Collections

Tough plants for dry gardens

These cope with long dry spells once their roots are established, which usually takes a year. Water them regularly through their first summer, then only in long dry spells.

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

• Acorn banksia Banksia prionotes 3–6 m, tree

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

  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, 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
• 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
• Berrigan Eremophila longifolia 2–5 m, shrub

  Shrub, 2–5 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, 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
• 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
• Black she-oak Allocasuarina littoralis 4–8 m, tree

  Tree, 4–8 m tall, 2–4 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, 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
• Black-anther flax-lily Dianella revoluta 0.3–0.9 m, grass or strappy

  Grass or strappy, 0.3–0.9 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, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, 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
• 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
• Burrawang Macrozamia communis 1–2 m, shrub

  Shrub, 1–2 m tall, 1.5–3 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, not flowering
  10. O October, not flowering
  11. N November, not flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add
• Bush Ranger kangaroo paw Anigozanthos 'Bush Ranger' 0.3–0.5 m, perennial or herb

  Perennial or herb, 0.3–0.5 m tall, 0.3–0.5 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, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Canberra Gem grevillea Grevillea 'Canberra Gem' 2–3 m, shrub

  Shrub, 2–3 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, 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
• D Cassa Blue flax-lily Dianella caerulea 'Cassa Blue' 0.4–0.6 m, grass or strappy

  Grass or strappy, 0.4–0.6 m tall, 0.4–0.6 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, 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
• 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 boobialla Myoporum insulare 2–5 m, shrub

  Shrub, 2–5 m tall, 2–4 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 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