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

• Hillock bush Melaleuca hypericifolia 2–4 m, shrub

  Shrub, 2–4 m tall, 2–4 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
• Hoary sunray Leucochrysum albicans 0.2–0.4 m, perennial or herb

  Perennial or herb, 0.2–0.4 m tall, 0.2–0.4 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, not flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Honey Gem grevillea Grevillea 'Honey Gem' 3–5 m, shrub

  Shrub, 3–5 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, 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
• Hop goodenia Goodenia ovata 1–2 m, shrub

  Shrub, 1–2 m tall, 1–2 m wide
  Full sun to full 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, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Illawarra flame tree Brachychiton acerifolius 10–20 m, tree

  Tree, 10–20 m tall, 5–10 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, not flowering
  10. O October, not flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Illyarrie Eucalyptus erythrocorys 4–8 m, tree

  Tree, 4–8 m tall, 3–6 m wide
  Full sun

  1. J January, flowering
  2. F February, flowering
  3. M March, flowering
  4. A April, flowering
  5. M May, 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, not flowering
  Add
• Ivory curl flower Buckinghamia celsissima 5–8 m, tree

  Tree, 5–8 m tall, 3–5 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, not flowering
  11. N November, not flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Johnson's grass tree Xanthorrhoea johnsonii 1–2 m, grass or strappy

  Grass or strappy, 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, 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
• Kalbarri Carpet emu bush Eremophila glabra 'Kalbarri Carpet' 0.1–0.2 m, groundcover

  Groundcover, 0.1–0.2 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, 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
• Kangaroo grass Themeda triandra 0.5–1 m, grass or strappy

  Grass or strappy, 0.5–1 m tall, 0.4–0.6 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, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• M Kings Park Special bottlebrush Melaleuca viminalis 'Kings Park Special' 3–4 m, shrub

  Shrub, 3–4 m tall, 2–3 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not 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
• Knife-leaf wattle! Acacia cultriformis 2–4 m, shrub. Weed risk in some areas

  Shrub, 2–4 m tall, 2–3 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
• Kruse's mallee Eucalyptus kruseana 2–4 m, shrub

  Shrub, 2–4 m tall, 2–3 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, 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
  Add
• Kurrajong Brachychiton populneus 8–15 m, tree

  Tree, 8–15 m tall, 5–8 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, not flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Lemon bottlebrush Melaleuca pallida 2–4 m, shrub

  Shrub, 2–4 m tall, 2–3 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, 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
• Lemon myrtle Backhousia citriodora 5–8 m, tree

  Tree, 5–8 m tall, 3–5 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, not flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Lemon-scented gum! Corymbia citriodora 15–25 m, tree. Weed risk in some areas

  Tree, 15–25 m tall, 8–12 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, flowering
  6. J June, flowering
  7. J July, flowering
  8. A August, flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, not flowering
  11. N November, not flowering
  12. D December, not flowering

  Weed risk in some areas

  Add
• Lemon-scented tea-tree Leptospermum petersonii 3–5 m, shrub

  Shrub, 3–5 m tall, 2–3 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, not flowering
  10. O October, not flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• M Little John bottlebrush Melaleuca viminalis 'Little John' 0.6–1 m, shrub

  Shrub, 0.6–1 m tall, 0.8–1.2 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, flowering
  4. A April, flowering
  5. M May, 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
• Long-leaf wax flower Philotheca myoporoides 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, not flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add
• Long-leaved westringia Westringia longifolia 1.5–2 m, shrub

  Shrub, 1.5–2 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, 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
• Macadamia Macadamia integrifolia 6–10 m, tree

  Tree, 6–10 m tall, 4–8 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
  Add
• Magenta lilly pilly Syzygium paniculatum 5–10 m, tree

  Tree, 5–10 m tall, 3–5 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
• Matted pratia Lobelia pedunculata 0.02–0.05 m, groundcover

  Groundcover, 0.02–0.05 m tall, 0.5–1 m wide
  Full sun to full 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
  Add