Waterwise Plants for Perth Gardens - Glossary

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.

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 4 m 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 1 m 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.

Garden style

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.

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.

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.

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

Credits

This database was compiled and is maintained by John Colwill on behalf of the Water Corporation of WA.

Many references were used to check the information. We would like to thank the following

  • Department of Environment and Conservation - Florabase
  • Australian National Botanic Gardens - ANBG
  • Austraflora Nurseries
  • Wholesale Ornamental Plant Nursery - (Wons)
  • Touch of Class Plants
  • Australian Cultivation Registration Authority - ACRA
  • Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants - ASGAP
  • Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney - RGBS
  • The Nursery and Garden Industry of WA - NGIWA