EXPERT PICKS

Ben Hutchinson and Luke Maitland nominate their favourite natives to suit a variety of settings

Bidgee-widgee

“A ferny-looking groundcover that spreads well and is super-hardy,” says Ben. “It’s a great filler and adds contrast to rockeries. Just don’t use it if you have dogs. The spiky flower balls will get caught in their fur.”

Lomandra ‘Frosty Top’

“Tough and adaptable to almost any circumstance and climate, it’s a fantastic clumping grass with a soft silvery-blue foliage,” says Luke.

Kangaroo grass

“A medium-sized grass with tall, fluffy flower plumes, this looks sensational en masse,” says Ben. “There are about 13 species of butterfly that use kangaroo grass as a food source.”

Creeping boobialla

“This carpet-like groundcover spreads quickly to cover an area of two to three square metres,” says Luke. “It has small pink flowers, handles heavy frosts and suits a range of soil conditions.”

Banksia ‘Bird Song’

“A smaller banksia with fine foliage and large vibrant flowers that begin as yellow buds then mature to a darker orange-red,” says Luke. “Nectar-feeding birds love them.”

Tamala rose

“This is a tough-as-nails shrub with silver foliage and burnt-orange flowers,” says Ben. “Birds, bees, honeyeaters and butterflies love this one!”

Water gum

“This is a great small-to-medium tree with glossy leaves and small yellow flowers – I use it as an alternative to magnolias,” says Luke. “The peeling bark becomes a feature as the tree matures.”

Euky dwarf yellow gum

“This is a good one if you’re restricted in height, growing to about five to seven metres,” says Ben. “The lorikeets and gang-gang cockatoos love its flowers.”

Native bluebell

en masse

“Plant them and when they flower you’ll get a lovely sea of purple to enjoy,” says Ben. “Sometimes, randomly, they’re white – that’s the beauty of nature.”

Lemon myrtle

“These are my favourite edible native with an interesting sherbet flavour,” says Ben. “The leaves go well with lamb, in a cheesecake or as a tea. Good for a shady spot.”

Finger lime

“Its spiky, unwelcoming foliage produces one of the most quintessential Australian bush fruits, with a caviar-like texture that makes any dish a standout,” says Luke.

Tea tree

“Bright flowers for the bees and contrasting foliage – breeding work over the last few years has produced a fantastic range of tea trees,” says Luke.