Glossary
Waterwise
Two definitions of what constitutes a waterwise plant are used according to where the plant is to be grown. If it is in the Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne, Northern Goldfields or Interior, then waterwise is used to indicate that once the plant is established in improved soil it will only need at most, watering every four days during summer and less during cooler months.
For the remainder of the State, waterwise is used to indicate that once the plant is established in improved soil it will only need watering once a week during summer and less frequently, if at all, during cooler months.
Weed
A weed is also commonly classified as a wild plant that grows out of place in competition with cultivated plants and is noxious and persistent.
Names
Scientific Name - Though a bit of a mouthful at times, scientific names are the only precise names that can be given to a plant. The scientific name for a plant is the same around the world.
Common Names - These are the names by which a plant is known locally. Please note that a plant may have more than one common name and that one common name may apply to several plants.
Native - Native plant is a term to describe plants indigenous (widespread) or naturalised to a specified area
More information on WA Natives
More information on Australian Natives
Growth habit
Please note that the shape of a plant can vary according to the growing environment. Some plants therefore may occur in more than one of the shapes listed below.
Tree - Usually a single trunked, upright woody plant in excess of 4m high. Mallees are regarded as trees despite often having several trunks.
Shrub - A woody plant with branches and foliage extending close to the ground.
Groundcover - A plant that is usually less than 1m high and much wider.
Climber - A plant that uses supports or other plants to climb upwards.
Creeper - A flat plant that forms roots as it grows. It may be a climber or groundcover.
Palm - Members of the Arecaceae family of plants.
Orchid - Members of the Orchidaceae family of plants.
Succulent - A plant that stores moisture in thick stems and/or leaves.
Strap leaves - Plants with leaves that are long and strap like.
Herbaceous - Plants that have no woody parts.
Annual - Plants that complete their life cycle in less than 1 year. Gardeners sometimes treat some biennials and perennials as annuals.
Biennial - Plants that complete their lifecycle in 2 years.
Perennial - Plants that live for more than 2 years.
Flowering season
The flowering time of some plants can vary according to the climate. The flowering season information should be taken as a guide only.
Spring - September, October & November.
Summer - December, January & February.
Autumn - March, April & May.
Winter - June, July & August
Flower colour
Most plants have more than one colour in the flower.
Where one colour is dominant, only that colour is entered.
Where other colours in the flower are noticeable, they are also entered.
Where the plant occurs in several flower colour forms, all the colours are entered.
Plant height and width
Size varies according to the environment in which a plant is grown. The size information should be taken as a guide only.
Light requirements
Sun - Needs direct sunlight for at least 5 hours a day in summer
Part shade - Will tolerate shade for much of the day but needs some direct sunlight to grow well.
Shade - Will grow well with little or no direct sunlight in summer
Garden types
Selecting these options will give you a list of suggested plants for the various styles of garden. The suggestions are made based upon the following:
Coastal - Plants which will tolerate some coastal exposure and alkaline sandy soil.
Cottage - Generally small formal looking plants.
Mediterranean - Plants with good flowering habits and strong foliage effects.
Native - Plants of Australian origin
Tropical - Plants with strong foliage or flower colours.
Soil type
The headings used are broad categories, many if not most of our soils fall somewhere between two of these types. E.g sandy-loam or clayey-gravel. In many areas there are duplex soils where one soil type overlays another. Most challenging are the very shallow soils. Even though the plants in this directory are Waterwise, they will all grow more healthily when planted in improved soils. Limestone is a particular challenge - see pH.
Sand - Coarse, inert particles with no structure.
Loam - A mix of particle sizes from very small to sand. Regarded as the best medium for plant growth.
Clay - Very fine particles that congregate to become brick hard when dry and sticky when wet.
Gravel - Predominantly large stony particles that also contain clay sand or loam.
Soil pH
pH is a measurement of the relative acidity or alkalinity of a soil which affects the availability of plant nutrients in the soil. In general most plants grow best when the soil is around neutral (a pH of 6.5 to 7.5). When the soil is strongly acid (a pH of 5.5 or less) many plants, except those with special adaptations will struggle. When the soil is strongly alkaline (a pH of 8.5 or greater) as is very common in WA, especially where limestone is evident, many plants really struggle to survive.
pH is best tested using a powder and liquid kit, available from garden centres and hardware stores. Conduct several tests to arrive at an average figure.
While it is possible to alter the pH of a soil, it is hard and ongoing work. It is usually much simpler to boost the level of organic matter in the soil. This will not change the pH but it will make the nutrients more available and provide all the other advantages of organic matter.
For plants with special pH needs it is simpler to grow them in large containers that are filled with the appropiate soil mix.
