Indigenous Plants in the Aldinga Arts Eco Village, South Australia

Indigenous plants in the Aldinga Arts Eco Village, South Australia Text and Photographs by Jenni McGlennon Compiled for use in common land and gardens of Village neighbourhoods Page 1 of 47 How to use this resource: Notes and illustrations of species are arranged sequentially, one species per page, in alphabetical order of species names. On Page 3, there is an Index Table of plant types that identifies species as trees, large shrubs and windbreaks, small shrubs, ground covers, climbers, and species for wetter areas. Species are listed alphabetically within each category. Species names in the table are hyperlinked to the respective species notes so, if you are consulting an electronic copy of this resource and want to check on a particular species listed in the table, just click on the name to go to the species notes. There is also a link back to the Index Table below the text on each species. If you prefer using a printed hard copy, page numbers are also listed in the Index Table. Page 2 of 47 Index of Species: Type & Species Name Common Name Page Trees Acacia pycnantha Golden Wattle 7 Allocasuarina verticillata Drooping She-Oak 9 Callitris gracilis Native Pine; Southern Cypress Pine 15 Eucalyptus camaldulensis River Red Gum 22 Eucalyptus porosa Mallee Box 23 Melaleuca lanceolata Dryland Tea Tree; Moonah 34 Pittosporum phylliraeoides Native Apricot; Weeping Pittosporum 41 Large shrubs & windbreaks Acacia paradoxa Kangaroo Thorn; Prickly Acacia 6 Banksia marginata Silver Banksia 11 Bursaria spinosa Christmas Bush 13 Dodonaea viscosa Sticky Hop Bush 20 Myoporum insulare Coastal Boobialla; Common Boobialla 35 Myoporum viscosum Sticky Boobialla 37 Olearia axillaris Coastal Daisy Bush 38 Olearia ramulosa Twiggy Daisy Bush 40 Small shrubs Acacia acinacea Gold Dust Wattle 4 Dianella revoluta Flax Lily 18 Eutaxia microphylla Mallee Pea 24 Goodenia albiflora White Goodenia 25 Goodenia amplexans Clasping Goodenia 26 Grevillea lavandulacea Lavender Grevillea 27 Hakea rugosa Short-Beaked Hakea 28 Leucophyta brownii Cushion Bush 32 Lotus australis Austral Trefoil 33 Olearia passerinoides Mallee Daisy Bush 39 Rhagodia candolleana Sea Berry Saltbush 42 Scaevola albida White Fan-Flower; Pale Fan-Flower 43 Scaevola crassifolia Cushion Fan-Flower; Thick-Leaved Fan Flower 44 Senecio lautus Large-Flowered Groundsel 45 Vittadinia blackii New Holland Daisy 47 Ground covers Acacia cupularis (prostrate form) Prostrate Acacia 5 Atriplex semibaccata Berry Saltbush 10 Carpobrotus rossii Native Pig Face 16 Disphyma crassifolium Round-Leaved Pig Face 19 Enchylaena tomentosa Ruby Saltbush 21 Kennedia prostrata Running Postman 30 Myoporum parvifolium Creeping Boobialla 36 Tetragonia tetragonoides Native Spinach; Warrigal Greens 46 Climbers Billardiera cymosa Sweet Appleberry 12 Clematis microphylla Old Man’s Beard 17 Hardenbergia violacea Native Violet; Purple Coral Pea 29 Wetter areas Acacia retinoides Swamp Wattle; Silver Wattle 8 Callistemon sieberi River Bottlebrush 14 Leptospermum lanigerum Silky Tea Tree; Woolly Tea Tree 31 Page 3 of 47 Acacia acinacea Gold-dust wattle Growing habit Up to 2 metres high and 1.5 wide with an open, sparse habit. Fast growing and may be fairly short lived. Flowers A spectacular display of flowers completely covers the plant in late winter and early spring Conditions Dry Care Water in the first summer only Uses A coloniser which will fix nitrogen in the soil. Could be planted in groups for a greater effect and to increase its appeal to birds. [Return to Index Table] Page 4 of 47 Acacia cupularis (prostrate form) Prostrate Acacia Growing habit A very dense layered mat of up to 2 metres Flowers Yellow wattle flowers in winter Conditions Very dry Care Water in when planting and than walk away. Uses This Acacia will cover a large area and is an effective weed suppressant. It will also cover any small plants nearby and becomes difficult to prune back when mature due to its density. [Return to Index Table] Page 5 of 47 Acacia paradoxa Kangaroo Thorn Growing habit A very prickly shrub up to 3 metres high and wide. Fast growing. Flowers Yellow wattle flowers cover the plant in late winter, early spring. Conditions Dry Care Water occasionally in the first summer only. Uses A very important plant for habitat for small birds and mammals as it provides protection from cats and other predators. Plant in groups in areas that are not walked through such as next to fences. A great deterrent for areas where people are not welcome such as graffiti-prone walls. An Acacia paradoxa hedge at a farm in Nuriootpa [Return to Index Table] Page 6 of 47 Acacia pycnantha Golden Wattle Growing habit The ultimate height of pycnanthas in the Eco Village has been variable ranging from a shrub to a small tree of 6 m. Acacias are generally known as ‘pioneer’ plants that colonise disturbed sites and fix nitrogen in the soil early on, but then die out as other species take over. Flowers Clusters of scented flowers cover the tree in late winter, early spring. Conditions They are fairly adaptable, but may grow taller if planted on flat spots eg adjacent to mounds rather than on them. Care Water over their first summer only. Pruning is not necessary. Uses Pycnanthas provide nectar for butterflies and honey-eaters love them. A very good windbreak which can grow quite quickly. Great Examples: Adjacent to the Visitors Info sign in Dianella Way; cnr of Hakea and Olearia Walk on the eastern side. [Return to Index Table] Page 7 of 47 Acacia retinoides Swamp wattle Growing habit A graceful small tree growing up to 6 metres. Flowers Late winter and spring. Conditions It grows naturally along creek-lines so to thrive needs to be planted where rainfall pools winter Care Should only need water in the first summer if planted in the right place Uses Screening and beauty Great Examples: On Yacca Way in the rip-rap; cnr Grevillea Way and Tetragonia Walk in the rip-rap [Return to Index Table] Page 8 of 47 Allocasuarina verticillata Drooping She-oak Growing habit A tree, growing up to 10 metres high Flowers Sheoks can be male or female. In autumn the male plants have rusty golden threads and an overall golden appearance when in flower; the female plants develop cones in a rounded cluster. Conditions Sheoks will grow in dry conditions and like eucalypts are very effective at seeking moisture from the surrounding area. They may stunt growth in other plants nearby for this reason. They are shallow-rooted and are better suited to flat ground rather than the side of a mound as they may uproot and fall over in the wind. Uses Provides filtered shade, and makes a stirring sound when the wind passes through. An effective wind-break when combined with other vegetation. Sheoks host many insects which feed smaller birds, and the fruit is food for the Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo and other parrots. Great Examples: Clematis Walk; and below the dam at the end of Market St. [Return to Index Table] Page 9 of 47 Atriplex semibaccata Berry saltbush Growing habit An attractive groundcover with grey- green leaves which grows to about 1.5 metres Flowers Insignificant white flowers with small flat red edible berries. Conditions Dry Care Water very occasionally over its first summer than not at all Uses A hardy and attractive groundcover. Is not thick enough to outdo soursobs. [Return to Index Table] Page 10 of 47 Banksia marginata Silver banksia Growing habit Can grow to 6m tall but is highly variable Flowers Any time of the year Conditions Banksias needs very good drainage and are usually found on the coast or in sandy soil. Quite a few have been planted in AAEV but perhaps only one (pictured) has survived, and it has really thrived. Perhaps try planting them in rip-rap areas or create a mound of sand mixed in with top-soil to a depth of 30cm. If planted in heavy, clay soil with poor drainage they will probably remain stunted and may go yellow from the high alkalinity which can lock up the intake of iron. Care Banksias are very susceptible to phosphorous (which occurs naturally only at very low levels in our soil). Do not plant near food-producing beds where the run-off from fertilizers may occur. Uses Loved by nectar-eating birds and marsupials Great Example: Grevillea Way near Carter St [Return to Index Table] Page 11 of 47 Billardiera cymosa Sweet appleberry Growing habit A delicate looking but vigorous twining climber to 2 metres, or a scrambling shrub to 1 metre tall. Flowers Beautiful purple-blue flowers in spring and summer Conditions Dry, sun, part shade Care Prune to shape if growing as a climber, or tip prune to create a dense bush. Very little water is required. Uses Great as a screening plant for a fence as they grow bushy from the ground up. If grown as a bush they will create colour in the garden. Deserves to be much more widely planted in AAEV. The fruits were eaten by Kaurna and have an aniseed flavour. [Return to Index Table] Page 12 of 47 Bursaria spinosa Christmas bush Growing habit A thorny, sparse growing shrub to 3 metres high. Flowers Masses of perfumed white flowers cover the bush in late spring and summer. Conditions Adaptable to different conditions Care Water over its first summer, and try pruning after flowering as it is prone to be spindly. Uses Thorny plants provide excellent protection for small birds from predators, and are more effective as habitat if planted in groups. If Bursaria was planted with Acacia paradoxa it would be like a bird hotel and would reward you with flowers in both winter and summer.

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