Plants for small spaces: Australian native small garden design ideas

Australian native plants and small gardens are a perfect match. In recent years, work on breeding small and compact varieties of native plants mean there are Australian natives to grow in all types of small gardens including courtyards and balconies. They will grow in the ground or in containers. Flower Power have all the Australian native small garden design ideas you need.

Flower Power's top Australian native small garden design ideas

Here are some out-of-the-box suggestions to get you planting.

Idea 1: Australian native plant pairings for feature pots

Pair tall shrubs, weeping standards or perennials with low-growing or spill-over plants.

• Select a tall, slender native such as grafted grevillea (G. ‘Poorinda Royal Mantle’), acacia (such as Acacia cognata ‘Fettuccini’), tall kangaroo paw or woolly bush (Adenanthos sericeus).
• Underplanting ideas include Banksia blechnifolia, Lomandra ‘Little Con’, Casuarina ‘Cousin It’, Banksia ‘Birthday Candles’ or Swan River daisy (Brachyscome multifida)

Idea 2: Native plants to fill narrow spaces

Plant these slim-growing plants as a hedge or screen and clip to keep bushy. As a bonus, if they’re tall growing these plants can provide some sense of privacy.

• Syzygium ‘Straight And Narrow’and Callistemon ‘Slim’.

Idea 3: Cute containers for native courtyards and paved spaces

There are plenty of Australian natives that work well on balconies in pots, in troughs or in little baskets that hang over the railing.

• Grow native violet, pigface, brachyscome, dampiera, hibbertia, scaevola and myoporum.

Idea 4: Create a fragrant zone

Mass-planting fragrant plants in a small space can give the scent an even higher impact. Look for both scented flowers (such as boronia) and scented foliage (such as mint bush).

• Try brown boronia, backhousia, mint bush (Prostanthera), chocolate lily, native frangipani (Hymenosporum), Leptospermum petersonii.

Clockwise from top left: Scaevola 'Survida Blue', Casuarina 'Cousin It', orange pigface, Prostanthera 'Poorinda Ballerina' and Grevillea 'Poorinda Royal Mantle' are popular Australian natives for small gardens and courtyards.

Tips for success with Australian natives in small gardens

There are a few things you need to consider when growing Australian natives, and particularly in small spaces.

How to prepare a garden bed for Australian native plants

Make sure the planting bed is free-draining. If necessary, slightly raise soil levels to help improve drainage. Dig in organic matter such as compost or manure before planting. Mulch with composted bark or gravel.

How to prepare a pot for Australian native plants

To grow Australian natives in containers, use a specialist native potting mix such as Supersoil Professional Native Potting & Planting Mix.

Food and water tips for Australian native plants

Water plants well after planting and when soil conditions are dry. Most native plants benefit from a once-a-year feed in spring using a specialist native plant food or low-phosphorus fertiliser. Flower Power recommends Neutrog Bush Tucker.

Do Australian native plants need pruning?

You should regularly your prune native plants to keep them compact and flowering.

For more information about caring for native plants, see our native plant care guide here.