Canavalia rosea (Coastal Jack Bean)
Form: Groundcover height 30cm and spread 1 metre.
Soil / Conditions: Sandy/ Well-drained
Aspect: Full Sun
Description:
Prostrate trailing perennial vine, very fast growing
and forms a large dense mass.
Dark green foliage & pretty purplish-pink flowers Dec/Jan.
Brown seed pods 15cm long. Poisonous when mature.
Salt spray tolerant.
Family: Fabaceae
Special Features:
Cerulean butterfly food.
Carpobrotus glaucescens (Pigface)
Form: Prostrate, spreading to 2 metres.
Soil / Conditions: Adaptable / Moist
Aspect: Full Sun
- Description:
Creeping plant, fleshy grey/green leaves
Large pink flowers September-May.
Excellent for covering bare patches and growing over retaining walls.
Flowers in Spring to Autumn
Family: Aizoaceae
Special Features:
- Juice from fresh leaves relieves midge bites & bluebottle stings.
- Succulent and tasty edible pink fruit (tastes like salty apples).
Enchylaena tomentosa (Ruby Saltbush)
Form: Shrub to 0.5 metres. Spreads to 1 metre.
Soil / Conditions: Adaptable / Moist
Aspect: Full Sun
- Description:
Prostrate habit.
Small (5mm) fruit, bright red when ripe.
Grey-green succulent leaves.
Fruit goes green to yellow to red
Flowers in Spring to Summer
Family: Chenopodiaceae
Special Features:
- Natural Habitat: Wetlands
- Bird attracting.
- Good Rockery Plant.
- Edible Berries.
Hardenbergia violacea (Native Sarsparilla)
Form: Scrambling vine. Spreads to 2 metres
Soil / Conditions: Adaptable / Moist
Description:
Scrambling or prostrate habit.
Slender stems.
Dark green patterned leaves.
Bright purple pea flowers in Winter and Spring
Family: Fabaceae
Special Features:
- Bird attracting.
- Host plant for common Grass Blue Butterfly.
- Hanging basket plant.
- Aboriginal food and medicine source.
- Tea substitute for early settlers.
Hibbertia scandens (Climbing Guinea flower)
Form: Scrambling ground cover to 3 metres.
Soil / Conditions: Adaptable / Moist
Aspect: Full Sun
Description:
Fast growing & far spreading groundcover or twining climber.
Bright green foliage & large yellow flowers in September-February.
Red fruit & interesting seed capsules.
Very hardy, salt tolerant, drought resistant.
Clumps well after pruning.
Flowers in Spring to Summer
Family: Dilleniaceae
Special Features:
- Flowers have musky smell.
Ipomoea pes-caprae (Goat’s foot vine)
Form: Scrambling groundcover
Soil / Conditions: Adaptable / Well-drained
Aspect: Full Sun/Filtered Sun
Description:
Perennial trailing vine.
Distinctive leaves shaped like a goat’s foot print.
Spectacular bright pink 5cm flowers (similar to morning glory flower) most of the year.
Very thick, waxy leaves get bigger if grown in shade.
Salt spray tolerant.
Family: Convolvulaceae
Special Features:
- Good dune stabilizer.
Kennedia rubicunda (Running red pea)
Form: Vine – climbing or prostrate to 2 metres
Soil / Conditions: Adaptable / Well-drained
Aspect: Full Sun/Part Shade
Description:
Scrambling or prostrate plant.
Slender stems & patterned, dark green leaves.
Masses of attractive red flowers in Winter and Spring.
Family: Fabaceae
Special Features:
- Fruit is silky, hairy pods.
Myoporum boninense (Mangrove Boobialla)
Form: Shrub to 0.5 metres. Spreads to 1 metre.
Soil / Conditions: Adaptable / Moist
Aspect: Full Sun
Description:
Prostrate habit.
White flowers in small clusters.
Small (8mm) purplish fruit.
Fleshy alternate leaves.
Flowers in Summer to Autumn
Family: Myoporaceae
Special Features:
- Natural Habitat: headlands and tidal creeks
- Edible but bitter berries. May add flavour of spices to cooking.
Scaevola calendulaceae (Dune fan flower)
Form: Groundcover height 30cm and spread 1 metre.
Soil / Conditions: Adaptable / Well-drained
Aspect: Full Sun
Description:
Fast growing, sprawling groundcover that forms mats.
Blue to purplish scented flowers throughout the year.
Common on the sand dunes.
Family: Fabaceae
Special Features:
- Small succulent dark purple fruits. Fruit are edible and may be used for making jams.
Stackhousia spathulata (Coast Stackhousia)
Form: Perennial herb 30 to 50 cm high
Soil / Conditions: Adaptable / Well-drained
Aspect: Full Sun
Description:
Bright green foliage & white flowers in late winter – early spring
Flowers are aromatic.
Flowers in Winter and Spring.
Family: Stackhouseaceae
Special Features:
- Looks good in a pot.
Vigna marina (Yellow beach bean)
Form: Scrambling groundcover
Soil / Conditions: Adaptable / Well-drained
Aspect: Full Sun/Filtered Sun
Description:
Perennial twining or prostrate vine.
Roundish leaves and small yellow flowers most of the year.
Grows on sand dunes, but adaptable to a variety of soils.
Fast growing.
Family: Fabaceae
Special Features:
Stabilises sand dunes