Plants to grow around the Perth Metropolitan Region

In many a local nursery one can find a booklet, produced by Dorothy Redreau of Greening Australia and compiled by Denise Crosbie. It is produced in association with many of the persons and organisations interested in conserving and preserving the natural plant heritage of the Perth Metropolitan area. The booklet came about because there is a move afoot to link Perth gardens to bushlands that are almost disappearing, so that food and shelter may be afforded to wildlife as it travels across the landscape. I understand the booklet was produce to encourage people to grow local and native plants for wildlife and for our heritage. The booklet is titled "Perth Plants for your Garden".

Local plants are obviously going to fit in well with the local soils and climate and, as the booklet reminds us, local plants need:

·

• Little or no fertiliser or water once established ·
• Attract wildlife to the gardens and provide a habitat ·
• Help the movement of the pollinators between bush remnants ·
• Help conserve Western Australia's plants and animals ·
• Support he preservation of the natural heritage ·
• Incorporate local natural surroundings into gardens

The Perth metropolitan area has a Mediterranean - type climate with two main seasons: a dry hot summer; and mild, wet winter. Plants grow and flower in late April with the first of the rains and slow down until late August when the full flowering season gets under way. In October and November there is a second and longer period of growth. The growth continues until the season ends in late November when growth slows due to the dry summer. Many of the larger plants, however, continue to grow throughout the summer.

One of the plants well worth talking about at this time of year is the Nuytsia floribunda, or Christmas Tree; its Aboriginal name is Moo-jar. The tree is said to be the largest parasitic plant in the world. We had one in the garden until a couple of years ago - it had to be removed after a storm which blew it down, along with a number of neighbouring trees. However, over the last year or so there is evidence that we will have another one quite soon. It is said that the new growth is intermittent until a permanent trunk is formed. The flowers are well worth the wait though because they are blazing orange-gold colour that contrast with the dark green leaves and the almost black trunk.

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic