Acacia aneura – Mulga

• A large shrub to small upright tree from 5–10 m high. Foliage: Phyllodes  grey-green, variable ranging from linear to elliptical. Flowerheads: rod-like and bright yellow.  Flowers at any time of year, often after rain. Pods: oblong and flat 15-50mm long.
• It has an extensive range in all states except Vic and Tas. It is found on hillsides and plains and often forms pure stands. 
• A hardy, drought tolerant small shade tree, which can be grown in a variety of soils. Propagates readily from seed.

Acacia colei – Kalkardi

• A large shrub 2-5m high by 1-3m wide. Large silvery sickle-shaped phyllodes and yellow rod flowers after rain.
• Occurs along watercourses in central Australia.
• A quick-growing relatively short-lived shrub. Moderately frost tolerant. Suggest a sheltered location. 

Acacia cowleana – Halls Creek Wattle

• A large shrub or small tree up to 5m high by 2-3m Bark: smooth. Foliage: large sickle-shaped, greyish colour. Flowers – yellow, rod-like.
• Occurs in the northern areas of central Australia in water courses or better-watered spinifex areas. Also found in sheltered valleys of the MacDonnell Ranges above the frost line.
• A quick-growing relatively short-lived shrub. Moderately frost tolerant. Suggest a sheltered location.

Acacia cyperophylla x – Red Mulga (cross)

• A small tree 4 – 8 m. Bark: “Minni Ritchi” – reddish and shredding in curly strips. Flowers: yellow, rod–like.
• Found along creeks in stony soils or along gullies.
• Hardy and relatively fast growing. These seedlings are likely to be a cross with Ac. desmondii as these plants hybridize in garden settings.

Acacia jennerae – Coonavittra Wattle

• An attractive shrub up to 4 m high with smooth orange-brown bark and bluish-green foliage on pendulous branches.
• Found in sandy spinifex country near salt lakes or on river levees generally in the NW of central Australia.
• A quick growing attractive large shrub. Not long lived  (7 – 10 years) but self-propagates readily from root suckers.

Acacia kempeana – Witchetty Bush

• A medium bushy shrub to 4 m high x 2-3 m wide. Flowers: rod shaped – yellow, often after rain.
• Widespead throughout central Australia Found on foothills, plains and limestone areas.
• A useful plant for screening. Propagates readily from seed.

Acacia peuce – Waddy Wood

• A tall tree growing up to 10 m with drooping branches and foliage. Flowers: pale yellow and globular. Seed pods: large, flat and very broad.
• A rare plant, with a few stands on either side of the Simpson Desert.
• Slow growing but hardy and worth a place in larger gardens. Propagates from seed.

Acacia pruinocarpa – Black Gidgee

• A small tree, often multi-stemmed and spreading to 5 m tall. Foliage: dull bluish-green or dark green, leathery with a prominent vein down the centre.  Flowers: golden-yellow round flower heads.  Spectacular in summer.
• Found to the west of Alice Springs usually with spinifex on sandplains or sometimes on gravelly slopes.
• A hardy slow growing tree in nature. Little known in cultivation.  Propagates from seed.

Brachychiton gregorii – Desert Kurrajong

• A green, densely-crowned tree to 12 m.
• Bell-shaped, pale yellow flowers are in groups of up to 20.
• The seeds and swollen roots of young plants are edible. The roots are an important source of emergency water.

Calandrinia reticulata – Parakeelya

• A very attractive succulent plant for pots or rockery areas. Masses of large pink flowers appear throughout the year.
• Grows in sandplain or mulga woodland habitat in Central Australia.
• An excellent species for hanging baskets. Can be frost sensitive. Propagates easily from cuttings

Callitris glaucophylla – Native Pine

• A tree to 6m high. Leaves: blue-green, covered with small scales. Fruits: woody, rounded before opening to release red-brown papery seeds.
• Found on many of the ranges throughout central Australia where they have escaped fire
• An attractive hardy tree for Central Australian gardens. Timber is termite-resistant.  Moderate growth rate.  Propagates from seed.

Corymbia opaca – Bloodwood

• A tree up to 12 m high. Bark: pale brown, scaly. Flowers: pale yellow terminal clusters in autumn/winter. Fruits: large urn-shaped.
• Found in a variety of habitats but most commonly on alluvial soils, on lower hill slopes and better watered plains.
• A slow growing tree. Better suited to larger blocks. Propagates from seed.

Cymbopogon obtectus – Silky-Heads          

• Perennial, tussock-forming grass. Strongly aromatic. 30-90 cm high. Seedheads: covered in long, dense, silk-white hairs, to which the common name refers.
• A widespread species occurring in many plant habitats although not common to any.
• An attractive grass. Propagates readily from seed.

Dipteracanthus australasicus subsp. australasicus – Desert Petunia

• A small sub-shrub to 30cm x 30cm. Flowers: tubular – blue, lilac
• Found in Central Australia by water courses or on rocky south facing hill slopes..
• Useful shrub for rockeries & tubs. Flowers prolifically after rain.  Prune lightly and regularly to maintain shape.

Dodonaea viscosa – Hopbush

• An erect to spreading shrub from 2 – 4 m high by 1 – 2 m wide. Leaves: broad, bright green and sticky. Flowers: Seed capsules: papery in a variety of colours.
• Usually found in rocky situations on hills and in creeks.
• Propagates from seed. Self-sows readily. Highly decorative when setting seed. Responds to pruning.

Einadia nutans var. nutans – Climbing Saltbush

• Scrambling shrub to 1 m. high. Leaves: clustered, arrowhead-shaped. Flowers: inconspicuous, on tips of branches.
Fruit: Bright red, rounded, fleshy. Not usually eaten as quite bitter. Used to dye hair or as face paint. 
• Occurs throughout central Australia 

• Attractive drooping plant, suitable for 
basket or pot. 


Eremophila sp. – Arookara Range

• A small bushy shrub 1m x 1m. Foliage: Flowers: deep lilac.
• Found on a rocky hillside south-east of Alice Springs. Is rare and know only from an area less than 100km radius.
• Little known in cultivation, and may be difficult to establish. Requires open, sunny, well-drained position. Requires regular tip pruning to maintain shape. Attractive shrub for a container.

Eremophila christophori – Dolomite Fuchsia Bush

• An erect bushy shrub to 2m x 1.5m. Flowers: blue, tubular
• Found in the MacDonnell Ranges on stony rises.
• A quick growing attractive shrub. Flowers prolifically over a long period. Prune lightly regularly to maintain shape. Propagate from cuttings.

Eremophila latrobei – Native Fuchsia (green or grey leaves)

• A variable shrub up to 5 m high x 0.5-1 m wide. Foliage: bright green to dark or grey leaves. Flowers: can be pale pink to deep pink or red and are prolific after rain.
• Widespread in central Australia. Can be found in a wide range of habitats but has a preference for rocky areas and hillslopes.
• Prefers a well-drained sunny position. Tip prune regularly to maintain shape. Propagate by cuttings.

Eremophila macdonnellii – Splendid Fuchsia (low, spreading form)

• A highly variable species. This form is a low, spreading shrub up to 5 m high x up to 1 m in diameter. Foliage: is open with small, narrow, dark green leaves. Flowers: large tubular shape and deep purple in colour.
• Widespread in Central Australia occurring in a range of soils.
• A highly ornamental species but can be short-lived. Requires full sun and well drained soil. Responds well to pruning.

Eremophila maculata – Spotted Emu Bush

• A dense dark green shrub up to 5 m high by 1.5 m wide. Flowers: pink in spring.
• This particular form is a cultivated variety and probably would not be found growing naturally in the Alice Springs area.
• A very hardy, adaptable sh5rub which thrives in a variety of soils. Requires regular pruning to maintain bushy shape and appearance. Propagate by cuttings.

Eremophila maculata (yellow flowers) – Spotted Emu Bush

• A dense bright green shrub to 5 x 1.5 m. Flowers – yellow in winter/spring.
• Found growing in heavy soils in Central Australia.
• A very hardy, adaptable shrub which thrives in a variety of soils. Propagate by cuttings.

Eremophila maculata var. brevifolia – Lipstick Bush, Spotted Emu Bush

• A small to medium dense spreading shrub up to 1.2 m high x 1–1.5 m wide. Leaves: dark green with maroon margins. Flowers: profuse deep red almost magenta in winter /spring. Colour variable.
• Found in low lying areas in heavier soils in central Australia.
• A very attractive shrub for any central Australian garden. Must be pruned regularly to maintain shape.

Eremophila ovata – Krichauff Ranges Fuchsia

• A small bushy, spreading shrub up to .6 m high x .6 m wide. Foliage: grey-green, hairy, ovate leaves. Flowers: tubular in shape and lilac in colour. Flowers mainly in Spring or after rain.
• This rare plant is restricted to the George Gill, Gardiner and Krichauff Ranges.
• Requires full sun and well drained soils. Root suckers. Prune regularly to maintain bushy appearance.

Eremophila polyclada – Twiggy Emu Bush

• An intricate shrub with many branches which interweave forming a dense structure. May grow 2-3m high by 2-3m wide. Leaves: green, alternate, narrow and drop under stress. Flowers – white tubular with green to brownish spotting inside. Flowers in summer.
• Found growing on inland flood plains in relatively heavy soils in all mainland states except WA.
• In cultivation: a very reliable species. Tolerates a wide range of soils. Frost tolerant. Prune to control rampant growth. Cuttings strike easily.

Eremophila youngii

• Upright shrub to 2-3m tall
• Once established it can tolerate long dry periods
• Attractive pink to red tubular flowers.

Eucalyptus minniritchi (previously – Eucalyptus orbifolia) – Round-leaved Mallee

• A spreading medium to tall mallee shrub or tree 3-6m high x 3-6m wide. Bark: smooth, striated, reddish brown, deciduous in small curling ribbons revealing a red pink smooth new surface. Leaves: opposite, round and grey-green. Flowers: cream to yellow.
• Restricted to the upper slopes of quartzite outcrops or sandstone hills in the central Macdonnell and southern ranges. Found in similar habitats in WA.
• In cultivation: an attractive tree/shrub which is frost tolerant and grows in a variety of soils. Propagates from seed.

Eucalyptus oxymitra – Sharp-Capped Mallee

• A mallee 3 – 6m high. Bark: smooth, usually whitish. Foliage: thick, leathery, grey-green leaves. Flowers: large, attractive, yellow in colour.
• Found in the SW of Central Australia in red sand or rocky hillsides.
• An attractive small bushy tree. Useful as a windbreak or screen. Bird attracting. Propagates from seed.

Eucalyptus victrix – Smooth Barked Coolibah

• Small to medium tree with spreading form and single stark white trunk. 5-15m tall 5-10m wide. Leaves; dull grey-green. Flowers; small and white.
• Found in western and central Australia. Grows on floodplains and low-lying areas in red clay and clay loam.
• Propagate from seed. Slow growing. Prefers open habitat. Drought and pest resistant.

Frankenia cordata – Salty Heath

• Small rounded shrub to 20 cm high x 40-50 cm wide. Leaves: heart-shaped, upper surface with salt glands. Flowers: pink, 5-6 petals.
• Widespread in the central and western deserts in saline loam.
• Good cover for a clayey saline ground. An extensive patch occurs at Olive Pink Botanic Garden with little or no care. Propagates from cuttings.

Frankenia serpyllifolia – Bristly Sea-Heath

• Dwarf spreading to erect shrub .2 – .5 m h x .5 – .6 m wide. Leaves: dark green to greyish. Flowers: pink, 5-petalled in clusters and often profuse.
• Grows in saline areas in heavy soil or sandy soils overlaying clay.
• Suited to most soils. May be grown as a container plant. Hardy to frost and drought. Propagates from seed or cuttings.

Gossypium bickii – Low Desert Rose

• Small spreading shrub 0.5 m high x 0.3-0.5 m wide. Foliage: green, ovate to elliptic leaves. Flowers: white, pink or mauve with a dark red central blotch.
• Common along roadsides in sandy soils and open situations in central Australia.
• A quick growing small shrub. Flowers well. Responds to pruning. Propagates readily from seed.

Gossypium sturtianum – Sturt’s Desert Rose (white flowered form)

• An open shrub 1-2m high x 1-2 m wide. Stems: green with prominent raised black tubercles. Flowers: hibiscus-like, white with dark red central blotch.
• Found in sandy or gravelly soils along streams and drainage lines in Central Australia. It also grows on rocky hillsides.
• A quick growing shrub. Not long lived. Needs sunny open position. Susceptible to fungal attacks. Propagate from seed. Prune regularly to maintain shape.

Hakea lorea – Long-Leaf Corkwood

• A small tree to 6m, often gnarled and twisted. Bark: thick, dark, corky-looking.  Leaves: long (up to 60cm), narrow with a sharp point and grey-green in colour.  Flowers: large, creamy yellow sweetly scented and loaded with honey.
• Widespread throughout central Australia. Often found on ridges and less commonly found by watercourses and plains.
• Slow growing but a wonderful sight when in full flower. A very hardy species.  Propagates from seed.

Marsilea drummondii – Common Nardoo

• A low growing creeping plant
• Like a wet location and can be grown in a pond.
• Clover like foliage

Melaleuca faucicola (syn. Callistemon pauciflorus) – Desert Bottlebrush

• Medium to large shrub up to 3m high x 3m wide. Often much taller and more slender in its natural habitat as it reaches for the light from deep gorges. Flowers: reddish-pink with yellow stamens standing out beyond the petals forming rather delicate looking brushes. There is also a cream coloured flower form.
• Found in deep rocky gorges, beside waterholes in the West MacDonnell Ranges.
• A very worthwhile shrub for central Australian gardens where there is extra summer water – susceptible to borer if drought stressed. Bird attracting. Its bushy habit makes it an ideal screening plant. Moderately quick growing, but requires deep watering during summer. It flowers profusely over a long period in Winter/Spring.

Pandorea doratoxylon – Spearwood

• A twining climbing shrub 3-5m high. Foliage: fern-like when young. Flowers: clusters of large creamy bells with purple striations in the throat.
• Occurs throughout central Australia but restricted to rocky gorges & hills.
• An attractive shrub for central Australian gardens, although a bit unruly. Propagates readily from seed.

Prostanthera striatiflora – Striped Mint-Bush

• A shrub 1-2 m high x 1-1.5m wide. Foliage: glossy green leaves emiting a pleasant odour when crushed.. Flowers: white flowers with purple striations in the tube.
• Found throughout central Australia mostly on hillslopes.
• An attractive shrub for a central Australian garden. Needs regular light pruning to maintain shape. Not very long lived. Propagates from cuttings.

Ptilotus whitei

• A small rigid bushy perennial shrub about 50cm high. Foliage: bluish-green. Flowers: mauve.
• Grows on creek flats and sandstone hills.
• Little known in cultivation. Propagates from cuttings.

Radyera farragei – Bush Hibiscus

• A bushy shrub to 3 m x 1.1 m, covered in hairs which make it rough to touch. Foliage: large rounded leaves, green above & whitish below. Flowers: large deep pink hibiscus-like.
• Found in central Australia on roadsides, creek levees and floodouts.
• Showy plant for the garden. Responds to extra water in the summer. Prune back after flowering. May be frost sensitive.

Senna artemisioides subsp. sturtii – Dense Cassia

• A medium bushy shrub up to 5 m high x 1.5 m wide. Foliage: leaves are grey and made up of 3 – 6 pairs of leaflets. Flowers: bright yellow.
• Common throughout central Australia.
• A very hardy, ornamental, reliable shrub for central Australian gardens. Can be pruned to maintain bushy form. Self sows.

Stemodia viscosa – Sticky Blue Rod

• An erect sticky herb 25–50 cm high. Leaves: variable, green aromatic. Flowers: dark purple.
• Found in moist situations in central Australian ranges and riverine areas.
• Attractive small shrub for an area in the garden that will receive extra water and is semi sheltered. Prune regularly. Propagates readily from cuttings. Good container plant.

Swainsona formosa – Sturt Pea

• A trailing annual with branches spreading up to 2 m. Leaves: green with a greyish tinge. Flowers: bright red pea shaped flower with a black or red centre.
• Found in arid parts of SA and WA in sandy soils after good rains.
• Can be difficult to grow. Plant out carefully as they do not like root disturbance. Requires a well drained soil and full sun. Keep well watered and fertilize regularly.