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All those colours, sizes, shapes and forms are so tempting, you might have the urge to fill your trolley with the biggest and brightest – but one of the most basic mistakes when you are buying for your garden is selecting plants on a whim.
Sophie gives some expert pointers on how to choose the right plants that will thrive in your garden.
Know your conditions: Know your local climate, rainfall and temperatures, and don’t waste money on plants that won’t thrive in these. For Sophie, whose garden gets a lot of frost, that includes avoiding tender sub-tropical plants. Instead she goes for hardy plants such as Rock Rose, Common Myrtle and Germander.
Know your soil type: Don’t buy plants that need free-draining soils if you have heavy clay, unless you’re prepared to modify your soil.
Know your natives: Just because it’s native doesn’t mean it will grow anywhere; Australia is a big country with lots of different ecosystems. Look for local indigenous plants or ones from similar areas and situations to yours.
Right plant, Right place: Ferns will burn in full sun and roses will become leggy and vulnerable to disease in shade, so consider where you will put your new plant and buy accordingly.
Do your Research: Labels are a good place to start but they are written for the broad, national market, so check with staff at your local nursery. Make sure you check the plant sizes too, so plants fit the space you have.
Featured plants:
Rock Rose (Cistus cv.)
Common Myrtle (Myrtus communis)
Germander (Teucrium aureum subsp. aureum)
Geraldton Wax Flower (Chamelaucium cv.)
Banksia (Banksia formosa cv.)
Rose (Rosa cv.)
Dwarf Citrus ‘Valencia (Citrus cv.)
Filmed in Adelaide on Kaurna Country
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