GROUNDCOVER Indigenous for Ballarat Gardens

Vanilla Lily Arthropodium milleflorum

FAST FACTS Vanilla Lily (Arthropodium milleflorum) is an the pot within a few days of purchase. Groundcover AustraliannativegroundcoverfromtheBallarat Give it a bucket of water immediately. Family: Asparagaceae area. Its strappy silver-green leaves grow in a Care: Cut off old flower stems near the Asparagus clump which could be mistaken for a grass, base after they have dried. You may wish Size: 40cm H however the leaves are softer, slightly fleshy to collect some of the many small black Position: Sunny to light shade and broader than most grasses. seeds from the globular papery cups Soil: Well drained Location: Prefers a lightly shaded position along the stems. Flowers: Spring / Summer and is showy enough to warrant a front-row Fruits: Papery capsules Seed: This is such an attractive you spot in a garden bed. The clump will thicken Care: Low maintenance will want to grow more for your own garden over time so if planting several, spread them or for family and friends. Collect seed from approximately 50cm apart. mid to late summer, sprinkle onto a pot, Flowers: In late spring, tall flower stems up lightly cover with a millimetre or two of fine to a metre high, will emerge from amongst potting mix and keep it moist. Transplant the leaves and over the next couple of the new seedlings when they are about months bear a succession of small, pale 10cm high. mauve, pendulous, vanilla-perfumed flowers. Tip: The leaves may die back over summer, Planting: Although it looks delicate, Vanilla totally disappearing in some years. The Lily is quite tough. It will grow well in your will still be alive under the soil, so mark its garden if planted in a hole just larger than location with a small stake.

For further information contact Environmental and Conservation Science, Federation University . www.federation.edu.au/ipbg GROUNDCOVER Indigenous Plants for Ballarat Gardens

Chocolate Lily Arthropodium strictum

FAST FACTS Chocolate Lily (Arthropodium strictum) is good ½ bucket of water as soon as you Groundcover an Australian native groundcover from the plant it and it should be fine after that. Family: Asparagaceae Ballarat area. It’s a small, narrow-leaved Care: Chocolate Lily needs little care. If you Asparagus plant up to 30cm high. It could easily be want, cut off the old flower stem down low Size: 30cm H mistaken for a grass, however the leaves near the base after it has dried. You may Position: Lightly shaded are a little softer and brighter in colour. still find some small black seeds in the Soil: Well drained Location: It likes a lightly shaded position papery cups towards the end of the stem – Flowers: Spring / Summer and looks best when several plants are these could be shaken out onto the soil Fruits: Papery capsules clumped together about 30cm apart. where they may grow into new plants. Care: Low maintenance Flowers: The flowers are very delicate and Seed: Chocolate Lily is a very slow growing pretty with a lovely chocolaty smell. In late plant and won’t tend to spread in your spring or early summer, it will send up a tall garden bed. To grow more, collect the flower stem which will have dark purple seed and grow it in small pots. Transplant flowers opening one or two at a time over the new seedlings when they are about the next couple of months. 10cm high.

Planting: Even though it looks delicate, it is Tip: The leaves tend to die back over quite tough. It will grow well in your garden winter, totally disappearing some years. if planted in a hole not much larger than the The bulb will still be alive under the soil, so pot within a few days of purchase. Give it a mark its location with a small stake.

For further information contact Environmental and Conservation Science, Federation University Australia. www.federation.edu.au/ipbg GROUNDCOVER Indigenous Plants for Ballarat Gardens

Photograph: Roger Thomas Lily Bulbine bulbosa

FAST FACTS An Australian native plant from the Ballarat Seeds: If left alone, by the end of summer Groundcover area, Bulbine Lily (Bulbine bulbosa) is a the flowers will have produced lots of small Family: small plant with a few long, narrow, black seeds. You can collect some of these Aloe rounded, hollow leaves about 30cm tall. to grow into new plants or let them fall Size: 30cm H around the base where some will grow into Location: Plant it in shade in a moist spot. Position: Shady new plants. Bulbine Lily will readily spread As it stays as a small tuft, Bulbine Lily looks Soil: Moist and can be easily transplanted. best when planted in clumps of 5-10 plants Flowers: Spring about 30cm apart. Tip: After the seeds have fallen, Bulbine Lily Fruits: Papery capsules will tend to die back a bit over winter. The Care: Low maintenance Flowers: In spring, Bulbine Lily grows a tall underground bulb, however, will send up stem covered in large bright yellow flowers. new leaves and flowers again the next year. Planting: Like many Ballarat bush plants, So it may be a good idea to put a small Bulbine Lily is quite tough and will grow stake into the ground so that you well in your garden if planted in a hole not remember where it is. much larger than the pot within a few days of purchase. Give it a good ½ bucket of water as soon as you plant it and it should be fine after that.

For further information contact Environmental and Conservation Science, Federation University Australia. www.federation.edu.au/ipbg GROUNDCOVER Indigenous Plants for Ballarat Gardens

Photograph (above): Tony Rodd Leek Lily Bulbine semibarbata

FAST FACTS An Australian native groundcover, Leek Lily days of purchase. Give it a good ½ bucket Groundcover (Bulbine semibarbata) is a small plant with of water as soon as you plant it and it Family: Asphodelaceae a few long, narrow, rounded, hollow leaves should be fine after that. Aloe about 20cm tall. Although there are a few Seed: If left alone, the flowers will have Size: 20cm H scattered occurrences of Leek Lily around produced lots of small black seeds by the Position: Shady Ballarat, this plant is more widespread to end of summer. These can be collected Soil: Moist the north and west of . and potted to grow into new plants or they Flowers: Spring Location: Leek Lily likes to be planted in a can be left to fall where some may grow Fruits: Papery capsules bit of shade in a moist spot. It stays as a into new plants. Care: Low maintenance small tuft, so would look best if grown in a Tip: Leek Lily is an annual. After the seeds patch of 5-10 plants in your garden bed have fallen, it will die. Next year, however, amongst other small plants. Plant about some of the seeds will grow into new 20cm apart. plants near the original plant. So it may be Flowers: In spring, it grows a flower stem a good idea to put a small stake into the covered in small bright yellow flowers. ground to remind you of the location.

Planting: Leek Lily is quite tough and will grow well in your garden if planted in a hole not much larger than the pot within a few

For further information contact Environmental and Conservation Science, Federation University Australia. www.federation.edu.au/ipbg GROUNDCOVER Indigenous Plants for Ballarat Gardens

Photograph: Roger Thomas Milky Beauty-heads lacteus

FAST FACTS A spreading groundcover approximately Planting: Milky Beauty-heads are quite Groundcover 20cm high and up to 70cm wide, Milky tough and will grow really well in the garden Family: Beauty-heads () is an if planted in a hole not much larger than the Daisy Australian native from the Ballarat area. pot within a few days of purchase. Size: 20cm H x 70cm W Location: Milky Beauty-heads like a sunny Give it a good ½ bucket of water as soon Position: Sunny location – perhaps in a narrow bed beside as you plant it and it should be fine after Soil: Well drained the driveway, in a rockery or softening the that. Once settled in, it needs very little Flowers: Spring – Autumn edge of paving. water other than natural rainfall. Fruits: Inconspicuous Care: Prune Leaves: The small soft silver-grey leaves Care: When you think the flowers look too 1 2 make a wonderful contrast with other old and tired, just trim the top ⁄2 to ⁄3 off the plants and add a bright touch to the plant with garden shears. The plant will garden all year round. thicken up and spring back into shape in no time, and do a good job of suppressing Flowers: Although inconspicuous, the weeds in your garden bed. many flowers occur in clusters at the end of each stem. They are the same colour as Seed: When pruning, you might like to the leaves but add a nice pompom texture leave some of the flower stems uncut until to the plant for many months over spring, they form papery pale grey seeds. Either let summer and into autumn. The flowers and them blow away in the breeze or collect foliage stay looking good for many months. some to grow into new plants.

For further information contact Environmental and Conservation Science, Federation University Australia. www.federation.edu.au/ipbg GROUNDCOVER Indigenous Plants for Ballarat Gardens

Swamp Pennywort Centella cordifolia

FAST FACTS A small, lush groundcover, Swamp days of purchase. Give each plant a good Groundcover Pennywort (Centella cordifolia) is an ½ bucket or more of water as soon as you Family: Apiaceae Australian native from the Ballarat area. plant it and it should then only need Carrot watering if it starts to wilt towards the end Location: Prefers a sunny to lightly shaded Size: 15cm H x 30cm W of a long dry summer. position in moist soil – perhaps in a swale Position: Sunny to light shade or under a well-watered tree. Several plants Care: Pennywort will never need pruning Soil: Moist should be spaced at 30cm intervals to but to keep it looking its best, it may need Flowers: Inconspicuous obtain good dense coverage. a little extra water over dry summer Fruits: Inconspicuous months. Although it looks fabulous and will Care: Low maintenance Leaves: The leaves are the highlight of this help keep weeds down, Pennywort won’t attractive plant, adding a cool, lush look to do well if walked on, so is not a good lawn your garden even at the height of summer. substitute. They are dark green, waxy and heart- shaped. In shade, leaves are held upright Propagation: After a couple of years you like hundreds of small flags. In full sun they could dig up a small clump to replant will hug the ground. somewhere else in your garden.

Planting: Though Pennywort might look delicate, it is actually quite tough and will grow well in your garden if planted in a hole not much larger than the pot within a few

For further information contact Environmental and Conservation Science, Federation University Australia. www.federation.edu.au/ipbg GROUNDCOVER Indigenous Plants for Ballarat Gardens

Common Everlasting Chrysocephalum apiculatum

FAST FACTS A spreading groundcover approximately Planting: Common Everlasting are quite Groundcover 20cm high and up to 50cm wide, tough and will grow really well in the garden Family: Asteraceae Common Everlasting (Chrysocephalum if planted in a hole not much larger than the Daisy apiculatum) is an Australian native plant pot within a few days of purchase. Size: 20cm H x 50cm W from the Ballarat area. Give it a good ½ bucket of water as soon Position: Full sun Location: Common Everlasting likes full as you plant it and it should be fine after Soil: Dry sun, doing well in drier parts of the garden. that. Once settled in, it needs very little Flowers: Summer Good places to plant Common Everlasting water other than natural rainfall. Fruits: Inconspicuous include narrow beds beside a driveway, in a Care: Prune Care: When you think the flowers look too rockery or softening the edge of paving. 1 2 old and tired, just trim the top ⁄2 to ⁄3 off the Leaves: Its soft silvery leaves look plant with garden shears. The plant will wonderful all year round. thicken up and spring back into shape in no time. Flowers: Common Everlasting produces clusters of yellow, papery daisies that are a Seed: When pruning, you might like to highlight right through summer. The flowers leave some of the flower stems uncut until stay looking good for many months and will they form papery pale yellow seeds. Either add lots of bright colour to a dry patch of let them blow away in the breeze or collect your garden. some to grow into new plants.

For further information contact Environmental and Conservation Science, Federation University Australia. www.federation.edu.au/ipbg GROUNDCOVER Indigenous Plants for Ballarat Gardens

Clustered Everlasting Chrysocephalum semipapposum

FAST FACTS An Australian native from the Ballarat area, planted in a hole not much larger than the Groundcover Clustered Everlasting (Chrysocephalum pot within a few days of purchase. Give it a Family: Asteraceae semipapposum) is a sprawling plant up to good ½ bucket of water as soon as you Daisy 40cm high and 60cm wide. plant it and it should be fine after that. Size: 40cm H x 60cm W Location: Clustered Everlasting likes full Care: When the Clustered Everlasting Position: Full sun sun and displays its golden yellow flowers starts to look a bit straggly after flowering, Soil: Dry over many months. It looks good in a bed give it a really big prune right back to within Flowers: Spring – Autumn of mixed indigenous and garden plants. about 20cm of the base. It will form a nice Fruits: Inconspicuous small silvery clump of leaves until the flower Care: Prune Try Clustered Everlasting where most other stems grow again next year. plants will struggle, as apart from a yearly prune, it doesn’t need much care at all. It is Seed: When you prune you might like to also good for covering the ground and leave some of the flower stems uncut until keeping weeds out. they form papery grey seeds. These can be collected or let blow away in the breeze. Flowers: The flowers are fairly small, bright yellow daisies clustered at the ends of long, Alternatively, if you lay some of the cut slightly floppy, grey stems. They look quite stems in a shallow trough and cover them stunning against the silvery-grey leaves. with soil, leaving about 10cm at both ends exposed, you may find that some of the Planting: Clustered Everlasting are quite stems will grow into new plants. tough and will grow well in your garden if

For further information contact Environmental and Conservation Science, Federation University Australia. www.federation.edu.au/ipbg GROUNDCOVER Indigenous Plants for Ballarat Gardens

Photograph: Jenny Sedgwick Photograph: Roger Thomas Button Everlasting Coronidium scorpioides

FAST FACTS An Australian native from the Ballarat Planting: It is quite a tough plant and will Groundcover area, Button Everlasting (Coronidium grow well in your garden if planted in a hole Family: Asteraceae scorpioides) is a low-growing plant up to not much larger than the pot within a few Daisy 30cm high and 30cm wide. days of purchase. Give it a good ½ bucket Size: 30cm H x 30cm W of water as soon as you plant it and it Location: Though it prefers full sun, Button Position: Sunny should be fine after that. Everlasting can be planted anywhere in Soil: Well drained your garden that you have a spot. Care: When it starts to look a bit straggly Flowers: Late Spring after flowering, give it a prune – taking off Fruits: Inconspicuous Flowers: The flowers are lovely, soft, about two thirds of each stem. Within a few Care: Prune papery daises – dark yellow in the middle weeks the leaves will grow back to form a and paler yellow around the edges. The nice, soft, grey-green mound of leaves until size of large buttons, they will add a cheery the flower stems grow again next year. glow to a corner of your garden bed from late Spring through Summer. Seed: When you prune, you might like to leave some of the flower stems uncut until Attracts: Like many of the native daisies, they form papery grey seeds. Either let the Button Everlasting will attract one of our seeds blow away in the breeze or collect largest and most colourful butterflies – the some to grow new plants. Australian Painted Lady – to your garden.

For further information contact Environmental and Conservation Science, Federation University Australia. www.federation.edu.au/ipbg GROUNDCOVER Indigenous Plants for Ballarat Gardens

Billy Buttons Craspedia variabilis

FAST FACTS Billy Buttons (Craspedia variabilis) is an them inside for a striking floral Groundcover imposing native groundcover from the arrangement. Family: Asteraceae forests and grasslands around Ballarat. Planting: Plant in a hole not much larger Daisy Location: Prefer full sun to light shade and than the pot within a few days of purchase. Size: 40cm H x 30cm W because of their stunning, large, drumstick- Give each plant a bucket of water as soon Position: Sunny like flower heads emerging high above the as it’s in the ground. Once settled, Billy Soil: Well drained foliage, should be planted in an area where Buttons need occasional watering but Flowers: Summer they can reach their full height. A narrow don’t allow the soil to remain too wet. Fruits: Inconspicuous bed beside a driveway without overhanging Care: Low maintenance Care: Tidy up Billy Buttons at the end of foliage might be ideal. summer by removing old flower stems Leaves: The low strappy, slightly hairy when they start to tire. Plants will remain as blue- green leaves are not particularly neat and fairly inconspicuous leaf clumps in exciting but several plants in a row along a your garden until the new flower stems narrow bed form a nice small soft structural emerge next year. feature. Seed: When pruning, leave some flower Flowers: Tall-stemmed, long-lasting, large, heads uncut until they turn brown as the yellow drumstick flower heads will remain seeds ripen. Collect the seed to grow extra on the plant for several months if you can plants for family and friends but also save resist the temptation to pick and bring some for other spots in your own garden.

For further information contact Environmental and Conservation Science, Federation University Australia. www.federation.edu.au/ipbg GROUNDCOVER Indigenous Plants for Ballarat Gardens

Black-anther Flax-lily Dianella revoluta

FAST FACTS Black-anther Flax-lily (Dianella admixta – Attracts: Like many low-growing, clumping Groundcover ex revoluta) is an Australian native plant plants, Flax-lily will attract some of the very Family: Hemerocallidaceae from the Ballarat area. It is an open small butterflies, such as Grass Skippers, Day Lilies clumping plant that grows up to 75cm high that like to fly close to the ground. Size: 75cm H x 70cm W and 70cm wide. Planting: It is quite a tough plant and will Position: Sunny Location: Flax-lily likes a fairly sunny grow well in your garden if planted in a hole Soil: Well drained position and looks good as a feature in a not much larger than the pot within a few Flowers: Spring garden bed with larger plants. days of purchase. Give it a good ½ bucket Fruits: Blue-purple berries of water as soon as you plant it and it Care: Low maintenance It is a slow growing plant and easy to dig should be fine after that. up, so it won’t take over your garden beds. Care: Flax-lily doesn’t need pruning Leaves: The leaves are an attractive blue- however the clump can get a bit broad and green and stand quite stiffly erect. 1 open. To tidy it up, just cut it to about ⁄3 Flowers: In spring Flax-lily produces tall height, divide the clump into smaller pieces brown stems which host a succession of and replant them elsewhere. small dark purple and bright yellow flowers. These are followed by bright blue-purple berries over summer.

For further information contact Environmental and Conservation Science, Federation University Australia. www.federation.edu.au/ipbg GROUNDCOVER Indigenous Plants for Ballarat Gardens

Kidney-weed Dichondra repens

FAST FACTS Kidney-weed (Dichondra repens) is an a chance to establish. Plant in a hole not Groundcover Australian native groundcover from the much larger than the pot within a few days Family: Convolvulaceae Ballarat area. of purchase. Water thoroughly as soon as Morning Glory you plant. Location: This charming little plant is no Size: 10cm H x 20cm W weed at all and does a delightful job of Care: In full sun Kidney-weed will need an Position: Sun to light shade softening harsh edges. It looks incredible occasional deep watering over the driest Soil: Well drained as a lawn substitute or between pavers, summer months. Remove any weed Flowers: Inconspicuous visually breaking up large expanses of hard seedlings that emerge as soon as you notice Fruits: Inconspicuous surface. It prefers full sun to keep it short them. Light foot traffic is no problem, but Care: Moderate and compact. Kidney-weed is not tough enough for heavy maintenance traffic which is why it does particularly well Leaves: The small, round, lush, green between pavers along paths or on a terrace. leaves are the reason you would plant Regularly trim edges around pavers for a Kidney-weed as its flowers and fruit are formal look. tiny, green and inconspicuous. Propagation: Dig up and transplant small Planting: Ensure no weed seed or roots clumps to other parts of the garden, or use are present in the soil. Spread plants at 20- the trimmed clippings. Half bury a handful of 30cm spacing over the entire area you wish clippings at 20-30cm spacing in the new site to cover so that plants knit together quickly and keep them moist until new roots strike. and form a dense mat before weeds have

For further information contact Environmental and Conservation Science, Federation University Australia. www.federation.edu.au/ipbg GROUNDCOVER Indigenous Plants for Ballarat Gardens

Knobby Club-sedge Ficinia nodosa

FAST FACTS Knobby Club-sedge (Ficinia nodosa), a Give it a good ½ bucket of water as soon Groundcover clumping plant growing up to 70cm high as you plant it and it should be fine after Family: Cyperaceae and 70cm wide, is an Australian native that. Sedge plant from the Ballarat area. It is sometimes Care: Knobby Club-sedge rarely needs Size: 70cm H x 70cm W also known as Knobby Club-rush. pruning, however if some of the older Position: Full sun to shade Location: Knobby Club-sedge can be leaves dry off and go brown, trim them off Soil: Moist planted in full sun or shade, preferably in right down at ground level to keep the Flowers: Inconspicuous moist soil, and looks good as a feature in a plant looking handsome. Fruits: Brown “clubs” garden bed amongst other plants, or near Care: Low maintenance Propagation: Large clumps can be water (maybe a pond or fountain) amongst divided into smaller pieces and replanted a pebble mulch. elsewhere in the garden. Flowers: The flowers are inconspicuous Alternatively, collect some of the seed by but it has attractive brown seed heads for removing the brown clubs and breaking most of the year. them apart with your fingers. Distribute Planting: It is quite a tough plant and will the seed evenly on moist soil and cover grow well in your garden if planted in a hole with a fine dusting of potting mix. not much larger than the pot within a few days of purchase.

For further information contact Environmental and Conservation Science, Federation University Australia. www.federation.edu.au/ipbg GROUNDCOVER Indigenous Plants for Ballarat Gardens

Running Postman Kennedia prostrata

FAST FACTS Running Postman (Kennedia prostrata) is Planting: Running Postman will grow well Groundcover an Australian native groundcover from if planted in a hole not much larger than its Family: Fabaceae forests in the Ballarat area and one of our pot within a few days of purchase. Give it a Pea most conspicuous and well recognised generous bucket of water as soon as you Size: 10cm H x 60cm W favourites. plant it. Position: Sunny Location: Put this plant at the edge of a Care: Keep it compact and flowering Soil: Well drained garden bed in a spot where the flowers will profusely when the edges appear straggly Flowers: Spring show off beautifully as people walk past. It or encroach onto paths by giving it an Fruits: Brown pods prefers full sun to light shade. Several plants occasional tip prune. Care: Low maintenance at about 40cm spacing will make a great Propagation: Running Postman will grow groundcover for a larger space. well from seed collected over summer. Pick Leaves: Not particularly showy or notice- the pods when they are a rich brown but able from a distance but an interesting before they split and twist open. Leave "three-leaf clover" shape if you look closely. pods in an open container inside to split and release the seeds. When ready to sow, Flowers: Stunning bright red pea-shaped pour boiling water over the seed and soak flowers are dotted amongst the foliage for 10 minutes. Sprinkle the seed on the throughout spring and are followed by surface of a pot, cover with a couple of brown pods over summer. The pods millimetres of soil, keep it moist and watch contain several small glossy black seeds. them grow!

For further information contact Environmental and Conservation Science, Federation University Australia. www.federation.edu.au/ipbg GROUNDCOVER Indigenous Plants for Ballarat Gardens

Common Lagenophora Lagenophora stipitata

FAST FACTS Also known as Blue Bottle-daisy, Common Planting: Though Blue Bottle-daisy might Groundcover Lagenophora (Lagenophora stipitata) is an look delicate, it is actually quite tough and Family: Asteraceae Australian native plant from the Ballarat will grow well in your garden if planted in a Daisy area. It is a tiny plant no more than 15cm hole not much larger than the pot within a Size: 15cm H high that will spread well and form a great few days of purchase. Give it a good ½ Position: Partly shaded groundcover over bare earth or in amongst bucket of water as soon as you plant it and Soil: Moist mulch. it should be fine after that. Flowers: Spring / Summer Location: It likes a partly shaded position Care: It doesn’t need any pruning to keep Fruits: Inconspicuous in moist soil. it looking good, however Blue Bottle-daisy Care: Low maintenance may need a little extra watering over dry Leaves: Blue Bottle-daisy leaves form neat summer months to stay looking its best. little bunches (or rosettes) that look good all year round. Propagation: After a couple of years you can dig up a small clump to replant Flowers: In late spring and summer the somewhere else in your garden. plant is covered in small pale purple daisies about the size of a 5c piece. Alternatively, collect the sticky black seed from the old flower heads in summer, spread on moist potting mix and cover lightly.

For further information contact Environmental and Conservation Science, Federation University Australia. www.federation.edu.au/ipbg GROUNDCOVER Indigenous Plants for Ballarat Gardens

Photograph: Jenny Sedgwick

Lomandra or Mat-rush Lomandra longifolia

FAST FACTS An Australian native plant from the Ballarat Planting: It is quite tough and will grow Groundcover area, Lomandra or Mat-rush (Lomandra well in your garden if planted in a hole not Family: Asparagaceae longifolia) is a clumping plant that grows up much larger than the pot within a few days Asparagus to 1m high and 70cm wide. of purchase. Give it a good ½ bucket of Size: 1m H x 70cm W water as soon as you plant it and it should Location: Lomandra likes part shade and Position: Partly shaded be fine after that. will look good along the edge of a garden Soil: Well drained bed. It will also look good as a feature in a Care: Lomandra doesn’t need pruning but Flowers: Inconspicuous garden bed – on its own or in a clump. if you do want to tidy it up (sometimes the Fruits: Spikey capsules leaves may get a bit frayed and torn), just Leaves: It is mostly planted for its Care: Low maintenance 1 cut it back to about ⁄3 of its height. attractive, strappy leaves which arise from a central base. The leaves are thick and Attracts: Lomandra is a food source for leathery; the smooth edges can be quite the larvae of several species of local sharp. butterfly, including the rare Yellow Ochre. It is extremely rare for the larvae to mortally Flowers: The flowers are fairly small and damage the plant. inconspicuous. They form on a flower stalk that emerges from the base of the leaves in late spring.

For further information contact Environmental and Conservation Science, Federation University Australia. www.federation.edu.au/ipbg GROUNDCOVER Indigenous Plants for Ballarat Gardens

Grey Everlasting Ozothamnus obcordatus

FAST FACTS Grey Everlasting (Ozothamnus several months adding colour to the Shrub obcordatus) is an Australian native shrub garden over the hot dry summer months. Family: Asteraceae from the Ballarat area. Planting: Grey Everlasting will grow well if Daisy Location: Plant Grey Everlasting towards planted in a hole not much larger than the Size: 80cm H x 50cm W the front of a garden bed in full sun to light pot within a few days of purchase. Give it Position: Sunny shade. It can become twiggy with age so a bucket of water as soon as planted. Soil: Well drained keep it pruned and maybe hide bare lower Flowers: Spring-summer Care: Grey Everlasting will look best if stems with a low-growing border of Fruits: Inconspicuous pruned by about a third after the flowers Calocephalus or some other spreading Care: Low maintenance start to fade towards mid or late summer. perennial groundcover. This will keep it compact and produce Leaves: Small rounded leaves have a dark more flowers next year. Rarely needs glossy green upper surface and are silky watering. pale silver-grey below. The contrast makes Propagation: Remove old faded flower this a very attractive small plant for a sunny heads but leave some seed to blow around position in a garden bed. the garden or collect the fluffy seed, Flowers: Large dense heads of small sprinkle on the surface of a pot, cover with bright yellow flowers develop in early spring a couple of millimetres of soil, keep it moist and are shown off beautifully by the multi- and them watch them grow! toned foliage. They stay on the plant for

For further information contact Environmental and Conservation Science, Federation University Australia. www.federation.edu.au/ipbg GROUNDCOVER Indigenous Plants for Ballarat Gardens

Photograph (above): John Gregurke Austral Stork’s-bill Pelargonium australe

FAST FACTS An Australian native groundcover from Once it’s settled in, Austral Stork’s-bill Groundcover the Ballarat area, Austral Stork’s-bill doesn’t like much water, so plant it where Family: Geraniaceae (Pelargonium australe) is a quick-growing the roots won’t stay wet for too long. Geranium plant that will fill up a space about 1m Care: During the hot summer months and Size: 50cm H x 1m W wide and 50cm high over summer. after flowering, Austral Stork’s-bill will start Position: Sunny Leaves: Austral Stork’s-bill has heart to look a bit straggly, so give it a prune by Soil: Well drained shaped leaves that are softly hairy and a cutting off most of the older leaves and Flowers: Summer lovely bright green tinged with red. flower stems. You’ll then notice that it has a Fruits: Narrow capsules lot of small fresh young leaves growing Care: Prune after flowering Flowers: It flowers in summer, with lots of from its base. These will grow into a lovely 5-petalled white or pale pink flowers with small rounded mound quite quickly. dark veins radiating from the centre. Butterflies: Some of our native butterflies Planting: Austral Stork’s-bill is quite tough enjoy feeding on these flowers, so consider and will grow really well in your garden if leaving some flowers when pruning. you plant it within a few days of purchase.

It likes a sunny position with good drainage. Plant it in a hole not much larger than the potting tube and give it a good ½ bucket of water as soon as you plant it.

For further information contact Environmental and Conservation Science, Federation University Australia. www.federation.edu.au/ipbg GROUNDCOVER Indigenous Plants for Ballarat Gardens

Poa lab or Common Tussock Grass Poa labillardieri

FAST FACTS An Australian native plant from the Ballarat Give it a good ½ bucket of water as soon Grass area, Poa lab or Common Tussock Grass as you plant it and it should be fine after Family: Poaceae (Poa labillardieri) is a clumping grass that that. Grass grows up to 1m high and 70cm wide. Care: Prune in late summer or autumn –

Size: 1m H x 70cm W 2 Location: Tussock Grass can be planted in take off about ⁄3 of the height of the plant. Position: Full sun to shade full sun or shade and several will look good It will bounce back with lovely fresh growth Soil: Well drained along the edge of a garden bed. It will also within a few weeks. Flowers: Spring – Summer look good as a feature in a garden bed Fruits: Grass seeds Attracts: Tussock Grass is a food source amongst other plants. Care: Prune for the larvae of several species of local Leaves: Fine, long and fairly tough. butterfly, including Skippers, Xenicas and Browns. It is extremely rare for the larvae to Flowers: Tussock Grass flowers in spring mortally damage the plant. and summer, though the flowers are fairly inconspicuous.

Planting: It is quite tough and will grow well in your garden if planted in a hole not much larger than the pot within a few days of purchase.

For further information contact Environmental and Conservation Science, Federation University Australia. www.federation.edu.au/ipbg GROUNDCOVER Indigenous Plants for Ballarat Gardens

Triggerplant armeria

FAST FACTS Triggerplant (Stylidium armeria) is a small deposit a dose of pollen for delivery to the Groundcover tuft-forming Australian native. next plant. This is how they get the name Family: "trigger" plant. Location: Triggerplants will flower best in Triggerplant a sunny position and look fabulous when Planting: Triggerplant will grow well if Size: 30cm H x 20cm W three or more are planted close together planted in a hole not much larger than its Position: Sunny at about 30cm spacing. A row of pot within a few days of purchase. Give Soil: Well drained Triggerplants make a great low border each plant a good ½ bucket or more of Flowers: Spring along the front of a garden bed. water as soon as it's planted. Fruits: Papery capsules Care: Low maintenance Leaves: Strappy grass-like leaves form Care: You'll never need to prune a small, tough, neat clump which looks Triggerplants but remove old flower stalks good all year round but may brown off once they become unsightly. Extra summer slightly over summer. watering will keep leaves fresh and green.

Flowers: A highlight of this attractive Propagation: Collect the tiny seed by small plant is the many pale pink or shaking the dry flower stalk over a white brilliant white flowers which develop over bowl. Sow seeds onto the top of damp spring on a tall central spike. Many small potting mix and sprinkle very lightly with a insects will visit the flowers for their sweet dusting of fine mix. Keep moist for several nectar and it’s a delight to watch the weeks until seedlings emerge. flower "dong" them on the back to

For further information contact Environmental and Conservation Science, Federation University Australia. www.federation.edu.au/ipbg GROUNDCOVER Indigenous Plants for Ballarat Gardens

Slender Speedwell Veronica gracilis

FAST FACTS An Australian native plant from the Ballarat Care: When it has finished flowering, give it Groundcover area, Slender Speedwell (Veronica gracilis) a prune – just grab a handful of foliage and Family: Plantaginaceae is a small, sprawling, narrow-leaved plant snip it all back to about a third of its original Plantain up to 25cm high and 25cm wide. length. You can be quite adventurous with Size: 25cm H x 25cm W this and the plant will stay nice and Location: Slender Speedwell likes a lightly Position: Lightly shaded compact and showy. shaded position, possibly in a well-watered Soil: Moist rockery or in a garden bed amongst other Propagation: Slender Speedwell is a slow Flowers: Spring larger plants. growing plant and won’t tend to spread. If Fruits: Inconspicuous you want to grow more, the best thing to Care: Prune after flowering Flowers: The flowers are only small – do is let the stems grow. If left unpruned for about 1cm across – but they are a lovely a year or two, it will form small roots along open cup of pale mauve highlighted by the stems where they are in contact with dark veins fading towards a pale centre. the ground. These can be separated from Planting: It will grow well in your garden if the parent and plant elsewhere. planted in a hole not much larger than the When you prune, bury the bunches of cut pot within a few days of purchase. Give it a stems in the ground, leaving only a very good ½ bucket of water as soon as you small number of leaves uncovered. If you plant it and it should be fine after that. water them well for several weeks most will eventually grow into new plants.

For further information contact Environmental and Conservation Science, Federation University Australia. www.federation.edu.au/ipbg GROUNDCOVER Indigenous Plants for Ballarat Gardens

Photograph (top): Jenny Sedgwick Photograph: © M. Fagg, Australian National Botanic Gardens

Native Violet or Ivy-leaved Violet Viola hederacea

FAST FACTS An Australian native plant from the Ballarat Planting: Native Violet is quite tough and Groundcover area, Native Violet or Ivy-leaved Violet will grow well in your garden if planted in a Family: Violaceae (Viola hederacea) is a very pretty, delicate hole not much larger than the pot within a Violet looking, creeping groundcover up to 5cm few days of purchase. Size: 5cm H x 40cm W high and 40cm wide. Give it a good ½ bucket of water as soon Position: Shade Location: It likes some shade and would as you plant it and it should be fine after Soil: Moist do especially well under large trees. If you that. Flowers: Summer have several plants, they’ll look good in the Fruits: Inconspicuous Care: Native Violet requires little attention spaces between pavers but it’s also lovely Care: Low maintenance and doesn’t need pruning. in a garden bed amongst other plants or in a hanging basket. Propagation: If you want to grow more, you can dig up some mature Native Violet Leaves and Flowers: Native Violet after a year or two (a clump about the produces lots of small purple and white same size as when you purchased it) and flowers scattered among the small fan- plant the clumps in other parts of your shaped leaves in summer. garden.

For further information contact Environmental and Conservation Science, Federation University Australia. www.federation.edu.au/ipbg GROUNDCOVER Indigenous Plants for Ballarat Gardens

Photograph: © M. Fagg, Australian National Botanic Gardens Photograph: Roger Thomas Sticky Everlasting Xerochrysum viscosum

FAST FACTS An Australian native plant from the Ballarat Planting: Sticky Everlasting is quite tough Groundcover area, Sticky Everlasting (Xerochrysum and will grow well in your garden if planted Family: Asteraceae viscosum) is a small narrow-leaved plant up in a hole not much larger than the pot Daisy to 50cm high and 40cm wide. It is also within a few days of purchase. Size: 50cm H x 40cm W sometimes known as Shiny Everlasting. Give it a good ½ bucket of water as soon Position: Sunny Location: Sticky Everlasting likes a sunny as you plant it and it should be fine after Soil: Well drained position and will tolerate dry conditions. that. Once settled in, it actually doesn’t like Flowers: Spring – Autumn too much water so plant it somewhere Fruits: Inconspicuous Leaves: The leaves are quite narrow so it where most plants won’t survive. Care: Prune is fairly inconspicuous when not in flower. They have a slightly sticky feel. Care: When it starts to look a bit straggly after flowering, give it a prune, taking off Flowers: The flowers are bright gold, about two thirds of the main and side glossy, crispy daises about the size of large stems. buttons. The flowers stay on for many months so it will add colour to a dry corner Seed: When you prune, you might like to of your garden for most of the year. leave some of the flower stems uncut until they form papery grey seeds. Either let Attracts: Like many of the native daisies, them blow away in the breeze or collect Sticky Everlasting will attract one of our some to grow into new plants. largest and most colourful butterflies – the Australian Painted Lady – to your garden.

For further information contact Environmental and Conservation Science, Federation University Australia. www.federation.edu.au/ipbg