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

• Coast tea-tree! Leptospermum laevigatum 3–6 m, shrub. Weed risk in some areas

  Shrub, 3–6 m tall, 3–5 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, 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
• P Coast tussock-grass Poa poiformis 0.5–1 m, grass or strappy

  Grass or strappy, 0.5–1 m tall, 0.6–1 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, 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
• Coastal rosemary Westringia fruticosa 1–2 m, shrub

  Shrub, 1–2 m tall, 1–3 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, flowering
  Add
• Cockies tongues Templetonia retusa 1–2 m, shrub

  Shrub, 1–2 m tall, 1–2 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, 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
• Common apple-berry Billardiera scandens 1–2 m, climber

  Climber, 1–2 m tall, 0.5–1 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, flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Common dampiera Dampiera linearis 0.3–0.5 m, perennial or herb

  Perennial or herb, 0.3–0.5 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, 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
• Common everlasting Chrysocephalum apiculatum 0.1–0.4 m, groundcover

  Groundcover, 0.1–0.4 m tall, 0.3–0.6 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, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Common fringe-myrtle Calytrix tetragona 0.5–1.5 m, shrub

  Shrub, 0.5–1.5 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, 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
• Common tussock-grass Poa labillardierei 0.5–1.2 m, grass or strappy

  Grass or strappy, 0.5–1.2 m tall, 0.5–1 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
• Common wallaby grass Rytidosperma caespitosum 0.2–0.5 m, grass or strappy

  Grass or strappy, 0.2–0.5 m tall, 0.2–0.4 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, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Cootamundra wattle! Acacia baileyana 5–8 m, tree. Weed risk in some areas

  Tree, 5–8 m tall, 4–6 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, flowering
  7. J July, flowering
  8. A August, flowering
  9. S September, not flowering
  10. O October, not flowering
  11. N November, not flowering
  12. D December, not flowering

  Weed risk in some areas

  Add
• Coral gum Eucalyptus torquata 4–8 m, tree

  Tree, 4–8 m tall, 3–5 m wide
  Full sun

  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, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Coral vine Kennedia coccinea 1–3 m, climber

  Climber, 1–3 m tall, 1–2 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, flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add
• Creek mat-rush Lomandra hystrix 0.8–1.2 m, grass or strappy

  Grass or strappy, 0.8–1.2 m tall, 0.8–1.2 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, flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, not flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add
• Creeping boobialla Myoporum parvifolium 0.1–0.2 m, groundcover

  Groundcover, 0.1–0.2 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, not flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Crimson bottlebrush Melaleuca citrina 1–3 m, shrub

  Shrub, 1–3 m tall, 1–3 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, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Cut-leaf daisy Brachyscome multifida 0.2–0.3 m, groundcover

  Groundcover, 0.2–0.3 m tall, 0.4–0.6 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, flowering
  2. F February, flowering
  3. M March, flowering
  4. A April, 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
• Cut-leaf mint bush Prostanthera incisa 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
• Dargan Hill Monarch everlasting Xerochrysum bracteatum 'Dargan Hill Monarch' 0.5–0.8 m, perennial or herb

  Perennial or herb, 0.5–0.8 m tall, 0.6–1 m wide
  Full sun

  1. J January, flowering
  2. F February, flowering
  3. M March, flowering
  4. A April, 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
• Darling pea Swainsona galegifolia 0.5–1 m, perennial or herb

  Perennial or herb, 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, 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
• Drumsticks Pycnosorus globosus 0.6–1 m, perennial or herb

  Perennial or herb, 0.6–1 m tall, 0.3–0.5 m wide
  Full sun

  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, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Dune fan-flower Scaevola calendulacea 0.1–0.3 m, groundcover

  Groundcover, 0.1–0.3 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, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Dusky coral pea Kennedia rubicunda 0.5–4 m, climber

  Climber, 0.5–4 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, not flowering
  Add
• Dusty daisy-bush Olearia phlogopappa 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, not flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add