Collections

Plants for bees and butterflies

Australia has around 2,000 kinds of native bee, and most are small, solitary and harmless. Open, simple flowers in blue, purple, white and yellow suit them best. Plant in drifts rather than one of each, and leave some bare ground and old stems for nesting.

173 plants. Narrow these down by size, sun, soil or your postcode

• Alpine mint bush Prostanthera cuneata 0.5–1 m, shrub

  Shrub, 0.5–1 m tall, 0.8–1.2 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, not flowering
  10. O October, not flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Aniseed boronia Boronia crenulata 0.5–1 m, shrub

  Shrub, 0.5–1 m tall, 0.5–1 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, flowering
  7. J July, flowering
  8. A August, flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add
• Austral clematis Clematis aristata 3–5 m, climber

  Climber, 3–5 m tall, 1–3 m wide
  Full sun to full shade

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add
• Austral grass tree Xanthorrhoea australis 1–2 m, grass or strappy

  Grass or strappy, 1–2 m tall, 1–2 m wide
  Full sun

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Austral indigo Indigofera australis 1–2 m, shrub

  Shrub, 1–2 m tall, 1–1.5 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add
• Bignonia emu bush Eremophila bignoniiflora 3–6 m, shrub

  Shrub, 3–6 m tall, 2–4 m wide
  Full sun

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Black coral pea! Kennedia nigricans 1–5 m, climber. Weed risk in some areas

  Climber, 1–5 m tall, 3–6 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, flowering
  8. A August, flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, not flowering
  12. D December, not flowering

  Weed risk in some areas

  Add
• Blackwood! Acacia melanoxylon 8–15 m, tree. Weed risk in some areas

  Tree, 8–15 m tall, 5–8 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, flowering
  8. A August, flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, not flowering
  12. D December, not flowering

  Weed risk in some areas

  Add
• Blue leschenaultia Lechenaultia biloba 0.3–0.5 m, shrub

  Shrub, 0.3–0.5 m tall, 0.3–0.6 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, flowering
  8. A August, flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add
• Blue lilly pilly Syzygium oleosum 5–8 m, tree

  Tree, 5–8 m tall, 3–5 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, not flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Bluebell creeper! Billardiera heterophylla 1–3 m, climber. Weed risk in some areas

  Climber, 1–3 m tall, 1–2 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, flowering
  2. F February, flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, not flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering

  Weed risk in some areas

  Add
• Blueberry ash Elaeocarpus reticulatus 4–8 m, tree

  Tree, 4–8 m tall, 2–4 m wide
  Full sun to full shade

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, not flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Bower vine Pandorea jasminoides 0.5–4 m, climber

  Climber, 0.5–4 m tall, 2–4 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, flowering
  2. F February, flowering
  3. M March, flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, not flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Bracelet honey-myrtle! Melaleuca armillaris 3–6 m, shrub. Weed risk in some areas

  Shrub, 3–6 m tall, 3–5 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering

  Weed risk in some areas

  Add
• Broad-leaf drumsticks Isopogon anemonifolius 1–1.5 m, shrub

  Shrub, 1–1.5 m tall, 1–1.5 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add
• Broad-leaved paperbark Melaleuca quinquenervia 8–15 m, tree

  Tree, 8–15 m tall, 5–8 m wide
  Full sun

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, flowering
  3. M March, flowering
  4. A April, flowering
  5. M May, flowering
  6. J June, flowering
  7. J July, flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, not flowering
  10. O October, not flowering
  11. N November, not flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add
• Brown boronia Boronia megastigma 0.5–1.5 m, shrub

  Shrub, 0.5–1.5 m tall, 0.5–1 m wide
  Part shade

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, flowering
  8. A August, flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, not flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add
• Brush box Lophostemon confertus 10–20 m, tree

  Tree, 10–20 m tall, 6–10 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, not flowering
  10. O October, not flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Brush cherry Syzygium australe 4–8 m, tree

  Tree, 4–8 m tall, 2–4 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, not flowering
  10. O October, not flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• L Cardwell tea-tree Leptospermum 'Cardwell' 1.5–2 m, shrub

  Shrub, 1.5–2 m tall, 1.5–2 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add
• Chamomile sunray Rhodanthe anthemoides 0.2–0.3 m, perennial or herb

  Perennial or herb, 0.2–0.3 m tall, 0.3–0.5 m wide
  Full sun

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Cider gum Eucalyptus gunnii 10–20 m, tree

  Tree, 10–20 m tall, 6–10 m wide
  Full sun

  1. J January, flowering
  2. F February, flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, not flowering
  10. O October, not flowering
  11. N November, not flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Coast banksia Banksia integrifolia 6–15 m, tree

  Tree, 6–15 m tall, 3–8 m wide
  Full sun

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, flowering
  3. M March, flowering
  4. A April, flowering
  5. M May, flowering
  6. J June, flowering
  7. J July, flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, not flowering
  10. O October, not flowering
  11. N November, not flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add
• Coast daisy-bush Olearia axillaris 1–2 m, shrub

  Shrub, 1–2 m tall, 1–2 m wide
  Full sun

  1. J January, flowering
  2. F February, flowering
  3. M March, flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, not flowering
  10. O October, not flowering
  11. N November, not flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add