Popular garden designs for the North West
Featured design: a tropical garden
Filled with bold foliaged plants that provide shade, shelter and colour throughout the year this garden will have a tropical feel without needing a lot of water.
Abrv. | Common name | Botanical name |
---|---|---|
Groundcovers | ||
Es | Echeveria setosa | Echeveria setosa |
Ipo | Beach Morning Glory | Ipomoea pes-caprae* |
Swf | Sturts Desert Pea | Swainsona formosa* |
Shrubs | ||
Ef | Burra | Eremophila fraseri* |
Aa | Jacob's Coat | Acalypha amentacea |
Ao | Desert Rose or Impala Lily | Adenium obesum |
Cm | Natal Plum | Carissa macrocarpa |
Eum | Crown of Thorns | Euphorbia milii |
Zf | Cardboard Palm | Zamia furfuracea |
Bo | Fern | Blechnum orientale* |
Grasses/Strappy Leaf Plants | ||
Cra | Giant Crinum Lily | Crinum asiaticum |
Sans | Mother in Laws Tongue | Sansevieria trifasciata |
Trees | ||
Ad | Elephant Ear Wattle | Acacia dunnii* |
Adg | Boab | Adansonia gregorii*Δ |
Ara | Alexander Palm | Archontophenix alexandrae |
Ps | Screw Palm | Pandanus spiralis |
* These species are endemic to WA
Δ Optional species (not included in illustration)
Other garden design ideas for this region
Often rugged and relaxed, a coastal garden is full of hardy plants that can withstand strong winds.
Plant Species
Abrv. | Common name | Botanical name |
---|---|---|
Groundcovers | ||
Cr | Wild Jack Bean | Canavalia rosea* |
Ipo | Beach Morning Glory | Ipomoea pes-caprae* |
Shrubs | ||
Ef | Burra | Eremophila fraseri* |
Grw | Wickham's Holly Grevillea | Grevillea wickhamii* |
Cc | Green Bird Flower | Crotalaria cunninghamii* |
El | Berrigan | Eremophila longifolia* |
Grasses/Strappy Leaf Plants | ||
Aga | Agave | Agave attenuata |
Trees | ||
Eucv | Eucalyptus 'Snow Queen' | Eucalyptus victrix* |
* These species are endemic to WA
Creating pleasures for all the senses, a Mediterranean garden has a combination of colours, productive plants, interesting foliage and flowering plants. Complete this look by incorporating design elements such as paths and rustic benches.
Plant Species
Abrv. | Common name | Botanical name |
---|---|---|
Groundcovers | ||
Thym | Thyme | Thymus vulgaris |
Egk | Eremophila 'Kalbarri Carpet' | Eremophila glabra* |
Ro | Creeping Rosemary (Prostrate) | Rosnarinus offcinalis |
Shrubs | ||
Br | Pony Tail Palm | Beaucamea recurvata |
Cm | Natal Plum | Carissa macrocarpa |
El | Berrigan | Eremophila longifolia* |
Ff | Mauritius Hemp | Furcraea foetida |
Grasses/Strappy Leaf Plants | ||
Alf | Cape Aloe or Bitter Aloe | Aloe ferox |
Sans | Mother in Laws Tongue | Sansevieria trifasciata |
Trees | ||
Bc | Jigal Native Bauhinia | Bauhinia cunninghamii |
* These species are endemic to WA
The ideal garden for our Western Australian climate, a native garden will look attractive, can provide year round flowering and will attract birds and wildlife.
Plant Species
Abrv. | Common name | Botanical name |
---|---|---|
Groundcovers | ||
Swf | Sturts Desert Pea | Swainsona formosa* |
Swm | Ashburton Pea | Swainsona maccullochiana* |
Shrubs | ||
Ef | Burra | Eremophila fraseri* |
Ed | Slender Fuchsia | Eremophila decipiens* |
El | Berrigan | Eremophila longifolia* |
Gc | Gomphrena 'Pink Gem' | Gomphrena flaccida* |
Grw | Wickham's Holly Grevillea | Grevillea wickhamii* |
Pel | Tall Mulla Mulla | Ptilotus exaltatus* |
Grasses/Strappy Leaf Plants | ||
Dc | Flax Lily 'Cassa Blue' | Dianella caerula |
Trees | ||
Brac | Rock Kurrajong | Brachychiton acuminatus *Δ |
Eucm | Manowan Woollybutt | Eucalyptus miniata* |
Hl | Corkwood or Witinti | Hakea lorea Δ |
* These species are endemic to WA
Δ Optional species (not included in illustration)
The location of your garden and what you create it in are important decisions when establishing your garden. Vegetables need a good source of sunlight; somewhere not too sunny in summer with sufficient sunlight in winter is ideal. A spot protected from wind by a building or hedge will keep your vegetables happy.
When choosing where to establish your garden, if space is limited, a raised container is ideal as they keep the garden contained and can be moved to suit the weather conditions.
If you have plenty of space a garden bed can be established in the ground, as it involves less set up but can’t be moved.
Deciding what to grow and planting seasonal vegetables will ensure the best results and minimise water use. By planting from seeds you can stagger when the vegetables are ready and planting from seedlings will see them mature at once. Whichever you choose, make sure you plant vegetables that will be eaten and put to good use. Hand watering twice a week or installing sub-irrigation or drippers will see the best results in your garden. For more details on waterwise gardening techniques for your vegetable garden visit our waterwise garden section.
By transforming your verge into a waterwise garden you will create an attractive hassle-free garden that requires less upkeep.
Before planning your verge, check with your local council for any guidelines or restrictions in place.
To transform your lawned verge firstly apply a herbicide with glyphosate as the active ingredient. After a few months, the lawn will breakdown and act as a source of nutrients for new plants. There is no need to remove the lawn, just plot out the design and dig holes for the new plants and watch your new waterwise verge come to life.
Plant Species
Abrv. | Common name | Botanical name |
---|---|---|
Groundcovers | ||
Hp | Snake Bush | Hemiandra pungens |
Gro | Grevillia 'Gin Gin Gem' | Grevillea obtusifolia |
Grcu | Grevillea 'Flat Jack' | Grevillea curviloba |
Adc | Adenanthos 'Coral Carpet' | Adenanthos cuneatus |
Egc |
Eremophila 'Compactum' |
Eremphila glabra |
Kp | Running Postman | Kennedia prostrata |
Myp | Creeping Boobialla | Myoporum parvifolium |
Ega | Eremophila 'Amber Carpet' | Eremophila glabra |
Low Shrubs | ||
Bn | Honeypot Dryandra | Banksia nivea |
Al | Acacia lasiocarpa | Acacia lasiocarpa |
Oa | Olearia 'Little Smokie' | Olearia axillaris |
Wd | Westringia 'Jervis Gem' | Westringia dampieri |
Grasses/Strappy Leaf Plants | ||
Conc | Grey Cottonheads | Conostylis candicans |
Myp | Creeping Boobialla | Myoporum parvifolium |
Anm | Kangaroo Paw | Angiozanthus manglesii |
Po | Native Iris or Purple Flag | Pattersonia occidentalis |
D | Dianella 'Silver Streak' | Dianella |
Dr |
Dianella 'Little Rev' |
Dianella revoluta |
Fn | Knotted Club Rush | Ficinia nodosa |
Lc | Little Con | Lomandra confertifolia |
Bj | Bare Twig-rush | Baumea juncea |
Watering your new garden
A typical suburban block will thrive on irrigation on 2 watering days per week in summer (half that in spring and autumn).
If planting a new garden, you can ensure it gets the best chance to establish itself by applying for a watering exemption. Once your garden is established you will need to abide by the state-wide watering rosters and daytime sprinkler ban between 9am and 6pm.
Look for the Waterwise symbol
For professional assistance with saving water in and around your home and garden, contact a Waterwise Garden Centre, Garden Designer, Garden Irrigator, Irrigation Design Shop, Landscaper, Plumber or Water Auditor.
When creating your new garden look for Waterwise and Smart Approved WaterMark symbols when choosing gardening products such as mulch, plants, greywater systems and sprinklers.