Minimise the risk of introducing garden escapees Many common have jumped the garden fence and become invasive weeds. Using local native plants in your garden not only reduces the risk of introducing further garden escapees, but also helps maintain the special and unique identity of the area – our sense of place. Local native plants attract native insects, small birds and marsupials, providing important refuges in a rapidly developing area. Like many of the exotic species we know well, local natives grow quickly, flower beautifully at different times of the year and come in a variety of colours, foliage textures and scents. The plants suggested here make up a small selection of the hundreds of beautiful flowering plants found in this region. For a comprehensive guide to local flowering plants, see references listed in this brochure.

Ficina nodosa Juncus pallidus huegelii Olearia axillaris plumosa Photo by C. Jury Photo by C. Jury Photo by F. Humphreys ANBG Photo by H. Rolfe Photo by M. Moir

Acacia browniana Anigozanthos flavidus sparsa Billardiera fusiformis Photo by M. Moir Photo by C. Jury Photo by D. Rooks Photo by C. Jury

Boronia megastigma Conostylis aculeata citriodora Hardenbergia comptoniana Photo by M. Fagg ANBG Photo by M. Fagg ANBG Photo by C. Jury Photo by Monterey Bay Nursery

Hibbertia cuneiformis Hypocalymma angustifolium Kennedia prostrata Orthrosanthus polystachyus Photo by C. Jury Photo by C. Jury Photo by M. Fagg ANBG Photo by C. Jury

Patersonia occidentalis Pimelea ferruginea Templetonia retusa Thysanotus multiflorus Photo by C. Jury Photo by M. Fagg ANBG Photo by C. Jury Photo by C. Jury The Margaret River Region – a Biodiversity Hotspot

Biodiversity is the diversity of all living things. The south west of is renowned internationally for having very high species diversity with particularly high numbers of endemic species (species that occur here and nowhere else). The international label of “Biodiversity Hotspot” not only implies an amazing variety of plants and animals, but also a high level of threat from development, changing land use and feral and animal species. Help us to preserve our biodiversity by using plants native to the region in your garden. Native Plant Information Common Name Flowers Description situation Cream, yellow Erect spreading to 2m. Sand, gravel and lateritic soils. Most Acacia browniana Aug-Oct Red Local variety has tall red flowers with tufty foliage. Adaptable and hardy plant on sand Anigozanthos flavidus Tall Kangaroo Paw Wet/Most (Margaret River variety) Aug-Dec clay or gravel. Red Swamp Bottlebrush Erect shrub to 3m. Prefers sand or swampy areas. Shire emblem. Wet Jan-Apr/Sep-Nov Blue all year Billardiera fusiformis Australian Bluebell Sturdy, long-flowering, twining shrub to 2m. Found on a variety of soils. Most (Sollya heterophylla) (mostly Nov-Feb) Yellow/brown Beautifully scented slender shrub to 1m. Prefers peaty sand and winter wet areas. Scented Wet Boronia megastigma Jul-Oct Likes shade. Yellow/green Prickly Conostylis Hardy, small tufty plant suitable to most soils. Most Conostylis aculeata Aug-Nov Yellow, green, red Erect or sprawling shrub to 1.5m with bell-shaped flowers. Hardy plant found on laterite, Lemon Scented Darwinia Most Darwinia citriodora May-Dec granite and sloping soils. Ficina nodosa (prev.Isolepis) Knotted Club Rush Brown Aug-Apr Attractive, salt tolerant and hardy rush to 1m. Coastal/Most

Hardenbergia comptoniana Native Wisteria Purple Jul-Oct Hardy, vigorous climber suitable to most soils. Most

Yellow Cutleaf Hibbertia Long-flowering, hardy, medium shrub suitable to most soils. Most Hibbertia cuneiformis Jan-Mar/Jun-Nov White, pink White Myrtle Small shrub to 1m. Flowers range from white to pink. Wet/Most Hypocalymma angustifolium Jun-Nov

Juncus pallidus Pale Rush Brown Oct-Dec Robust rush to 2m. Common in wet areas. Wet

Red Prostrate or twining shrub with red flowers. Prefers sandy or gravel soils. Scarlet Runner Most Kennedia prostrata Apr-Nov Excellent ground cover. White and Pink Hardy spreading shrub or tree. Found on a variety of soils but prefers coastal Chenille Honeymyrtle Coastal/Most Melaleuca huegelii Oct-Jan limestone soils. Green/yellow Coastal Daisy Bush Compact rounded shrub to 2m. Striking grey/green, aromatic foliage. Coastal Olearia axillaris Jan-Jul/Nov-Dec Morning Iris/ Many Spike Blue Tufty foliage with a profusion of blue flower spikes to 1m. Clayey loam, laterite, Most Orthrosanthus polystachyus Orthrosanthus Sep-Nov sandy soils. Purple Purple Flag Tufted perennial to 70cm with broad spreading leaves. Most occidentalis Sep-Jan Dark pink Low erect shrub with striking pink flowers. Often wind pruned along the coast. Coastal/Most Pimelea ferruginea Aug-Feb Sandy limestone or granite soils. Red Cockie’s Tongue Long-flowering shrub to 2-3m. Prefers limestone soils. Coastal/Most Templetonia retusa Apr-Nov Lilac Many-flowered Fringed Lily Silvery-grey buds and stems with purple flowers. Grows on sandy, laterite or granitic soils. Most Thysanotus multiflorus Aug-Jan Pink Plumed feather flower Low growing spreading shrub under 1m. Found on a variety of soils. Most Verticordia plumosa Nov-Jan

Important tips Where can you get help? 1. Plan and understand your garden. Local nurseries grow or can order a selection of Local Native Plants Choose plants that will do well on your site local natives: and with your particular soils. of the Margaret River Region Everyday Potted Plants Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin 2. Plant at the right time of year. Planting from the end of autumn after the Ph: 9757 7424 first good rains through to mid winter will Geographe Community Landcare Nursery give the plants time to establish before the summer months. Ph: 0409 376 976 or BDEC Ph: 9754 2049 3. Only use low phosphorus fertilisers Margaret River Nursery and Irrigation suitable for native plants (sparingly if Ph: 9757 2691 Plant This Instead at all). Alternatively, a layer of organic mulch will provide enough nutrients; Nuralingup Garden Nursery be sure to leave space around stems and Ph: 9757 7587 trunks to prevent fungal problems. The Tube Nursery 4. Water native plants weekly during their Ph: 9755 5509 first summer. Unless they are wetland plants, they should only need occasional Please contact the Cape to Cape Catchments Group watering once they are established. (9757 2202) for advice. 5. Order your plants early (Jan/Feb). If your chosen plant is difficult to source, Permission to use the design of this leaflet was made look elsewhere or replace it with another possible by the Serpentine Jarrahdale LCDC. local native (there are plenty to choose from). The following people kindly contributed photographs Local nurseries are usually happy to order and their help is gratefully acknowledged: plants in for you if they don’t have them in Cassandra Jury

stock – if in doubt, ASK! Margaret Moir Xanthorrhoea preissii - photo courtesy of C. Jury Deborah Rooks references Monterey Bay Nursery http://montereybaynsy.com/ Scott, J. and Negus, P. 2002, Field Guide to the Wildflowers of Australia’s South West Augusta-Margaret River Region, Australian National Botanic Gardens http://www.anbg.gov.au/ Local native plants are the Cape to Cape Publishing, WA essence of our region’s beauty Cape to Cape Catchments Group 2004, Cape to Cape Landcare This brochure was funded by a Community Conservation Grant provided by the Minister for the and biodiversity. Plant them Companion, CCCG, Natural Heritage Trust, Margaret River, WA Environment and was produced by the Cape to Cape in your garden to maintain our Crosbie, D. 1996, Bush Plants for Perth Gardens, to Cape Catchments Group 2005. unique sense of place, save water, NMEN National Trust of Australia, WA ER T V O minimise the risk of introducing O F Paczkowska, G. and Chapman, A.R. 2000, G W garden escapees and to enjoy the

A Western Australian Flora, A Descriptive Catalogue, E I S L natural wonder of wildflowers. T A Wildflower Society of Western Australia, Western Australian E R R T Herbarium, the Department of Conservation and Land N A U S Management and the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, WA