Waterwise Plants
Episode: SA Waterwise Special – Our Changing Climate
Presenter: Kim Syrus
The recent summer heat and restrictions on water have really challenged South Australia’s gardens and gardeners alike. Many of us are faced with the dilemma of which plants to keep and which plants need to be replaced with better suited low water users.
If you are looking for the right waterwise plant for your yard then one of the best places to start is the Adelaide Botanical Gardens. Begin in the newly developed SA Mediterranean garden as this area is filled with the diverse range of low water use plants all ideally suited to our local conditions. The area showcases plants from Australia and overseas including California, South Africa, the Mediterranean and even Chile. It is like a united nations of sustainable plants.
Super tough succulents like the Agavae (Agavae attenuate) are often the first type of waterwise plant we think of, along with a huge range of Aloes and Crassula, however there are loads of plants around to inspire the visitor.
If you want ground covers then Erigeron (Erigeron spp.) with their small daisy flowers or bright fan shaped Scaevola (Scaevola ‘Zig Zag’) are good choices along with a huge range of ground hugging herbs like thyme and oregano.
Australian native plants are obvious choices for the waterwise garden including Correa (Correa reflexa ‘Skye Bells’) filled with fuchsia like blooms, Emu Bush (Eremophila spp.) and soft leafed Geraldton Wax (Chamelaucium uncinatum) are all terrific and easy to grow.
Consider using different foliage to create interest in the garden like low growing velvet Big Ears (Stachys lanata), Jerusalum Sage (Phlomis fruticose) and Senecio (Senecio cineraria) are real show stoppers. Alstroemeria (Alstroemeria spp.) are colourful and hardy producing masses of beautiful blooms. These will do equally well in the garden or pot alike, plus the more you pick the better they flower.
Good old favourites haven’t been forgotten such as the reliable Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Lavender (Lavandula dentata) and Agapanthus (Agapanthus africanus) are all super choices for a waterwise yard.
If you venture over to the sunken garden you will find one of Kim’s favourite plants the Salvia (Salvia spp). These are long flowering, extremely tough and brilliantly bloomed. They are best planted in large groups to create a sea of colour and a real showstopper.
After you have been inspired by the botanic gardens it is time to head to your local garden centre. You will find all the plants you need to set up a waterwise garden and there is always a great range available. Ask lots of questions as to what is a good choice for your garden because it is important to get the right advice.
Presenter: Kim Syrus
The recent summer heat and restrictions on water have really challenged South Australia’s gardens and gardeners alike. Many of us are faced with the dilemma of which plants to keep and which plants need to be replaced with better suited low water users.
If you are looking for the right waterwise plant for your yard then one of the best places to start is the Adelaide Botanical Gardens. Begin in the newly developed SA Mediterranean garden as this area is filled with the diverse range of low water use plants all ideally suited to our local conditions. The area showcases plants from Australia and overseas including California, South Africa, the Mediterranean and even Chile. It is like a united nations of sustainable plants.
Super tough succulents like the Agavae (Agavae attenuate) are often the first type of waterwise plant we think of, along with a huge range of Aloes and Crassula, however there are loads of plants around to inspire the visitor.
If you want ground covers then Erigeron (Erigeron spp.) with their small daisy flowers or bright fan shaped Scaevola (Scaevola ‘Zig Zag’) are good choices along with a huge range of ground hugging herbs like thyme and oregano.
Australian native plants are obvious choices for the waterwise garden including Correa (Correa reflexa ‘Skye Bells’) filled with fuchsia like blooms, Emu Bush (Eremophila spp.) and soft leafed Geraldton Wax (Chamelaucium uncinatum) are all terrific and easy to grow.
Consider using different foliage to create interest in the garden like low growing velvet Big Ears (Stachys lanata), Jerusalum Sage (Phlomis fruticose) and Senecio (Senecio cineraria) are real show stoppers. Alstroemeria (Alstroemeria spp.) are colourful and hardy producing masses of beautiful blooms. These will do equally well in the garden or pot alike, plus the more you pick the better they flower.
Good old favourites haven’t been forgotten such as the reliable Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Lavender (Lavandula dentata) and Agapanthus (Agapanthus africanus) are all super choices for a waterwise yard.
If you venture over to the sunken garden you will find one of Kim’s favourite plants the Salvia (Salvia spp). These are long flowering, extremely tough and brilliantly bloomed. They are best planted in large groups to create a sea of colour and a real showstopper.
After you have been inspired by the botanic gardens it is time to head to your local garden centre. You will find all the plants you need to set up a waterwise garden and there is always a great range available. Ask lots of questions as to what is a good choice for your garden because it is important to get the right advice.
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