Tough and resilient, these flowering natives will make you fall in love with winter.
Most people associate winter with drab, dreary and muted gardens. We tend to seek out colour in the cheerful pops of pansies, poppies and polyanthuses, but there are far more interesting and intricate flowers to admire at this time of year.
Winter is when many Australian natives truly come into their own. Australian native plants have evolved to thrive in challenging conditions, and many choose the cooler months to put on a show. Grevilleas, correas, banksias and wattles burst into flower throughout winter when the rain returns, filling the garden with vibrant reds, oranges, pinks and golds when colour is often in short supply.
Acacia
The season of gold and green is upon us. From winter through spring, the humble acacia flowers prolifically and generously, offering a little touch of magical fairy dust against a dull grey sky. They’re among the best and easiest plants for creating quick privacy and filling out an otherwise empty landscape. These days, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to colourful acacias, with newer hybrids offering hues of apricot and flaming red.
Staff pick: Acacia leprosa ‘Scarlet Blaze’.
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Light: Full Sun |
Soil: Will not tolerate wet feet |
Exposure: Tolerates |
Banksia
Winter belongs to the banksias. As much of the garden settles into the cooler months, these remarkable Australian natives come alive with their striking flower spikes in shades of gold, orange, red and cream. Rich in nectar and architectural in form, banksias bring both colour and structure to the winter landscape, while providing an invaluable food source for honeyeaters, lorikeets and other wildlife. They’re among the toughest and most rewarding Australian natives, thriving in difficult conditions and asking for very little in return. Whether used as a groundcover, a screen or as part of a native garden, banksias deliver beauty, structure and valuable habitat throughout the quietest months of the year.
Staff pick: Banksia spinulosa x ericifolia ‘Bird Song’.
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Light: Full Sun |
Fertiliser: Use |
Exposure: Tolerates |
Correa
Correas may not demand attention, but they reward those who take a closer look. Their elegant, lantern-like flowers dangle among the foliage throughout winter, attracting birds and adding a gentle beauty to the garden. Beyond their blooms, correas are masters of texture and form. Their dense growth can be clipped into soft clouds and perfect spheres, creating cohesive silvery-green structures that contrast beautifully with a lively green landscape. Whether planted individually or repeated throughout the garden, they bring a sense of calm and consistency that few shrubs can match.
Staff pick: Correa reflexa var. nummulariifolia.
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Light: Full Sun to part shade |
Soil: Will tolerate dry or wet |
Exposure: Tolerates |
Grevillea
Few plants can rival a grevillea in full flower. Throughout winter, their spidery nectar-rich blooms become a magnet for native birds, turning the garden into a lively theatre of colour and movement. At a time when many gardens are slowing down, grevilleas are busy producing masses of intricate flowers that seem purpose-built for visiting birds. Their remarkable diversity means they can slot into almost any planting scheme, whether you’re filling a sunny verge, creating a wildlife garden or screening a boundary fence. Easy-going and endlessly floriferous, grevilleas bring warmth, colour and life to the winter garden when it’s needed most.
Staff pick: Grevillea rivularis x ‘Poorinda Peter’ ‘Bronze Rambler’.
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Light: Full Sun |
Fertiliser: Use |
Wildlife: Bird attracting |
Hakea
If there is one plant that deserves to be used more often, it is the hakea. These hardy Australian natives offer a wonderful combination of texture, structure and seasonal interest, with many varieties producing intricate flowers throughout winter. Their blooms range from delicate pincushions to striking spider-like clusters, often appearing in shades of cream, pink, red and gold.
Beyond their flowers, hakeas bring a distinctive character to the garden, with foliage ranging from fine and feathery to bold and architectural. Tough enough to handle drought, poor soils and harsh conditions, they are equally at home in a native garden, coastal planting or mixed border. For gardeners seeking something a little different, hakeas deliver beauty, resilience and year-round interest in equal measure.
Staff pick: Hakea ‘Burrendong Beauty’.
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Light: Full Sun to part shade |
Fertiliser: Use |
Exposure: Tolerates |
Helping native plants settle in and thrive
Australian natives are low-maintenance, but a good start makes all the difference. When planting, improve your soil with plenty of organic matter and add a native fertiliser to support strong root growth. Using Organic Compost along with a fertiliser such as Nuetrog’s Bush Tucker or Searles Native Food , can build soil health over time and provide your plants with consistent access to nutrients. A light mulch after planting will also help retain moisture and keep roots cool.
