Callistemon

In the past, there was a firm belief that if you wanted to grow Australian native plants, you had to have a completely native garden. This was partly due environmental beliefs, partly aesthetic and partly because native plants were considered to have special growing requirements which didn’t mix well with other garden plants. Well, times have changed. Australian native plants...

Have you ever noticed how plants growing near the coast or on windy hillsides are often small and gnarled? They look as if they’re hanging on with all their roots, trying to keep their branches low and out of the wind. The very same plant growing in a sheltered spot usually stands tall and upright. If your garden, or even...

The decline of the world's bee population is sobering, not only as it's part of an overall decline of pollinating insects, but because it has the potential to affect our food. Bees are vital to pollinate many edible crops and help produce about a third of our food. They are also needed to pollinate many crops that produce seeds for cultivation...

Clay soil is made up mainly of clay particles. On the positive side, clay soils are rich in nutrients. On the other hand, they can be difficult to dig and poorly drained, becoming waterlogged when wet and then cracking as they dry out during extended dry periods. If you are unsure about whether your soil is clay or not, there...

There are shrubs that grow well and look good all year round, and need little in the way of care as they don’t attract pests and diseases and are not fussy about soil, pruning or feeding. These are the plants of choice for the bones of any garden. Here are my top 10 easy shrubs for Sydney gardens. All tolerate...

Australia means different things to each of us, but this Australia Day we take a look at three iconic native plants that have shaped the lives of Australians.