Try planting these native plants instead of weeds | Australian native plants | Gardening Australia

Clarence suggests native alternatives to common weedy ornamental plants. Subscribe 🔔 http://ab.co/GA-subscribe

When you're in a nursery looking to pick up something for your own garden, the choice can be overwhelming. There are literally tens of thousands of plants available for sale in Australia and unfortunately, not everything on sale is a safe choice.

Many plants that we now consider weeds have been introduced into gardens for their desired attributes but can end up creating undesired outcomes if they escape the garden gate. There are thousands of species in Australia and plenty to choose from. When you’re next at your local nursery, choose something that won’t end up as a potential problem in the bush of your local area.

❌ Topped Lavender (Lavandula stoechas)
Gardeners have used Italian / Topped Lavender for their Mediterranean feel and distinctive scent. Originally from regions on the equator, it is now widely naturalized in Australia. In South-eastern Australia it's an environmental weed, forming dense stands that eliminate all other ground-level plants.

✅ Mint Bush (Prostanthera sp.)
A responsible alternative - The Bush Mint is a soft woody, low-growing compact plant and there are plenty of species and cultivars available. They often have purple or white flowers with beautifully fragranced foliage.

✅ Emu Bush (Eremophila sp.)
A responsible alternative – Eremophila does best in Mediterranean climates and has striking silvery foliage. Grafted varieties can be grown outside their ideal climatic range.

❌ Canna Lily (Canna indica)
Gardeners have used the Canna Lily to create a tropical feel with spires of fluorescent flowers. These plants grow from underground rhizomes which become a problem when dumped as garden waste. It grows prolifically around SE Queensland and northern NSW where it loves the climate a little too much.

✅ Cordyline (Cordyline sp.)
A responsible alternative – Cordyline has various species but generally they're upright with long strappy leaves and spikes of purple-pink flowers. They provide the feel of the tropics in any garden.

✅ Purple Flag (Patersonia occidentalis)
A responsible alternative – Purple Flag is a strappy leaf perennial with masses of purple flowers. It grows from an underground rhizome making it just as resilient as the Canna Lily but far less of an environmental threat.

Featured Weeds:
TOPPED LAVENDER - Lavandula stoechas
CANNA LILY - Canna cv.

Featured Alternatives:
MINT BUSH - Prostanthera cv.
EMU BUSH - Eremophila nivea cv.
CORDYLINE - Cordyline cv.
PURPLE FLAG - Patersonia occidentalis
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