The best native plants for flowers, colour and ground cover in winter
Winter doesn't have the same reputation for stunning, colourful plants as spring and summer do, but there are plenty of options you can add to your garden in the colder months.
One of, if not the best, type of plants to choose in winter is native plants since they are perfectly suited to the Australian climate and conditions.
Luke Maitland, horticulturalist and director of native plant nursery Native Grace, sat down with 9honey Living to talk all things native plants in winter.
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Grevilia comes in many varieties perfect for winter. Getty Images/iStockphoto
What are your top three native plants for winter?
So many and always hard to choose.
Banksia 'bird song' is a great small shrub up [that grows up to] 1.5m that produces beautiful orange candle flowers through autumn/winter.
It's a favourite for small birds and brings life to a winter garden, handles a rage of conditions as well as the cooler climates.
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Banksia bird song is a top pick for adding to the garden in winter. Native Grace
Grevillea 'winter wonder' is another great small shrub [that grows up to] 1.2m. It produces creamy-white and soft pink spider-like clusters that emerge profusely from late autumn through to early spring.
These nectar-rich blooms are not only beautiful but also a magnet for birds and pollinators, adding life and motion to the winter garden. It's another that handles the cooler climate.
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Crowea Exalata Ryan's star is a winter-flowering plant. Native Grace
Crowea exalata 'Ryan's star' flowers over winter but also can spot flower throughout the year. It's has attractive dark green foliage with a lovely rounded shape, striking pink star-shaped flowers that contrast well on the foliage. Pruned yearly these provide a softness to the garden.
What native plants should we select if we want flowers blooming in winter?
Generally my picks for winter flowers are Philotheca (native Daphne), Banksia, Correa, Crowea and Grevilleas.
There are some many great varieties of these that would match almost any garden style. I also like to provide a food source for bees and other pollinators over winter so having variety will give different flowering times and types.
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Correa decumbens and Philotheca Winter Rouge are good options for flowers in winter. Native Grace
What native plants are your top picks for ground cover in winter?
I love to use low growing grevilleas like Grevillea 'winter delight', Grevillea 'royal mantle' and Grevillea Mt Tamboritha, along with things like Everlasting daisy (Rhodanthe) and Myoporum parvifolium pink, provide contrasting foliage not just flowers.
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Grevillea Mt Tamboritha contrasts beautifully with pink everlasting daisies. Native Grace/Getty Images/iStockPhoto
What native plants should we get in the ground now to be established by summer?
Planting time really comes down to location.
People in coastal areas like Wollongong and Sydney can be planting most things in winter and spring to be established for the summer.
Those in cooler climates such as the Southern Highlands, Blue Mountains, Canberra, I would always wait to plant until the weather starts to warm in early spring.
As there are so many variables I would always encourage to buy from a native specialist nursery who would be able to give you more specific advice for your location and plant selection.
What mistakes do people make with native plants in winter?
There are loads of natives that love the cold. The biggest problem we come across in the Southern Highlands is people planting the wrong plant. Generally they thrive in the warmer months then suffer greatly over the winter.
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Picking the right plant for your location is important so speak to a native plant specialist for best advice. Getty Images/iStockphoto
What are your top tips for thriving native plants in winter?
Plan your garden to get the best out of it all year round. The winter garden should provide as much joy as the summer garden with the right plant selection. People also overlook foliage contrast which can have as much an impact as flowers.
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