Shallow gravelly soils

Our climate and growing conditions are perfect for so many plants, so here is what to plant in this type of soil.

Ground covers and grasses (up to one metre) and vines

Table showing common name, botanical name and features
Common nameBotanical nameFeatures

Barbed-wire grass

Cymbopogon
refractus

soft blue-green, tufted perennial aromatic grass with taller arching seed heads; resembles barbed wire

Basket fern

Drynaria rigidula

upright hardy fern; grown in basket will shoot through the matting to eventually conceal the basket

Blue flax lily

Dianella caerulea

fine lily of open eucalypt forest; blue flowers; bright blue berries; suits rockery or foreground planting

Kangaroo grass

Themeda triandra

widespread grass of the eucalypt forest; fine foliage; coppery seed heads in summer

Many-flowered mat rush

Lomandra multiflora

small, grass-like plant for sunny sites; sprays of miniature flowers; evening perfume; draws butterflies

Yellow buttons

Chrysocephalum apiculatum

delicate little ground cover for dry sunny site; gold coloured pom-poms; foliage has silver undersides

Low shrubs (one to two metres)

Table showing common name, botanical name and features
Common nameBotanical nameFeatures

Crinkle bush

Lomatia silaifolia

decorative open shrub; fern-like foliage; white, grevillea-like flowers; moist, well drained soil

Dogwood

Jacksonia
scoparia

fine-leafed hardy shrub for sunny position; clusters of yellow pea flowers; porous soils

Forest grass tree

Xanthorrhoea johnsonii

slow growing 1.5 metre grass tree for sunny site; welldrained soils; flower spike attracts wildlife

Hakea

Hakea florulenta

medium shrub; cream spider flowers in spring attract birds; unusual woody seed capsules

Pointed-leaf hovea

Hovea acutifolia

fine open shrub; purple pea flowers in late winter; prefers filtered light, deeper soils

Queensland rosemary

Westringia eremicola

compact shrub, fine grey-green foliage; dainty pale blue flowers over a period in response to rain

Sago flower

Ozothamnus diosmifolius

fine-leafed shrub with dense heads of cream flowers; attracts painted lady butterfly

Medium shrubs (two to five metres)

Table showing common name, botanical name and features
Common nameBotanical nameFeatures

Brisbane wattle

Acacia
fimbriata

graceful open tree with drooping foliage; lemon pompom blossom; fast growing but short lived

Geebung

Persoonia
cornifolia

hardy shrub; upright habit; mid-green foliage; small, yellow fuschia-like flowers; yellow edible fruit

Golden candlesticks

Banksia spinulosa var. collina

hardy shrub; spreading habit; yellow candle-like flowers; insect and bird attracting

Grey myrtle

Backhousia
myrtifolia

small spreading understorey tree with small leaves; fragrant foliage and beautiful flowers

Native hibiscus

Hibiscus heterophyllus

slender tall shrub of the river bank; large white flowers with deep red throat; prickly stems

White bottlebrush

Callistemon
salignus

small bushy tree; new foliage pink; nectar-rich, cream brushes attract wildlife

Small trees (five to 10 metres)

Table showing common name, botanical name and features
Common nameBotanical nameFeatures

Blue lilly pilly

Syzygium oleosum

bushy tree of coast; glossy leaves; red new growth; cream blossom followed by mauve, edible fruit

Celerywood

Polyscias
elegans

handsome shade tree; long pinnate leaves; fast growing pioneer in rich, moist soils; draws wildlife

Cheese tree

Glochidion ferdinandi

compact tree with small glossy leaves; button-shaped fruit; moist soils; attracts wildlife

Hard quandong

Elaeocarpus obovatus

tree of creeksides; dense, mid-green foliage; clean grey trunk; small white flowers; small blue fruits

Red ash

Alphitonia excelsa

medium tree; clean grey bark; dark green, leathery leaves, silver beneath; attracts birds and butterflies

Tall trees (over 10 metres)

Table showing common name, botanical name and features
Common nameBotanical nameFeatures

Broad-leafed paper bark

Melaleuca quinquenervia

hardy tree for damp sites; cream paper bark; cream brush flowers attract insects and birds

Brush box

Lophostemon confertus

large tree with deep green horizontal foliage; bare pink bark in upper branches; favours south slopes

Forest red gum

Eucalyptus tereticornis

large trees for acreage or steep sites; comprised original canopy of the area; trunks a feature; provide food and nest and perch sites for numerous and varied native wildlife

Pink bloodwood

Corymbia intermedia

large trees for acreage or steep sites; comprised original canopy of the area; trunks a feature; provide food and nest and perch sites for numerous and varied native wildlife

Queensland mahogany

Eucalyptus carnea

large trees for acreage or steep sites; comprised original canopy of the area; trunks a feature; provide food and nest and perch sites for numerous and varied native wildlife

Tallowwood

 

Eucalyptus microcorys

large trees for acreage or steep sites; comprised original canopy of the area; trunks a feature; provide food and nest and perch sites for numerous and varied native wildlife

Last updated:

Brisbane City Council acknowledges this Country and its Traditional Custodians. We pay our respects to the Elders, those who have passed into the dreaming; those here today; those of tomorrow.