Introduction

This brochure is an indication of some of the native found in the dunes of the City of Charles Sturt. It is not an exhaustive list, but contains representative plants that fill different niches; groundcovers, climbers, small and large . The plants selected are well adapted to their environment (low maintenance/drought tolerant) and are recommended as garden plants along the coastal strip. This information has been adapted from Vegetation Management Plans that have been completed for the City of Charles Sturt by the Department for Environment and Heritage. These plans are all available on Council’s website http://www.charlessturt.sa.gov.au For further information please contact the City of Charles Sturt NRM Officer on8408 1111.

Acknowledgements Special thanks to the team at the Department for Local Environment & Heritage for producing the Vegetation Management Plans for the City of Charles Sturt. Special thanks also to the photographers responsible Coastal for these wonderful photos, including Simon Cordingly, Ben Moulton and Ron Sandercock. Plants

Local coastal plants found in the dunes of the City of 72 Woodville Road Woodville South 5011 Charles Sturt. Telephone 8408 1111 www.charlessturt.sa.gov.au

Local Coastal Plants

Acacia cupularis buxifolia Dianella brevicaulis Cup Wattle Sea Box Short-stem Flax-lily Family: LEGUMINOSAE Family: Family: LILIACEAE Description: Bushy to 2m high Description: Woody medium shrub 2m Description: Small clumping and 4-6m wide. Leaves are narrow to high by 3m wide. Leaves paired, thick, to shin high. Leaves blue green, stiff 7cm in length. Flowers deep yellow, dark green and shiny on top. Flowers and strap like. Flowers occur on wiry globular. in groups. Petals have a lopsided branched stalks within foliage line. Location in the Dune System: Grows in ‘windmill’ appearance, waxy white. Flowers Blue. protected swales and hind dune areas. Location in the Dune System: Grows in Location in the Dune System: Grows in Habitat & Ecology: Bird and insect protected swales and hind dunes areas. protected swales and hind dune areas. attracting. Nitrogen fixing. Habitat & Ecology: Long lived plant, Habitat & Ecology: Edible fruits. Uses in Landscape: Screening plant. useful for revegetation projects. Seeds Uses in Landscape: Attractive for Large garden beds. Full sun. are dispersed by birds such as silver borders, mass planting, small groups, eyes (Zosterops ssp.). pots, indoor, small to large gardens. Full Uses in Landscape: Screening plant. sun to shade. Large garden beds. Full sun to semi shade.

Acacia longifolia ssp. Sophorae Disphyma crassifolium var. Coastal Wattle Grey Saltbush Clavellatum Round-leaf Pigface Family: LEGUMINOSAE Family: CHENOPODIACEAE Family: Description: Large spreading shrub to Description: Spreading shrub to 1.5m Description: Fleshy ground hugging 3m high and 5m wide. Leaves obovate high. Leaves are thin, grey-green with plant. Leaves round in cross-section. to 10cm in length by 3-4cm wide. shiny scaly patches, narrow to ovate Flowers bright pink. Flowers yellow, rod shaped. in shape. Male flowers are yellow and Location in the Dune System: Prefers Location in the Dune System: Grows in clustered at the ends of stems. Female heavier soils. protected swales and hind dune areas. flowers are green and occur along the Habitat & Ecology: Fruits are edible. stem. Habitat & Ecology: Very good habitat Uses in Landscape: Attractive small for larger mammals and birds. Location in the Dune System: Tolerates groundcover that is also affective in Nitrogen fixing. foredune conditions. pots, hanging baskets and small to Uses in Landscape: Screening plant. Habitat & Ecology: Bird attracting large gardens. Full sun. Large backdrop species. Large garden Uses in Landscape: Low screening beds. Full sun. plant. Large garden beds. Full sun to semi-shade.

Adriana quadripartita rossii Enchylaena tomentosa Rare Bitterbrush Native Pigface Ruby Saltbush Family: Family: AIZOACEAE Family: CHENOPODIACEAE Description: Medium spreading shrub Description: Thick fleshy ground run- Description: Low shrub to 1m high by 1-2m high by 1-2m wide. Leaves are ning plant. Leaves triangular in cross 1.5m wide. Leaves blue – green, small, opposite, dark green and glossy above, section. Flowers have hundreds of pink fleshy and cylindrical. Flowers are in- white beneath. Leaf margins are ‘petals’ that are white at the base. significant. Fruit is fleshy and berry like. toothed. Location in the Dune System: Highly Berries predominantly yellow to red. Location in the Dune System: Grows in adaptable plant that will grow in most Location in the Dune System: Grows in protected swales and hind dunes areas areas. protected swales and hind dune areas. Habitat & Ecology: Difficult to Habitat & Ecology: Fruits are edible. Habitat & Ecology: Attracts Birds, establish in dune environments. Flowers provide nectar for a range of lizards and Insects, edible fruit. Uses in Landscape: Low screening insects. Soil stabiliser. Uses in Landscape: Ground cover, small plant. Unique, attractive flowers. Uses in Landscape: Attractive ground- shrub, full sun to semi shade. Large garden beds. Full sun to cover. Small to large gardens. Full sun. semi-shade. Helichrysum leucopsideum Lotus australis - Australian Trefoil serpyllifolia ssp Satin Everlasting Family: LEGUMINOSAE Serpyllifolia – Thyme Riceflower Family: COMPOSITAE Description: Perennial herb to 30cm. Rosy Family: Description: Erect perennial herb, pink to white pea-like flowers occur in Description: Erect shrub to 1.5 m tall, 15 – 50cm high. Stems are purple brown, clusters of 3-8 on stalks longer than the In exposed environments its form is leaves with three leaflets just under the smooth and wiry. Leaves woolly with a stunted or prostrate. Stem leaves 1.5cm flowers. Seed pods terete in shape 50mm white underside. Flowers are white, long. 2-4mm wide. Flowers 4mm long 25-35mm in diameter. long by 4mm wide. Seed round in shape 2mm in size, dark brown in colour, up to with four green-yellow petals fused Location in the Dune System: Grows in 15 seeds per pod. into a short tube. Flowers grouped in protected swales and rear dunes where small clusters. moisture levels are higher and where Location in the Dune System: Found in Location in the Dune System: Grows in there is greater protection from the wind protected swales and hind dune areas protected swales and hind dune areas and salt. Habitat & Ecology: Attracts birds and Habitat & Ecology: Seeds are eaten by insects Habitat & Ecology: Insects and ants and other insects. Flowers are insect Uses in Landscape: One of the more butterflies frequent this species pollinated. colourful local plants. Useful for small Uses in Landscape: Useful small, hardy Uses in Landscape: Can be used in low garden, pots and hanging baskets. Full shrub in any garden. Rounded form. drifts and small gardens. sun to semi shade.

Isolepis nodosa Melaleuca lanceolata Rhagodia candolleana ssp Knobby Club Rush Dryland Tea-tree Candolleana – Sea berry Salt bush Family: CYPERACEAE Family: Family: CHENOPODIACEAE Description: Perennial rush growing up Description: Dryland Tea tree is influ- Description: Sprawling shrub to 1.5m high. Leaves are reed-like and enced by local conditions; in coastal approximately 1m high to several cylindrical, Dark green with a sharp tip. areas it is a densely foliaged shrub. metres wide. Leaves alternate, dull Fruiting head is a spiky ball below the Leaves are dark green, small, 0.5-1cm green with white underside. Fruits are tip of the leaf long. Lance shaped and oppositely pale green ripening through to deep Location in the Dune System: grows arranged up the stem, Rough Bark. red in late summer to autumn. throughout the dunes to the rear of Attractive creams to white “bottle Location in the Dune System: Grows in the foredune. Prefers the moist brush” flowers occur along the stem. protected swales and hind dune areas environment of swales Location in the Dune System: Grows Habitat & Ecology: Fauna attracting Habitat & Ecology: Very important for in the rear dunes where conditions are Uses in Landscape: Sprawling Sand dability more stable and protected groundcover for medium to large Uses in Landscape: Useful accent plant, Habitat & Ecology: Bird attracting gardens. Full – sun to Semi - shade group planting, pots birdbaths, Full-sun, Uses in Landscape: large Gardens, to semi shade. Structural plant. Large screening.

Kennedia prostrata Muehlenbeckia gunnii Scaevola crassifolia Running postman Coastal climbing lignum Cushion Fanflower Family: LEGUMINOSA Family: POLYGONACEAE Family: GOODENIACEAE Description: Ground hugging perennial Description: Climbing plant twining Description: Spreading robust shrub with runners extending up to 2m. onto nearby shrubs or trees. Leaves up to 1.5m high by 2m wide. Leaves Flowers prominent red peas 2-2.5cm round to egg shaped with crisped edge. broadly ovate to orbicular with slightly long with a striking yellow centre Flowers small, waxy, yellow green, five serrated edges and up to 4cm long by occurring in late spring. Fruit is an petals, to about 5 cm diameter. Fruit is 1cm wide. Flowers are bright blue, fan oblong ovoid leathery pod growing up yellow with a black nut. shaped. Fruit globose to 3mm. to 4cm long. Location in the Dune System: Found in Location in the Dune System: rows in Habitat & Ecology: Important food protected swales and hind dune areas protected swales and hind dune areas source for fauna. Habitat & Ecology: the fruit is a source Habitat & Ecology: Habitat provider Uses in Landscape: Attractive ground- of food for lizards and birds. It’s Uses in Landscape: Large groundcover cover can be used in small to large scrambling nature over other plants or sprawling shrub, attractive flowers, garden pots. Prefers light shade. provides valuable habitat. Full sun Uses in Landscape: Twiner, pots, full sun to semi-shade.

Kunzea pomifera Myoporum insulare Senecio pinnatifolius Muntries Common Boobialla Variable Groundsel Family: MYRTACEAE Family: MYOPORACEAE Family: COMPOSITAE Description: Prostrate shrub with Description: Large shrub to small tree Description: Branched herb to 80cm spreading branches over several me- up to 5m. Leaves thick and fleshy to high and 75cm wide. Leaves are bright ters. Leaves are Bright green, thick, to 7cm, light green. Flowers have five green divided into lobes and usually 5cm long Flowers are white, fluffy and petals and are white with purple spots. fleshy (sometimes almost flat). Bright bourne in terminal clusters. Fruit is a Fruit is succulent, ripening to a bluish yellow, composite flowers ( daisy ) purple berry approximately 1cm in size. purple at maturity. Location in the Dune System: Grows in Location in the Dune System: Found in Location in the Dune System: Found in protected swales and hind dune areas protected swales and hind dune areas protected swales and hind dune areas Habitat & Ecology: Pioneer plant Habitat & Ecology: Fruits are edible. Habitat & Ecology: Bird attracting which readily germinates in dunes Fruits attract birds and lizards, small Uses in Landscape: Large shrub to small Uses in Landscape: One of the more insects and ants. tree, screening plant. Full sun. colourful native plants, Useful in small Uses in Landscape: Groundcover, Pots, garden pots, plant in drifts, Full – sun, to Hanging Baskets, Full sun to semi- semi - shade shade.

Lepidosperma gladiatum Nitraria billardierei Spinifex hirsutus Coastal Sword Sedge Nitre Bush Rolling Spinifex Family: CYPERACEAE Family: ZYGOPHYLLACEAE Family: POACEAE Description: Stems are rigid, up to 1m Description: Medium to large, dense, Description: Creeping plant with stout high by 2cm wide, with shard edges. spreading shrub up to 3m high. stems. Leaves are hairy. Leaf Sheaths Spikelet, pale brown to 15cm long. Sometimes spiny, leaves flat, glaucous and swollen at the base Seed is located within an ovate shaped partially succulent. Flowers, white with five petals, up to 4mm in length. Fruits Location in the Dune System: Grows nut, 2mm longby 1mm wide brown are a drupe 1.5cm in diameter. Green , along the foredune and occasionally, Location in the Dune System: Grows ripening through to red or purple. Seed to the rear dune in protected swales and in hind dune (endocarp) is a hard woody tip 5-7mm Habitat & Ecology: Primary dune areas in length, pale brown in colour, surface forming plant and sand binder. Will Uses in Landscape: Good accent plant. pitted, pale lemon like sees within tolerate mobile sand Foliage contrast, Borders, Pots Location in the Dune System: Found in Uses in Landscape: Groundcover in protected swales and hind dune areas coastal gardens. Full sun. Can become Habitat & Ecology: Edible fruit, bird straggly and unruly attracting. Uses in Landscape: large gardens, Full sun

Leucophyta brownii Olearia axillaris - Coastal Daisy-Bush Tetragonia implexicoma Coastal Cushion Bush Family: COMPOSITAE Bower Spinach Family: COMPOSITAE Description: Medium shrub to 3m, Family: AIZOACEAE Description: A compact, rounded shrub Leaves dark-green or bluish above, white Description: Large scrambling plant, to 1m high and wide. Branches are underneath. Flowers daisy - like, crowded climbing onto nearby shrubs. Leaves silver-grey and mesh-like. Flowers are along stems in the axis, whitish to dull. large, fleshy and thick. Flowers are compact, globular, pale yellow balls of Location in the Dune System: Grows in small, to about 1cm, white, with four florets 1-1.5mm across. Seed (achenes) protected swales and hind dune areas. petals. Fruit is a red to black berry Grows from the rear of the foredune to 1-2mm long and attached to the Location in the Dune System: Grows in the hind dunes. pappus. With numerous bristles at protected swales and hind dune areas the base Habitat & Ecology: A primary coloniser and key habitat plant in the dune envi- Habitat & Ecology: Food source for Habitat & Ecology: Important habitat ronment. Seed is eaten by several bird lizards and birds, Provides valuable plant for insects and small skinks and insect species. habitat for fauna. Uses in Landscape: The structural form Uses in Landscape: Rounded shrub will Uses in Landscape: Groundcover or makes it popular in garden settings. cope with clipping. Medium to large scrambling plant gardens. Screen plant, foliage contrast, Full sun to semi – shade.

Leucopogon parviflorus Pelargonium australe Threlkeldia diffusa Coast Beard-heath Native pelargonium Coast Bonefruit Family: EPACRIDACEAE Family: GERANIANACEAE Family: CHENOPODIACEAE Description: Densely foliaged, upright Description: Perenial herb to 50cm Description: Small shrub to 20cm high, shrub to 2m high and 5m wide, leaves, high. Stems and leaves have a velvety Leaves club shaped, Fleshy, often with a thick, oblong, 3cm long and tapering to texture. Leaves are ovate, growing to purple tinge. Flowers are insignificant. a pointed tip. Clusters of white flowers 9cm in length. Leaf edges wrinkled, Fruit is fleshy, oval reddish or purple are arranged in spikes at end of branch- Flowers pale pink with purple stripes. berry with a hard bone centre es. Fruit is round and less than 1cm Location in the Dune System: Grows in Location in the Dune System: Grows in across. Fruit is initially green changing protected swales and hind dune areas protected swales and hind dune areas to bright white upon maturity. Habitat & Ecology: Bird and insect Habitat & Ecology: Food source for Location in the Dune System: Grows in attracting lizards, birds and insect species. protected swales and hind dune areas Uses in Landscape: One of the more Uses in Landscape: Small groundcover. Habitat & Ecology: Edible fruit, Attracts colourful local plants, Useful in small Full – sun. a range of flora and fauna gardens and pots. Full - sun to semi Uses in Landscape: Medium shrub, – shade. Screen, bird attracting full sun, hardy.