What are good plants for a drought tolerant garden in Australia?

Given all the water restrictions and problems we have with dam water levels in Sydney, I want to change my garden over to a more drought resistant one.



Which ** specific ** plants do you suggest I use?

If you have pictures can you also provide some links so I can see them?



Thanks!

What are good plants for a drought tolerant garden in Australia?
Published lists of suggested plants may be a starting point, but there are undoubtedly many other drought-hardy plants, including Australian natives, which might be suitable for garden use. If you'd like greater variety, or if you just like to experiment, how can you identify plants that might have drought resistance and/or a rountine low water requirement from the many available for sale on the retail market?



Form - e.g. succulent plants, other plants with water-storing parts (bulbs, tubers, swollen trunks), epiphytes, grey-leaved plants



Origin - What is the natural habitat of the species? In the case of hybrids, of the parents? Many Australian natives are drought tolerant but more information would be helpful as the continent contains a diverse range of climates. Botanical names sometimes give a clue e.g. erem- refers to deserts. See also links on the following pages: African Style Gardens, Mediterranean Style, The Australian Native Plant Pages, which may contain information on plants from dry regions (although some species referred to may not be commercially available in Qld).



Observation, experience - What plants perform well in your neighborhood during dry spells, especially in neglected gardens, traffic islands, nature strips etc? What do your friends find easy to grow? Even within a single species of plant, superficially similar varieties may differ in drought tolerence (some adaptations may operate at the microscopic or biochemical level).



Taxonomy - Certain plant families, such as the Euphorbiaceae (Euphorbia and others) and the Apocynaceae (Plumeria, Oleander, Adenium, and others), tend to to have many drought-tolerant members. While not proof of drought tolerence, the relationship to known drought-tolerant species may be an indicator that a plant is worth further consideration.



Any plant which is drought tolerant and has an effective method of dispersal could become a weed. It's even possible that some species recommended on lists of drought tolerant plants you encounter on the internet or in books could now be banned in your region. Check with local authorities for current status if in doubt.



Western's Saltbush - http://westernssaltbush.com.au/index.htm...

Common Name-Botanical Name

Henna Lawsonia inermis

Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris

Mugwort Tree Artemisia verlotorum

Curry Leaf Tree Murraya koenigii

Candlestick Aloe Aloe aborescens

Aloe vera Aloe vera

Agave Agave americana

Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis

Cancer Bush Sutherlandia frustescens

Rue Ruta graveolens

Rose Geranium Pelargonium graveolens

Sage Salvia officinalis

White Sage Salvia apiana

Cat Thyme Teucrium marum

Thyme Thymus vulgaris

Garlic Chive Allium tuberosum

Lavender Lavendula spp

Pyrethrum Tanacetum cinerarifolium

Lebanese Cress Aethionema cordifolium



Contemporary/Tropical





Adenium

Agaves, Furcraea

Euphorbia X lomi

Yucca

Other Succulents

Acalypha

Allamanda

Aspidistra

Beaucarnea

Bougainvillea

Bromeliads

Cordylines

Croton

Cycads

Doryanthes

Dracaena

Epipremnum (Pothos)

Frangipani

Hibiscus

Orchids

Palms some species

Philodendron

Strelitzia

Rhoeo

Russelia juncea (R. equisetiformis)

Xanthorrhoea

Zamioculas





Traditional/Cottage





Abelia

Acalypha

Agapanthus

Allamanda

Bauhinia

Bolusantus speciosus

Bougainvillea

Buckinghamia

Bulbs

Dipladenia (for pots)

Eranthemum pulchellum

Euryops

Evolvulus

Graptophyllum ilicifolium

Grevillea

Herbs (see also article above)

Hibiscus

Hoyas

Lagerstroemia

Lavender

Leptospermum

Malvaviscus

Metrosideros

Olives (see Fruit)

Oleander

Pelargonium (Geraniums)

Plumbago

Pomegranate (see Fruit)

Roses

Salvias

Spiraea

Tecomaria

Trachelospermum

Viburnum

Westringia



Drought Tolerant Enoggera Species



The SOWN web site has gone to great personal and professional lengths to produce, at the request of the SOWN management committee and countless pleading SOWN members, a list of drought tolerant Enoggera species. Here it is!





Acacia Complanata (Flat Stemmed Wattle)

Acacia Disparimma (Hickory Wattle)

Acacia Fimbriata (Brisbane Wattle)

Acacia Penninervis (Mountain Hickory)

Acacia Podalyriifolia (Qld Silver Wattle)

Acrotriche Aggregata (Ground Berry)

Alectryon Subdentatus (Hard Alectryon)

Allocasuarina Littoralis (Black She Oak)

Alyxia Ruscifolia (Chain Fruit)

Araucaria Cunninghamii (Hoop Pine)

Archontophoenix Cunninghamiana (Bangalow/Piccabeen Palm)

Aristida Gracilipes (Slender Speargrass)

Backhousia Myrtifolia (Grey Myrtle / Carrol)

Banksia Spinulosa (Golden Candlesticks)

Brachychiton Discolor (Lace Bark)

Brachychiton Populneus (Kurrajong)

Callistemon Salignus (Willow Bottlebrush)

Callistemon Viminalis (Weeping Bottlebrush)

Casuarina Cunninghamiana (River SheOak)

Corymbia Citriodora (Spotted/Lemon Scented Gum)

Corymbia Intermedia (Pink Bloodwood)

Cryptocarya Triplinervis (Brown Laurel)

Cyperus Enervis (Cyperus Sedge)

Daviesia Villifera (Prickly Bitter Pea)

Derris Involuta (Jewel Vine)

Elaeocarpus Reticulatus (Blueberry Ash)

Erythrina Vespertilio (Bat's Wing Coral Tree)

Eucalyptus Carnea (Broad Leaved White Mahogany)

Eucalyptus Fibrosa (Broadleaved Ironbark)

Eucalyptus Melanophloia (Silver Leaved Ironbark)

Eucalyptus Melliodora (Yellow Box)

Eucalyptus Moluccana (Gum Topped Box)

Eucalyptus Propinqua (Small Fruited Grey Gum)

Eucalyptus Propinqua var. major (Grey Gum)

Goodenia Rotundifolia (Star Goodenia)

Grevillea Robusta (Silky Oak)

Grewia Latifolia (Dog's Balls)

Hibbertia Scandens (Climbing Guinea Flower or Snake Vine)

Hovea Acutifolia (Pointed Leaf Hovea)

Hymenosporum Flavum (Native Frangipani)

Indigofera Australis (Native Indigo)

Leptospermum Polygalifolium (Tantoon/Wild May)

Maytenus Silvestris (Narrowleaved Orange Bark)

Melaleuca Bracteata (Black Tea Tree)

Melia Azedarach (White Cedar)

Morinda Jasminoides (Sweet Morinda)

Ozothamnus Diosmifolium (Sago Flower)

Pandorea Pandorana (Wongawonga Vine)

Petalostigma Pubescens (Quinine Berry, Bitter Bark)

Rhodamnia Argentea (Silver Myrtle)

Solanum Aviculare (Kangaroo Apple)

Themeda Triandra (Kangaroo Grass)

Xanthorrhoea Media (Forest Grass Tree)



http://www.cpbr.gov.au/plant-lists/droug... - Plants less than 1 metre

Acacia ‘Gold Lace’



Acacia flexifolia



Atriplex semibaccata



Brachycome ‘ Break o Day’



Brachycome ‘Roulette’



Chrysocephalum apiculatum



Chrysocephalum semipapposum



Correa ‘Dusky Bells’



Correa ‘ Marion’s Marvel’



Dianella revolute



Gastrolobium sericeum



Leptospermum rotundifolium ‘ Julie-Ann’



Lomandra longifolia



Myoporum ‘ Monaro Marvel’



Olearia astroloba



Olearia iodochroa



Stypandra glauca



Local grasses



Plants to 2 metres

Acacia buxifolia



Acacia genistifolia



Acacia papyrocarpa



Acacia siculiformis



Allocasuarina distyla



Atriplex nummularia



Atriplex rhagodioides



Callistemon brachyandrus



Callistemon linearis



Callistemon sieberi



Cassinia longifolia



Cassinia quinquefaria



Dodonaea viscosa



Grevillea ‘Canterbury Gold’



Grevillea ‘Golden Sparkle’



Grevillea ‘Raspberry Red’



Grevillea wilkinsonii



Leptospermum ‘Lemon Frost’



Philotheca ‘Poorinda’



Plants over 3 metres

Acacia covenyi



Acacia pendula



Melaleuca elliptica



Melaleuca hamulosa









All sorts in this Brisbane site - http://www.ourbrisbane.com/living/garden...

More options here by type- http://www.janinesgarden.com/fr-plants.h...
Reply:Anything native like waratahs etc.

African daisies and Agapanthas are great and colourful too.
Reply:Hi Nikita - I live in Sydney and have found some brilliant plants that always look good - regardless of NO watering whatsoever!!



I have Murraya hedges (native plant) (you can trim them any shape and the flowers smell so beautiful) - I have Gardenias, purple Hebe's, the Japanoica Sasanqua Camelias (they don't mind the hot dry conditions) - lots of agapanthus (an african plant - you know they have the huge ball of blue flowers at Christmas time) - and native Australian blue daisies. I have edgings of mondo grass (it yellows a little on the tips in summer). These plants have been the most successful over the last 5 years at my place (South Western Sydney). I have weed mat around them and bark chips on top. So, no weeding and no watering! I also have a little low hedge of red grevillias along my front fence (to keep dogs away). I have a big olive tree in my backyard and lots of geraniums.
Reply:Mainly native plants are your better choice such as Grevillias, but don't plant them near the bedrooms or the noise of the birds will have you awake very early. Grevillias also like the clay soil and there's plenty of that around.
Reply:If you go to your local council they will have a list of local Australian natives and if you are lucky they might even put you on to someone who is giving them away for free. Go with Australian natives because they are already adapted to our climate
Reply:plastic ones
Reply:cactus or succulants
Reply:pointsettas. but if you have a dog make sure he wont eat the, they are poisonous to dogs
Reply:Water-wise gardening is called xeriscaping and there is a lot of information available. If you live where you can get to a library, there are probably a lot of books available. Here are some links to on-line information (some of them contain specific plant names and pictures)



http://www.squidoo.com/xeriscape

http://voices.gardenweb.com/xeriscape/

http://www.downunderontop.com/plantlist....

http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/...

http://www.gardenbuddies.com/forum/messa...

http://www.australianplants.com/plants_A...



This last site is for a company in the U.S. (Santa Fe, New Mexico). They specialize in xeriscape plants. I'm providing you with the link, not because I think you should order from them, but because they have a lot of good information. They also have a lot of good plant descriptions and pictures (included in "planned gardens" -- being able to see the plants together can be helpful).



http://www.highcountrygardens.com/



For much of my life I have lived in the desert west and southwest (U.S.) where cactus and sagebrush were common. Two and a half years ago, I moved to the northwest where it is very rainy by comparison. I am learning a new way of gardening.



Good luck.
Reply:Please don't plant agapanthas or african olive. They are both fantastic in the Aussie climate but they get out of control so easily, birds and animals carry seeds which spread at an enormously fast rate, destroying native bush in your surrounding area. If you really want to help the local environment plant native trees and flowers to your region. This can be done by visiting your local garden centre or even contacting your city council and conservation groups. There are so many beautiful native species to choose from that need very little care, please consider these as an alternative. They also tend to be a little cheaper than many foreign weeds. Try www.greeningaustralia.org.au for more info. Good luck!