drained soils
Building up of garden beds, or provision of underground
can be beneficial.
When adding soil, thoroughly mix it into the existing soil
Do not just spread soil on top of the garden.
Eliminate weeds from the planting area
Especially those spreading by underground runners.
Group together plants needing similar conditions
Plants needing full sun rarely survive in shady situations
Avoid over watering
Most grow well without extra fertiliser
High phosphate fertilisers may be harmful.
drainage,
Use mulches and groundcover plants
They help reduce weed growth and keep the soil cool, moist and
friable.
Lightly prune immediately after flowering
Light pruning promotes compact growth and more flowers. Heavy
pruning kills plants which re-shoot poorly from old wood.
Planning
Having a garden plan is the first step in establishing a native garden.
When starting consider the following:
Site orientation
Sun and shade areas
Wet and dry areas
Soil conditions
Garden use
Amount of space available
Retention of indigenous species and removal of environmental
weeds
Location of plumbing and power/service lines
Weeds of Monash brochure, with information on weeds and their management,
is available form Council.
Preparation
Control of weeds is a key element in successful gardening. Remove
weeds by hand, smothering with mulch or by herbicide application.
Do not dig over the soil before planting as this can promote more
weed growth and make sure that the soil is moist.
Planting
Best time to plant is in autumn and spring when the soil is moist and
the weather mild.
Dig a hole slightly bigger than the pot, gently remove the plant from
the pot by holding it upside down and tapping gently – avoid pulling
the plant out by the stem. Place the plant carefully in the hole and
crumble the soil around the plant, firming the soil as you go.
Water well. All plants need to be watered individually to settle the
soil around the root system. Rain will not provide the same effect.
Place a 10 cm thick layer of mulch in the garden bed, enduring that
the plant stem is kept clear of the mulch as it can cause the stem to
rot. Mulch retains moisture in the soil reducing the need to water,
encourages beneficial soil biota such as worms and suppresses
weeds. Alternatively, pebbles of large rocks can be used instead of
plant based mulch.
Ongoing Care and Maintenance
Watering:
After the initial watering associated with planting, gardens may require
watering once or twice a week during summer and drought periods.
Remember, winter can also have extended periods without rain.
Fertilising:
Some plants may respond to light applications of native plant fertiliser
that is low in phosphorus (K).
Pruning:
Encourages denser growth in some plants and promotes flowering and
new growth.
Weeding:
This is necessary, however mulch and dense plantings of groundcovers
and small plants will minimise weed invasion.
Mulch:
Depending on the type of garden and the type of mulch used, mulch
may need to be topped up every two to five years.