Waterwise plant examples

Yesterday and today our garden has received some very much appreciated rain.   We do not have any irrigation in the majority of our flowerbeds so I will show you photos taken this morning, between rain downfalls, of some of the beautiful flowers our native garden plants have  produced after a long hot summer with almost no rain.  These plants demonstrate very clearly that the majority of our Western Australian native species are very waterwise and that they require little or no water.  Anyone with an Australian native garden that is watering more than once a month in summer is killing their plants with kindness.  Plants that receive too much additional water do not live as long as those that receive little or no additional water.  There are many other autumn flowering plants that I could have photographed today, some of them also continue flowering into winter.  For example, all the Correas, some Scaevolas, many Hakeas, Boronia crenulata, some Lechenaultias, this list could very easily go on!

Eucalyptus caesia commonly called Silver Princess. When photographed against a grey sky like we have today, it is very attractive.

The beautiful flowers of the Eucalyptus caesia or Silver Princess, a grey sky behind and covered in welcome rain drops.

Verticordia staminosa which is a very waterwise small shrub.

Eucalyptus macrocarpa which is commonly called Rose of the West.

Grevillea Golden Lyre has just started to flower after a long dry summer with no irrigation.

The beautiful Banksi menziesii or Firewood Banksia that has been flowering for several weeks.

The lemon bud wax of Chamelaucium Lemon Drops. It makes a good addition to flower arrangements.

Grevillea Ellendale Pool which has been flowering for the past 4 months with no irrigation making it very waterwise.

Grevillea phanerophlebia with it masses of white flowers is very waterwise and flowers all year.

Grevillea Carramar Gold that has been growing in our garden for about 20 years, is very dense and very waterwise. It has never received any irrigation.

Grevillea vestita, this is the pink flowering form. It flowers twice and year for a long period each time.

Chamelaucium ciliatum or commonly called Albany Wax is just breaking into flower in our garden. It has masses of attractive little white flowers.

Grevillea Ellendale Dragon is a low growing attactrive shrub with grey/green leaves. It is very waterwise.

Thryptomene saxicola is a very waterwise, long lasting, adaptable shrub. A good addition to almost any garden where there is good drainage.

Hypocalymma xanthopetalum is a small shrub which flowers all year regardless of whether it is irrigated or never receives any irrigation.