Selecting Plants

Microclimate of Banksia Embankment

A west-facing, steep slope with very thin, rocky soil. Large shrubs provide some protection from harsh arvo sun and prevailing wind. During heavy rain events garden has been up to one metre under fast moving water. Measures put in possie to slow runoff include: hand made “bolsters” along path edge; extensive plantings of grasses; placement of logs to redirect water across the garden; leaving stumps of old plants to hold soil and mulch in possie; thick layers of mulch.

Care provided

New plants are protected within pink corflute guards, which protect from grazing animals; direct water towards roots; and mitigate extreme temperatures. May be hand watered once or twice just after planting. Young plants are protected by self-sown Solanum aviculare (Kangaroo Apple), acting as nurse plants.

Garden concept

Originally designed as a shrubbery—the garden has developed over time, particularly as it became apparent that Banksias do very well in the well-drained soil. The garden now showcases a range of Banksias, including many hybrids, especially from B. spinulosa as the parent species. Over time, the garden has increased in sise and in diversity of plantings—including trials of various cascading species on one of the slopes, seeding the brick cobbles along the roadside, as well as the use of several species with architectural form. Birds can usually be heard or spotted within the garden which is a favourite with honeyeaters and bowerbirds.

Considerations

• Water needs/ drought hardiness
• Sun/ shade requirements
• Frost hardiness / disease and pest resistance
• Sise and form: height and spread/ growing habit
• Habitat value: eg. bird attracting, insects, frogs, lizards
• Feature: leaf and flower colour and form, bark, seed/ fruit
• Timing: seasonal interest, fast growing etc.
• Care requirements: pruning, fertilising etc.
• Possible hazard to public
• Availability—online or through specialist nursery

Current plants:

• Acacia cardiophylla (Wyalong Wattle)
• Acacia flexifolia (Bent-leaf Wattle)
• Acacia howittii (Sticky Wattle)
• Acacia vestita (Weeping Boree)
• Allocasuarina littoralis (Black Sheoak)
• Astartea fascicularis (False Baeckea)
• Babingtonia pluriflora (Tall Baeckea)
• Banksia 'Black Magic'
• Banksia 'Giant Candles'
• Banksia blechnifolia (Fern-leaf Banksia)
• Banksia cunninghamii (Hairpin Banksia)
• Banksia ericifolia 'Little Eric'
• Banksia oblongifolia (Fern-leaved Banksia)
• Banksia occidentalis (Red Swamp Banksia)
• Banksia paludosa (Swamp Banksia)
• Banksia repens (Creeping Banksia)
• Banksia spinulosa - pink
• Banksia spinulosa 'Birdsong'
• Banksia spinulosa 'Birthday Candles'
• Banksia spinulosa 'Honey Eater Delight'
• Banksia spinulosa 'Honeypots'
• Banksia spinulosa 'Red Beacon'
• Bothriochloa macra (Red-leg Grass)
• Callistemon sp
• Callistemon subulatus
• Callitris oblonga (Pygmy Cyprus)
• Callocephalus citreus (Lemon Beauty Heads)
• Casuarina glauca (Swamp Sheoak)
• Chamelaucium ciliatum (Waxflower)
• Chrysocephalus apiculatum (Yellow Buttons)
• Coronidium scorpioides (Button Everlasting)
• Correa reflexa (Native Fuchsia)
• Dodonaea viscosa subsp. spatulata (Sticky Hop Bush)
• Eryngium ovinum (Blue Devil)
• Eucalyptus gregsoniana (Mallee Snow Gum)
• Ficinia nodosa (Knobby Club Rush)
• Grevillea 'Forest Rambler'
• Grevillea 'Hot Lava'
• Grevillea curviloba subsp incurva (Narrow Curved-leaf Grevillea)
• Grevillea juniperina (Prickly Spider-flower)
• Grevillea lanigera (Woolly Grevillea)
• Grevillea lavandulacea 'Chetwynd'
• Grevillea sp
• Grevilleaa thelemanniana 'Walkaway Wanderer'
• Hardenbergia comptoniana (Native Lilac)
• Hardenergia violacea (False Sarsparella)
• Homoranthus flavescens
• Homoranthus prolixus (Barraba Heath Myrtle)
• Hypericum gramineum (Lesser St John's wort)
• Isopogon anethifolius (Narrow-leaf Drumsticks)
• Isopogon formosus (Rose Coneflower)
• Kunzea ambigua - prostrate (Tick Bush)
• Kunzea baxteri 'Persian Pink'
• Kunzea pomifera (Muntries)
• Leptospermum 'Crimson Cascade'
• Leptospermum 'Pink Cascade'
• Leptospermum brachyandrum (Weeping Tea Tree)
• Leptospermum morrisonii
• Leptospermum sericeum (Silver Tea Tree)
• Leptospermum squarrosum (Peach-flowered Tea Tree)
• Leucochrysum albicans (Hoary Sunray)
• Lomandra 'Lime Tuff'
• Melaleuca wilsonii (Violet Honey-myrtle)
• Olearia phlogopappa (Alpine Daisy Bush)
• Orthransanthos multiflora (Morning Iris)
• Pelargoneum rodneyanum (Magenta Storksbill)
• Philotheca myoporoides Wax Flower)
• Poa helmsii (Broad-leaved Snow Grass)
• Poa labillardierei (Common Tussock Grass)
• Prostanthera scutellarioides
• Pycnosorus globulus (Billy buttons)
• Rhodanthe chlorocephalus subsp. rosea
• Scaevola albida pink
• Solanum aviculare (Kangaroo Apple)
• Swainsonia galegifolia (Darling Pea)
• Wahlenbergia communis (Tufted Bluebell)
• Westringia eremicola (Slender Western Rosemary)
• Xerochhrysum viscosum (Sticky Everlasting)
• Xerochrysum bracteatum (Golden Everlasting)
• Zieria prostrata (Headland Zieria)