Native Shrubs

Colourful short lived/perennial shrub with yellow pea flowers and rattling seed pods. Highly attractive to native butterflies, the Swamp/Plain Tiger and Common Crow species. Thought to be toxic to some livestock, otherwise a very attractive small garden bed feature specimen. 1M

Very unique and attractive small shrub with decorative large white flowers throughout the year, and delicious sweet edible fruit. Ideal in pots or part shade gardens with ample water. 1-2M

Spreading shrub with characteristic bright red-brown peeling ‘minni ritchi’ bark and generous flushes of yellow cylindrical flowers. Short, grey-green lightly furred and somewhat sticky leaves. Versatile and attractive shrub for full sun gardens. 1-4M

Small tree with narrow grey-green leaves, large beaked woody fruits, winged seeds and intricate yellow-orange flowers. Eye-catching fruits split and remain on tree for several months after seeding. Hardy, unique and versatile tree. 3-6M

Shrub or small tree with unique needle-like leaves, sometimes weeping in habit. Striking corky bark and magnificently bold cream flowers, which can grow from trunk. Uncommon in cultivation. Full sun and rocky or sandy soils. 2-7m

Decorative endemic shrub or small tree with edible red berries and evergreen glossy green foliage. Eye-catching large fruits plump and bold when ripe. Favoured bush tucker. Grows in vine thickets and forests. Tolerates part shade. Unique and sought after feature or screening shrub. 1-3m

Extremely rare Grevillea endemic to the Magela Creek area in western Arnhem Land. Blazing and radiant bright red flowers and rigid notched leaves. Stunning feature shrub for parks, gardens and rockeries. Prefers full sun and rocky or sandy soils. 1-2M

Hardy endemic sprawling shrub or small tree. Striking miniature grey-green angular foliage with lightly furred stems. Bright yellow globular flowers. Dense form provides excellent habitat for native birds. Versatile feature, screening or border plant for gardens, rockeries and streetscapes. Prefers full sun. 1-3M

Highly variable shrub or small tree. Distinct powdery whitish bark, bold blue-green crescent moon shaped leaves and profusions of bright yellow cylindrical flowers. Hardy and fast growing specimen ideal for borders and screening. Prefers full sun. 2-6M

Australia’s largest Cycad palm, NT’s most robust and fastest growing. Native to Borroloola/Gulf country. Showy dark green fronds, striking grey-black trunk and roundish fruit turning brown-orange when ripe. Found in open grassy woodland. Iconic feature plant for parks and gardens. 3-10M

Lovely shrub or ground cover with soft blue-green semi-circular miniature elephant ear shaped leaves and bright yellow cylindrical flower spikes. Can flower throughout the year. Ideal for infilling and low screening in gardens and rockeries. Prefers full sun and sandy soils. 0.5-2M

Medium sized spreading shrub with beautiful and distinctive red-brown peeling ‘minni-ritchi’ bark. Small leaves with prolific bright yellow globular flowers. Excellent for garden beds and rockeries. Prefers full sun and rocky or sandy soils. 2-5M

Very rare NT endemic Grevillea restricted to the Narbarlek area of western Arnhem Land. Ornate feature garden planting with exquisite pale pink pendulous flowers and unusual deeply lobed spiky foliage. Prefers full sun and sandy soils but can tolerate seasonal inundation 1-5M

Attractive rounded spreading shrub with profusion of pale yellow flower spikes. Widespread endemic found in open forest. Excellent fast growing screening specimen. Prefers full sun and lateritic, sandy, or rocky soils. 1.5-4M

Erect and hardy multi branched wattle with bright yellow flowers on long spikes. Red-brown or grey coloured bark. Simple and elegant open habit. Tough waterwise screening and landscape shrub. 1-3M

A very rare and hardy Acacia endemic to the NT, found mostly in East Arnhem Land. Small shrub with narrow pointed leaves and globular yellow flowers. Excellent for gardens and rockeries. Prefers full sun and sandy soils. 0.5-1M

Medium sized stately, slender wattle. Attractive brown grey corky bark and beautiful yellow flowers in bloom. Very hardy, fast growing and tolerates a variety of habitats. Common in watercourses and woodland. Excellent showy tree for gardens, rural properties, windbreaks and rehabilitation or soil stabilisation. 2-5M

A hardy and fast growing woody shrub with attractive small, white, star-shaped flowers and soft, lightly haired purple fruit. Excellent fast growing screening shrub for full sun or part shade gardens. 1-2.5M

Rare endemic Acacia restricted to sandstone escarpment of upper Katherine/Edith Rivers. A strikingly unique sparse shrub with dark green, twisted spiralling leaves and bright yellow flower spikes. A feature species for garden beds and rockeries. Requires full sun and well drained, sandy soils. 1-3M

Delicate and attractive small shrub or groundcover wattle with tiny intricate spiral leaves and large yellow orb shaped flowers. Perfect for compact gardens, infilling, borders and edging. Prefers rocky or sandy soils in full sun but will tolerate dappled light. 0.2-1M

Impressive slender small tree with rigid, usually curved or wavy grey-green leaves and arresting blooms of creamy-white flowers. Sticky caustic coating on ripe fruits can burn on contact with skin. Prefers rocky or sandy well-drained soils in full sun. 1.5-3M

Striking and very rare endemic Grevillea with brightly coloured blooms, often displaying gradations of red, orange, yellow and white in a single flower. Hardy ornamental feature shrub. Prefers well drained sandy soils in full sun. 1-2.5M

Very pretty erect perennial shrub. Similar to T.rosea only with orange flowers. Important nitrogen fixing legume and bee attracting plant for fast colourful garden in-filling in well drained sunny areas. Relatively common across rocky, sandstone Top End and on sandy lowlands, occasionally in monsoon forest and vine thicket. Low maintenance and hardy. Most Tephrosia considered toxic, as commonly used as traditional fish poison. Very fast growing but can be short lived. 1-2M

Glorious open fast growing shrub with blue-green holly-like foliage and brilliant flowers turning from red to yellow-orange, seen ongoing throughout the year. A rare Grevillea hybrid and one of the Top End's most decorative. Open form serves to further highlight stunning blooms. Prefers well drained soils in full sun 3-4M

Very low spreading Grevillea shrub from the Western Top End. Holly like leaves and white-cream to cream-yellow-green flowers. Hardy and showy low ground cover specimen for border, filling and accent in garden beds and rockeries. Rarely seen in cultivation. Prefers rocky well drained soils in full sun. 1-2M

Fast growing, very hardy and evergreen understory bushy shrub or small tree. Smooth globular red-black fleshy berries favoured by birds. Widely distributed in coastal monsoon vine thickets, sand dunes, cliffs, rock outcrops, open woodland, sandstone and lowland country. Foundation ornamental screening tree for revegetation, coastal plantings and urban/rural gardens. 1-5M

Impressive small, erect and very hardy decorative shrub, similar to Pink Turkey Bush but bursting with masses of showy white star-like flowers. Common in open wood/shrubland on lateritic soils, sandstone escarpment country, slopes, ledges and rocky banks near freshwater streams. Suitable for borders, filling, screening and feature plantings in waterwise gardens. 1-4M

Medium sized stately wattle with attractive brown grey flaky bark and beautiful yellow flowers in bloom. Very hardy, fast growing and tolerates a variety of habitats. Common in sandstone escarpment, deep riverine sand and open forest or woodland. Excellent showy tree for gardens and rural properties. Also useful as windbreak and for rehabilitation or soil stabilisation. 2-6M

Pretty, slender and unique NT native rainforest understory shrub from the Arnhem plateau, endemic to the Top End. Almost luminous blue-green foliage, large platters of butterfly attracting green and white flowers and masses of stunning blue-grey fruit favoured by birds. Prefers full-part shade in rich moist, well drained soils. Suitable as indoor plant, rarely seen in cultivation. 1-3M

Gorgeous erect native lilly endemic to Northern Australia, with broad glossy blue-green strappy leaves and large clusters of white-purple perfumed flowers. Tolerates full sun or partial shade in waterlogged areas, sandy and clay soils. Attractive to bees, butterflies and birds. Excellent specimen for border edge plantings or potted. Bulbs are considered poisonous. 1-2M