Gardening Resources
With water restrictions having been in place in Perth since the summer of 2001, there is an increasing trend to incorporate native plants into garden beds. This is a trend that the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority supports, as it preserves fresh water supplies, celebrates our unique flora and provides resources for the fauna of Perth which manage to survive in urban areas.
The biggest misconception about Australian garden plants is that they have to be treated quite differently from plants from other continents. This idea results in two opposing beliefs - one being that they can be neglected, and the other being they have fussy needs that make them difficult to grow, especially when mixed with exotics. In reality, however, the same general horticultural rules apply to all ornamentals. Every plant, whatever its origins, grows better with a little care and attention, and some plants have slightly different requirements regarding soil and position.
The Backyard Botanicals Garden is a ‘grow-me-at-home’ garden in the May Drive Parkland which demonstrates how easy it is to grow Western Australian native plants. If you would like to create your own native garden or need advice on how to improve your existing one, browse the articles in this section, come along to a free Dig it with Coffee session or contact the Garden Advisory Service.
Gardening tips
We've prepared a few simple tips to help native plants thrive in your garden.
Plant notes
These WA native plant notes are particularly relevant to the Perth community and their gardening needs.
Lawn care
Lawn is a desirable feature of the home garden that provides an attractive safe surface for children and pets to play.
Transplanting trees
Our Garden Advisory Service often gets enquiries about transplanting Australian native plants, particularly the Common Grass-tree.
Potted flowers
Many native plants may be grown singly in pots, or several may be grouped in a larger container to form a mini-garden.
Bird-attracting gardens
Birds add life, colour and sound to a garden and are a joy to watch. Many Australian plants, such as Kangaroo Paws, are bird-pollinated.
