Bush Food Garden

Native Thyme is a highly aromatic shrub, rich in essential oils, giving off a minty aroma when crushed or rubbed. With hints of pepper and earthy tones, it makes a great flavoursome herb for a range of meats such as chicken, fish, emu, kangaroo and lamb. Both the leaves and flowers have minty qualities, and…

If you’ve driven into the outback in any state you will have seen many many greyish blue green sprawling bushes holding the red dirt together. They like lots of air around them and dry conditions however I have managed to grow them in a pot. It’s a straggly gangly looking specimen but its leaves are…

I planted tube stock in 2015 and as you can see it is growing quite well – at least 4 to 5 metres now but has yet to fruit. I expect it to reach 10 metres and it is already producing wonderful shade. Fairly insignificant creamy flowers form at the leaf base in spring. They…

When I first moved to this location in 2015 one of the many plants I planted was the rare Wampee. Named after its discoverer Greg Smyrell. It is an evergreen shrub reaching 6 metres and native to subtropical eastern Australia. Leaves are lemon scented when crushed and form a dense canopy of shiny green foliage,…

Warrigal greens are tolerant of wind, exposure and a variety of soil types, as well as growing quickly to 2 m across and around 30 cm high. Plants are not particularly frost tolerant so choose a protected area of your garden or grow them in a hanging basket. Once established they do tend to take…

Geraldton Wax is perfect for a drought tolerant garden. It’s easy to care for, has minimal pests and diseases, and doesn’t need much food or watering. Geraldton Wax does enjoy light pruning. It can be grown as a screen or windbreak, added to a mixed shrub border. The flowers are sweetly fragranced and their rich…

Wattle is easy to grow, quick to mature, forgiving of neglect and generous with their flowers. There’s over 600 species in Australia but only a small amount are edible. Their growth habits vary vastly, from tall trees to screen plants, shrubs and ground covers. In recent years, compact forms with attractive foliage have been released,…

If you’re looking to grow one out of these regions then choose a sunny spot out of the wind and away from frost. The soil you use should be well-draining and remain moist. This tree can in fact handle low temperatures, low water and a mild frost once it is established. Lemon Aspen can grow…

Old Man Saltbush helps with soil erosion as the roots bind themselves together and helps stabilise the soil. As a windbreak, it helps other plants withstand dust storms , provides shelter for farm animals and also becomes a place for birds and small animals to seek refuge. It has a deep root system enabling it…