As with most Acacias, the "leaves" are actually thickened stems which act as leaves. The flowers are creamy-yellow balls on short spikes, followed by long narrow pods which twist and coil as they grow.

A large tree, sometimes short lived (to 15 years). Has spherical cream flowers. The glands irregularly spaced between successive pinnae pairs distinguish it from *Acacia dealbata*. (See photo for this.)


A good screening tree with spherical cream flowerheads. Has attractive rough bark. After flowering, clusters of long brown seedpods form (see photos). Timber from rain forest specimens are used for furniture making. Dead trees and stumps are home to many species of beetle larvae (see photos).

Large open spreading tree – not suitable for suburban gardens. Flowers irregularly, but generally Nov – Mar. Good honey source.

Koalas eat the leaves of this medium to large tree.

Medium to large tree that's moderately fast growing with creamy flowers in clusters.

Medium sized tree that tends to branch low and may drop branches as it ages. Good honey source. Exudes a gum (manna) as an insect response.

A large bush with golden yellow flowers occurring Aug – Nov.  It's a very prickly wattle providing refuge for birds. 

A medium to large shrub. A useful screening plant which is not too dense. Has spherical cream flowerheads. 


The real leaves of She-Oaks are minute, their function being replaced by the fine green branches that look like pine needles. Plants are either male or female and can only be identified when they flower. Male trees have tiny orange "flowers" on the green branches, while female plants have small (1cm or less) blood-red flowers that grow on the bare branches (see photos).

Medium shrub/tree attractive to many birds and insects. Has spiny branches. Showy creamy flowers are followed by brown papery seed cases. 

This plant has small leaves and white, nectar-rich tea-tree flowers loved by insects including butterflies.

The sweet-scented, creamy-yellow bottle-brush flowers grow along young branches attracting bees and butterflies.

A small, willowy tree with emerald-green trunk and branches. The tiny, yellow pea-like flowers cluster along the branches and turn into black tiny pods.

A medium bush with prickly foliage. It has yellow to golden cylindrical flower spikes. It can hybridise with *Acacia longifolia* (Coastal Wattle) as the two species flower together in the wild.  


A small open shrub irregular in form.  Scented cream flowers which then become attractive seed pods with a blue tone.


Leaves (actually phyllodes) spiky to 2.5 cm long, usually in rings of 6 to 8. Bright yellow flowers in rods to 2 cm long.

A low-growing She-Oak with separate male and female plants which can only be identified when they flower. The green "leaves" that look like pine needles are actually fine branches. Male flowers are orange while female flowers are red.

Striking bush with egg and bacon pea flowers.

Fast growing plant with bright green leaves and yellow flowers.

An excellent habitat for small birds, this bush with small white flowers can be prickly and dense. 

Slender plant of the pea family with pinnate leaves, purple/pink flowers, and thin brown pods after flowering. Useful understorey. Aborigines used the crushed roots to poison fish. 

Small things love this plant. Little birds such as Thornbills are protected from the bully birds by the small prickly leaves. The fine branches hold a larder-full of insects to tiny for human eyes to see but delicious to the insect-eating birds. A wide variety of native insects (native bees, wasps, ants, butterflies and beetles) will love you for growing this plant with its the nectar-rich, sweet-scented white tea-tree flowers.

An attractive compact and wiry shrub, with smooth bark and dull green leaves. Has white or pale pink tea-tree flowers. An adaptable plant suitable for understorey planting. Occurs on sandy soils but tolerates poor drainage. 

Fine, bright green leaves contrast with the white daisy flowers with yellow centres. With flowers for half the year, a great asset to any garden.

Spreading by stolons, the plant can invade other plants. Globular flowers are attractive but the spiky seeds resulting adhere to clothes and the coats of animals. Flowering is from Oct – Jan.

A much larger plant than Arthropodium strictum, its flowers hang their heads but they have nothing to be ashamed of. Lilac petals are enhanced by the purple and white anthers in the middle of the flower. In warm weather, the smell of its flowers is reminiscent of vanilla.

Like many lilies, each flower often lasts only a few days but as there can be 50 or more flowers on a stem they can be colourful for weeks. Looks best in clumps of 3 or more plants.

Silver-leafed everlasting daisy ideal for rockeries. Some flowers most of the year. 

With long, strap-like leaves, these plants grow in a clump and are drought-tolerant. Like the larger *Dianella tasmanica*, this species tends to spread. The flowers are held high above the leaves and have bluish petals with contrasting black and yellow anthers in the middle. (Maybe a good plant for Richmond supporters?) After flowering the seeds form inside green berries which turn purple. Like many lilies, each flower often lasts only a few days but as there are many flowers on a stem they can be colourful for weeks.

Also known as *Dianella revoluta*.

These plants are drought-tolerant and grow in a clump that does not spread. Unlike the other *Dianella* species, the flowers are on stems that are shorter than the leaves. After flowering the seeds form inside berries which are initially greenish then turn bright purple.

These plants are drought-tolerant and grow in a clump that does not spread. The bluish flowers are held high above the leaves. After flowering the seeds form inside berries which are initially greenish then turn purple. Like many lilies, each flower often lasts only a few days but as there are many flowers on a stem they can be colourful for weeks.

Also known as *Dianella longifolia*. 

Growing in a clump, these plants like moister conditions the other *Dianella* species and can sometimes spread. The flowers have bluish petals with contrasting yellow anthers in the middle. After flowering the seeds form inside berries which are initially greenish then turn purple. Like many lilies, each flower often lasts only a few days but as there are many flowers on a stem they can be colourful for weeks.

A quick-growing groundcover that is bright green. Birds like the small red berries and it attracts butterflies. Leaves can be eaten raw or cooked like spinach, and the berries (when red) can safely be eaten. The plant can smother other low-growing plants but can easily be cut back. Grows in full or partial sun in most soils.

This plant has green stems and leaves which withstand Melbournes often tough Summer conditions. The flowers are tiny and rarely noticed. Grows in dappled to partial sun in moist to dryish soils.

Trailing ground cover with wiry stems Scarlet flowers Apr-Dec. 

Purists will tell you this is not a lily but it has most of the characters of a lily. The grey-green leaves are in a fan-shape. Hard brown bracts surround the flower buds, which open purple with a yellow centre. Like many lilies, each flower lasts only one day, but with many buds per flowerhead, flowering can last for 3 or 4 weeks.

Green leaves are heart-shaped. Over Winter they can turn a reddish-brown.

Oval, blue-green leaves are typical of Pimeleas. Clusters of 10 to 40 tubular white flowers are grouped at the ends of the stems.

Young children are amazed and delighted when they see the pale pink flowers being "triggered". With many flowers per spike, and often more than one spike on larger plants, flowering can last for weeks.

This long-lived plant will climb up a rough-barked tree or scramble over shrubs. After its creamy, cross-shaped flowers finish flowering, the seeds form at the end of pale feathery stems which can remain attached for a couple of months. Grows in full sun to dense shade. The plants grow towards the sun and can flower at the top of a 20m high tree.

A smallish or large tussock-forming grass with long, dense, fluffy flowerheads on sturdy stems. The seeds have long spikes with 2 sharp bends in them. When the seeds get wet, the bends twist and drive the seeds into the ground.
Plants from near the coast are much taller and more vigorous than the inland form which Greenlink stocks.
It likes full sun or light shade and prefers dryish local soils where it is drought-tolerant once established.


A clumping, grass-like plant, it suits "structural" gardens with its upright leaves. Alternately, a clump or two can look really good next to a pond. It likes moist soil, such as the overflow from a pond, but doesn't need to be kept wet

This upright, decorative tussock-forming grass looks like *Austrostipa mollis* but the seeds do not have the "kinks" in them that *A. mollis* seeds do. It likes full sun or light shade and suits most local soils. Seedheads are long rectangular and fluffy.

A low tussock-forming grass with flower stems that start upright but arch as the main stem starts branching. Preferring full sun or light shade and moist soils, it copes with occasional mowing except between January and March.

Prefers moist soils but grows well in carpark surrounds at a local park. Brown spherical seedheads grow from the dark green leaves several centimetres below their tips. It likes full sun to moderate shade and suits most local soils.

Like Carex appressa, this is a clumping, grass-like plant that suits "structural" gardens with its tubular upright leaves. Alternately, a clump or two can look really good near a pond. It likes moist soil, such as the overflow from a pond, but doesn't need to be kept wet. It can be quite vigorous and needs space where it can spread.

A core species of our local parks where it grows in light to moderate shade. However, it thrives in full sun in our garden beds. Its bright emerald green to darker green pointy leaves grow in a fan-like clump. Prefers dryish soils but may benefit from occasional watering in hot Summers.

Can be difficult to get, but if it survives the first year it will slowly spread. Local golf courses like this plant for its easy care and low structural look.

A tough clumping plant. The flower spikes are about the same height as the leaves and are prickly. Leaf tips have 2 points of uneven length. Another structural plant for the garden.

This is a fine-leaved grass that grows in full or partial sun and in most local soils. It can be mown like a lawn grass, or left to send its flower/seed stems arching through the air like a rainbow.

This is a large tussock-forming grass with green or blue-green leaves. Some leaves usually remain green all year but most become straw-coloured when dry in Summer. Butterfly-attracting.

Best in full or partial sun with moist soils, but they withstand most conditions.

A smallish tussock-forming grass, the narrow leaves are grey-green while the flowerheads are green or purplish.

Best in full or partial sun with dryish soils (but not bone-dry).

This upright, tussock-forming grass grows in Winter and Spring, dying down over Summer and resprouting with the Autumn rains. Watering over Summer should keep it green. It likes full sun or light shade and suits most local soils. Seedheads are oval to long rectangular and fluffy.
Growing in gravel next to our car park, it's tough!

A shortish tussock-forming grass with flower stems to 1 metre. The green flowers have purplish tinges. Prefers full sun or light shade and suits most local soils.

Variable in height, this hardy tussock-forming grass is not as tall as *Rytidosperma caespitosum*. Plants about 20cm high grow within 1m of plants 50cm high in local reserves. It likes full sun or light shade and suits most local soils. Seedheads are oval and fluffy.

A small tussock-forming grass with green leaves and slender fluffy seedheads.
Prefers full sun to dappled shade but tolerates most growing conditions.

With bright green, long, narrow leaves, this perennial plant has pale pink flowerheads which turn white and persist after flowering (see photo). It loves water so can be grown in mud or in a pond but must not dry out.

Found in winter-wet swamps that stay moist over summer, this plant has blue-grey leaves and milky-white flower heads.

Growing in most damp places in Victoria, this plant has heart-shaped leaves but tiny flowers. It grows in full or dappled sun, dying back over summer if the ground dries out, then resprouting when the Autumn rains commence.

Found at the edges of creeks and in winter-wet swamps. The tiny cream flowers are in a spike at the tip of the stems.

This is a most attractive plant despite having prickly edges to its leaves. In winter-wet swamps it will quickly spread, but in most garden settings it is easy to manage. The flowers are striking for both their metallic blue colour and their spiky shape, like a Middle Ages war mace.

With deep green leaves and brilliant yellow flowers, this lovely plant prefers moist to wet soils and suits the edges of a pond. It spreads slowly. 

Previously known as Selliera radicans, this low-growing succulent creeper occurs in moist to wet freshwater or saline soils such as around the Gippsland Lakes, in a swamp near Cranbourne, and along the coast near Sandringham. The white flowers, 1cm wide, are fan-shaped. It needs some sun to flower, but will still grow in full shade.

Grows in ponds and winter-wet swamps in full sun or shade. The stems look like emerald-green bottlebrushes, but die back to water level in late Autumn and reshoot in Spring. The many small creamy flowers appear on the stems in Spring and turn red as they dry off. The brittle stems can spread rapidly but it is easy to remove excess growth.

Also known as *Mimulus repens*, this cushion-like plant grows in winter-wet swamps in full or partial sun. Each flower is rose, white and pink. This slowly increasing plant grows well around the edges of a pond and flowers as the soil dries out a little in Spring.

A plant of winter-wet swamps, it grows in full or partial sun. The flowers are like tiny dark green balls along a spike, which turn purple-green then yellowish as they mature. Although small, it forms a substantial part of many wetlands. More clumping than spreading, its copious seeding results in many seedlings near the parent plant.

The leaves are greyish to green. The plant has feather-like leaves and several bright yellow spherical flowers on each short spike. The bark is pale grey and slightly furrowed (see photos), unlike *Acacia melanoxylon* which has brown, deeply furrowed bark.

Medium to large tree with attractive silvery grey foliage on new growth. Good honey source.

Medium tree  with white trunk. Suitable for home gardens. Good honey source. Only occasionally available as seed is scarce.

The largest of the local She-Oaks, they can provide dense shade in the garden. Plants are either male or female. Male trees have tiny golden-orange "flowers" on the green branches, while female plants have small (1cm or less) red flowers that grow on the bare branches (see photos).

# Garden uses

Often a sprawling shrub, it is quite variable in height. In permanently dry conditions it can be less than 2m high, but in moister conditions it grows to 5m, sometimes taller. It has bottlebrush-type cream-yellow flowerheads which attract honeyeaters.

Like *Melaleuca ericifolia*, the sweet-scented, creamy-yellow bottle-brush flowers grow along young branches attracting bees and butterflies. The leaves grow in pairs on opposite sides of the branch, then the next pair of leaves grow at right angles to this.

This member of the daisy family is a tree! with hundreds of tiny, sweet-scented cream flowers and small leaves.

Most She-Oaks have separate male and female plants, but occasionally this species has both male and female flowers on the one plant. Male flowers are orange while female flowers are red.

A member of the pea family. The yellow flowers are showy.

A graceful and easy to grow plant. Open to erect weeping aromatic shrub with long pendulous plumes 4-9 cm long of 50-100 flowerheads at ends of branches. 

Potentially weedy, this cassinia is fast growing and graceful in form. Flowers and seeds have a strong curry scent when crushed. 

Oval leaves may be dark or light green, and rough, smooth or hairy. The 5cm long tubular flowers may be lime green, yellow or pink to red with green tips (see photos).

Good adaptable garden plant. Can be used for screening and provides nectar for birds. Yellow flowers along the stems occur Apr – Aug. 

An interesting shrub with narrow green leaves and brilliant white flowers. On a warm day, ripe brown seedpods explode and the seeds are  thrown up to 1 metre from the parent plant Even just touching a ripe seedpod can cause them to explode in your fingers. The name "Wedding Bush" came about when the early settlers gathered sprays of flowers as fragrant bridal bouquets.

Smaller and more tufted than *Acaena novae-zelandiae*. 

Small plant with many stems carrying very few leaves. Remains green in summer. Good for creating a natural bush effect. Flowers insignificant.

Star-shaped purple wildflower. The tubers formed at the ends of the roots are edible, raw or roasted. 

A ground-hugging member of the pea family with blue-green to green oval leaves and yellow flowers with red highlights. Grows in full or partial sun in well-drained soil.

A member of the lily family. It has fleshy corms and dies back after seeding to come again if conditions suit. Flowers form an umbel on an unbranched stem, and are white with a pink central ovary which becomes the seed capsule when pollinated. 

A small clumping lily with pale creamy-white flowers. Grows in full or partial sun in well-drained to moist soil.

A small clumping lily with emerald-green leaves highlighting the sky-blue flowers and bright orange balls of pollen. Each flower opens for only one day, but there are many flowers in each cluster so flowering can last for weeks. When a flower closes, the petals curl around each other (see photos). Looks best in clusters of 3 or more plants. Grows in full or partial sun in well-drained to moist soil.

Flower stems are usually unbranched (i.e. one flowerhead per stem), with golden yellow flowers. Leaves are a moderately dark green, narrow, and often with short hairs on the upper surface and greyish with dense hairs on the underside.

A bright green, slightly prickly plant with many small but brilliant orange and pinkish pea-shaped flowers. Grows in full or partial sun in well-drained to moist soil.

Prostrate plant suitable as a ground cover. Bright green kidney shaped leaves. Flowers insignificant,

Most members of the pea family have approximately round flowers. Members of the Dillwynia group look like their flowers have been stretched to twice their proper width. This species has grey-green leaves and yellow flowers with red highlights. Grows in partial sun in well-drained (but not bone-dry) soil.

Open wiry shrub with fine leaves and egg and bacon type flowers. Useful under storey plant, 

Most members of the pea family have approximately round flowers. Members of the Dillwynia group look like their flowers have been stretched to twice their proper width. This species has green leaves and bright orange flowers with red highlights. Grows in partial sun in well-drained (but not bone-dry) soil.

Adaptable succulent ground cover, particularly useful for revegetation in coastal areas. Purple and white flowers make a vivid show.

The Sundew family of plants release a sticky liquid through modified, hairy leaves. Small insects land on the leaves and are trapped by this liquid and die. Their bodies then decay and feed the plants. This species tends to climb up other plants and has white flowers. It dies back over Summer to small orange tubers, then resprouts with the Autumn rains.

Not often available as seed is difficult to get. Victorian floral emblem. 

A member of the pea family with narrow green leaves and large, bright yellow flowers. Grows in full or partial sun in most soils.

Like a Dandelion, the leaves radiate out from a central point and the plant has yellow flowers, usually in clusters. Flowers have 5 petals, 3 on one side and 2 on the other. Butterfly-attracting. Rarely available. Grows in full or partial sun in well-drained soils.

Greenlink Sandbelt Indigenous Nursery is a volunteer-led non-profit specialising in the conservation and propagation of plants originating around Melbourne, Victoria's southeast, as well as educating the community about them.

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