A reliable climber that twines through fences or trellises, rather than “blanketing” adjacent shrubs. Wonga Wonga Vine (Pandorea pandorana ‘Snowbells’). This is a vigorous grower that is twined on a stair railing. My specimen has large, orange-red flowers with a showy large lime-green central spot. Another plant with unusual blossoms, this evergreen climbing vine has pea-type flowers of various colors from pink to dark red and yellow to black. I had to prune this plant severely in preparation for house painting, and it’s now growing back rapidly.Ĭape Arid Climber (Kennedia beckxiana ‘Flamboyant’). It’s pinkish-purple flowers have a chartreuse spot in their centers, blossoming in the winter to early spring. The twining stems of this evergreen vine can reach 16 feet in height, given support. Purple Vine Lilac (Hardenbergia violacea ‘Happy Wanderer’). Its leaves are a bit woolly, and its blossoms inspire some to call it Spider Flower. The unusual pinkish-red and cream flowers of this low-growing shrub (1 foot tall by 5 feet wide) appear abundantly from winter to late spring. Woolly Grevillea (Grevillia lanigera ‘Coastal Gem’). It has small, star-shaped blush pink flowers in the spring and summer, but its foliage is the prime attraction. This 3-foot high grass plant has long strappy, shiny ruby/burgundy leaves cascading to create a pleasing fountain effect.
Grass Palm (Cordyline ‘Festival Grass Burgundy’). A specimen in the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum caught my attention, and I was able to add it to my garden recently. This pine-like shrub grows to 4 feet high and in the spring produces tubular bright red flowers with a striking green and black tip. It benefits from seasonal pruning to maintain a compact shapeĬandle Cranberry (Astroloma foliosum). Growing 8 feet x 8 feet, this evergreen shrub’s common name is puzzling, because its attractive blossoms are purple and it’s not a hibiscus, although it is another member of the Mallow family. This plant produces pale-yellow flowers in the spring, but it is valued for its narrow, pendulous evergreen foliage.īlue Hibiscus (Alyogyne huegelii ‘Santa Cruz’). “Cousin Itt” is a dwarf variety the species can reach 20 x 20 feet, or more. This shrub grows 2 feet tall and up to 6 feet wide. River Wattle (Acacia cognata ‘Cousin Itt’).
Given this approach to landscaping, my garden includes an area devoted to Australian plants.
My garden is organized thematically with an emphasis on Mediterranean climate regions, preferred because of their drought tolerance as well as their attractiveness and ease of maintenance. They certainly qualify as “exotics” that are compatible with and complementary to California native plants. That latter region on the southwest coast, with Perth as its largest city, is home to plants that grow easily in coastal California and are popular in the gardens of the Monterey Bay area.Īustralian plants that are suitable for Monterey Bay area landscapes come in a wide range of forms and with interesting foliage and sometimes unusual blossoms. We might think of Australia as mostly desert or semi-arid, but northern parts of the country have a tropical climate, its southern coastal area has a humid subtropical climate in the east and Mediterranean (or “summer-dry”) climate in the west. Our focus on the current planting season continues with an overview of Australian plants that are native to that small island continent.