Groundcovers, Climbers, Creepers
Acacia aculeatissima - Snake wattle
0.2-0.6 m x 1-2 m
Light open sprawling shrub. Branchlets ribbed, covered in short, stiff hairs.
Yellow ball flowers, July - Sept.
Excellent for rockeries or banks.
Acaena novae-zelandiae - Bidgee Widgee
Prostrate x 1-4 m
Perennial herb. Rambling mat plant with sparse to densely hairy stems.
Adaptable, tolerating wet or dry conditions; full sun to shade.
Acrotriche prostrata - Trailing Ground Berry
Prostrate - 15 cm x 1-2 m
Open trailing plant, stems rooting at intervals, branchlets softly hairy.
Greenish translucent, tubular flowers.
Moist friable soil. Semi-shade to full shade.
Ideal for growing with ferns.
Acrotriche Serrulata - Honeypots
10-30 cm x 0.5-1 m
Slow-growing, dense mounding shrub.
Greenish translucent tubular flowers rich in nectar.
Most well drained soils tolerating dry periods. Semi-shade to dappled shade.
Flowers have a strong honey fragrance.
Adiantum aethiopicum - Common Maidenhair
10-45 cm x spreading
Carpeting groundcover fern. Fronds tufted aling vigorous rhizomes.
A well known and reliable fern which can cover large areas in ideal conditions. Suitable as a container or basket plant if kept moist and protected from drying winds.
Austrocynoglossum latifolium - Forest Hounds Tongue
Synonyms: Cynoglossum latifolium
0.5-1.5 m x 0.5-2 m
Weak-stemmed, straggling prickly perennial.
Ovate, hairy leaves with small bluish flowers.
Moist soil in sheltered areas; semi-shade to dappled shade.
Billardiera scandens - Velvet Appleberry
To 1.2 m high
Thickish, oblong, dull green leaves.
Light climber, pale bell flowers.
Berries were eaten by Aborigines.
Bossiaea prostrata - Creeping Bossiaea
Prostrate x 0.5-1.5 m
Groundcover, yellow and brown pea flower.
Variable foliage.
Grows well under other plants.
Brachyscome multifida - Cut Leaf Daisy
10-40 cm x 0.2-1 m
Fast growing, suckering perennial herb forming dense spreading groundcover.
Profuse pale mauve, pink or white flowerheads. Flowers most of the year.
Moist clay soils, tolerating dryness once established; full sun to full shade.
Popular ornamental plant.
Calystegia marginata - Forest Bindweed
Twining stems to 1-2 m
Creeper with arrow-shaped leaves and white to pink funnel-shaped flowers.
Moist to wet areas; semi-shade to full shade.
Masses of short-lived flowers are produced. Regular pruning is beneficial. Water during dry periods.
Clematis aristata - Austral Clematis
Climbs to 15+m
Vigorous climber with masses of creamy white starry flowers.
Feathery seed heads persist on the female plant for some time.
Clematis microphylla - Small-leafed Clematis
Climber to 5m high
Dense climber.
Masses of starry cream flowers and fluffy seed.
Well drained soils; full sun, semi-shade.
Desmodium gunnii - Slender tick-trefoil
20-50 cm x 20-50 cm
Slender scrambling herb which dies back to its rootstock in summer. White to yellowish pea flowers.
Well drained soils, tolerating dry periods once established. Full sun, semi-shade.
Dichondra repens - Kidney Weed
Prostrate, creeping herb, spreads to 2m.
Moist to well drained soils; semi-shade to full sun.
Alternative to grass with light foot traffic.
Glycine clandestina - Twining Glycine
Twining 0.3-2 m high
A slender, open twiner with bluish-mauve pea flowers.
Stiff, hairy leaves.
Moist well-drained soils tolerating dry periods once established; semi-shade to full shade.
Glycine tabacina - Vanilla Glycine
Stems 0.2-2 m long
A perennial with racemes of blue to purple flowers.
Well drained soils, tolerating dryness once established; full sun, semi-shade.
Not tolerant of a heavy frost.
Aborigines chewed the liquorice-flavoured tap root.
Goodenia lanata - Trailing Goodenia
Prostrate x 0.5-1.5 m
Dark green foliage, yellow flowers on long stalks.
Tolerates extended dry periods once established; full sun, semi-shade.
Attractive in a container and trailing amongst other plants.
Hardenbergia violacea - Purple Coral Pea
Open creeper or wiry scrambler.
Leathery dark green ovate to lanceolate leaves.
Axillary sprays of 10-30 purple pea flowers.
Well drained soils; full sun, semi-shade.
Hydrocotyle hirta - Hairy Pennywort
Carpeting perennial herb.
Tiny pale yellow flowers.
Round kidney-shaped leaves.
Moist soil; semi-shade to full shade.
Hypericum gramineum - Small St. John's Wort
25 cm x 5-20 cm
Erect perennial herb, stems often ridged.
Blue-green oblong leaves with orange-yellow flowers in loose clusters.
Moist soils tolerating moisture and summer dryness; full sun, semi-shade.
Kennedia prostrata - Running Postman
Prostrate x 1-2.5 m
Crinkly and hairy grey-green leaves,
Scarlet long-stemmed pea flowers.
Well drained soils; full sun, semi-shade.
Drought tolerant once established. Grows well in a hanging basket.
Linum marginale - Native Flax
30-80 cm x 30 cm
Slender erect bluish perennial herb.
Open, clear blue flowers.
Ascending, narrow leaves.
Moist well drained soils; full sun, semi-shade.
Cut back hard in late autumn to encourage new growth.
Microtis unifolia - Common Onion-orchid
15-90 cm high
Dense spike of several pale to golden-green erect flowers.
Moist to dry soils, well-drained rocky situations; full sun, semi-shade.
May form extensive colonies.
Pandorea pandorana - Wonga vine
Scrambler or climber 6+ m
Dense and vigorous climber.
Glossy dark green leaves, cream bells.
Moist well drained soil; full sun, semi-shade.
Very showy when in flower. Grows well amongst established trees or over a pergola.
Pelargonium australe - Austral Storks Bill
30-60 cm x 0.3-1 m
Soft, perennial herb forming a clump.
Aromatic rounded leaves with clusters of white or pink flowers.
Well drained soils, often on ricky outcrops, tolerating dryness once established; full sun, semi-shade.
Useful rockery plant.
Pelargonium littorale - Coast StorksBill
20-40 cm x 0.3-1 m
Erect perennial herb with long stalked clusters of pink flowers.
Well drained soils; full sun, semi-shade.
An attractive plant for small gardens and containers.
Platylobium infecundum - Famine Flat-pea
Separated from Platylobium formosum
Prostrate x 1-2 m
Spreading suckering shrub.
Heart-shaped leaves with large yellow & red pea flowers.
Moist to well drained soil. Semi-shade.
Platylobium obtusangulum - Common Flat-pea
0.6-1 m x 0.6-1.8 m
Spreading, clumping or arching shrub.
Triangular leaves with sharp points. Flowers yellow with red central markings.
Prefers drier well drained soils. Semi-shade.
Ranuculus lappaceus - Austral Buttercup
10-60 cm x 30-60 cm
Soft, sparsely to densely hairy, tufted perennial herb, long spreading hairs on lower stem.
Singles or pairs of golden flowers on long, erect stalks.
Moist but not stagnant soils; full sun, semi-shade.
A bright, easy to grow herb for permanently moist areas.
Ranuculus plebeius - Forest Buttercup
10-40 cm x 20-60 cm
Tufted perennial herb covered with flattened or spreading hairs. Shiny yellow flowers.
Semi-shade to full shade.
Rubus parvifolius - Small-leaf Bramble
0.6-2 m x 0.5-3 m
Rambling small shrub to trailing plant covered in hooked thorns.
Short terminal sprays or single axillary deep ping flowers.
Well drained soils; semi-shade to full shade.
Can be trained as a climber.
Solenogyne gunnii - Hairy Solenogyne
Rosette of dull green leaves with erect flowering stalks with single , terminal, greenish flowerheads.
Prefers moist, shaded positions in poor soils.
Veronica plebeia - Creeping Speedwell
Prostrate - 30 cm x 1-2 m
Attractive ground cover in shady gardens, lavender flowers.
Moist well drained soils; full sun to full shade.
Spreads readily in ideal conditions, and makes an attractive groundcover in shaded gardens.
Viola betonicifolia - Mountain Violet
15-30 cm x 15-40 cm
Erect tufted perennial herb.
Basal rosette of dark green leaves.
Large purplish-blue to purple flowers with golden-yellow centres.
Moist to dryish well drained soil; semi-shade to full shade.
Viola hederacea - Native Violet
10-15 cm x spreading.
Tufted stoloniferous herb forming a dense mat.
Single violet flowers.
Dryish to moist soils; full sun to full shade.
A prolific grower once established.
Wahlenbergia communis - Tufted Bluebell
15-50 cm x 15 cm
Vigorous erect, branching perennial herb.
Pale to bright blue flowers on long stalks.
Moist well drained soils; full sun.
Wahlenbergia gracilis - Sprawling Bluebell
10-60 cm x 0.3-1 m
Sprawling annual or perennial herb.
Soft blue bell-shaped flowers.
Full sun; semi-shade.
Spreads readily in garden.
Wahlenbergia stricta - Tall Bluebell
20-50 cm x 30-40 cm
Erect, clumping herb.
Pale blue or white flowers.
Well drained soils; full sun, semi-shade.