Native plants and flowers are extremely important for the Australian ecosystem. They provide a habitat for native animals, reduce erosion, and reduce carbon dioxide in the environment. But with so many different types of native plants and flowers available, it can be difficult to know which ones are best suited to your needs.
Here at Clare Makes, we specialise in candles and home fragrances scented with Australian native plants, herbs and flowers - so we know a lot about them! To help you make an informed decision, we’ve put together a list of our top ten native plants and flowers that you should know about if you want to support local wildlife while also making your home more aesthetically pleasing at the same time.
Photo by Natalie Skoric on Unsplash
Australian Native Plants
There’s no better way to support local wildlife than by planting native Australian plants. These plants are ideal for a number of different landscaping purposes, from creating privacy to increasing erosion reduction.
The first plant we’ll talk about is the Paperbark. This plant is native to Northern Australia and is a great choice for erosion control. It also has a lovely pink or mauve coloured flower that can be seen in the autumn months. Nathandendrobium Orchid is another fantastic Australian native plant. It has beautiful flowers and can thrive in wet or dry conditions. It’s also a great choice if you’re looking to create privacy in your garden, as it grows very tall and can provide a nice barrier.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is probably the most famous of all the Australian native plants. The eucalyptus is a very common Australian native plant and is often used in commercial forestry. It’s a large tree that produces beautiful dark coloured flowers and can grow to be about 30 metres tall. The eucalyptus is known for its strong, fresh scent, which some people find pleasant and others find to be overpowering. It’s a great choice for adding a splash of colour to your garden, but it’s also important to keep in mind that it is known to attract mosquitoes. If you’re looking to plant eucalyptus in your garden, make sure that you plant it at least 25 metres away from your house to avoid the scent becoming too overbearing.
Shop the Eucalyptus Love candle collection here.
Photo by Klara Kulikova on Unsplash
Kakadu Plum
Next on our list of top Australian native plants is the Kakadu Plum. The Kakadu plum is native to Northern Australia and is a small shrub that can grow to be between 2 and 3 metres tall. It produces beautiful white flowers between July and September, which make for a stunning display. The Kakadu Plum is a great choice for people who are looking to add a splash of colour to their garden. It’s also a great choice for growing in pots, as it’s a very low maintenance plant. Kakadu Plums are also relatively hardy and suitable for growing in a range of different soil types, including sand.
Shop the Clyde: Kakadu Plum candle here which pairs the native kakadu plum with a warm vanilla and cinnamon base.
Boronia
Next up is the Boronia. This vibrant flower is native to Australia and is often found growing in sandy soil. It has beautiful pink, blue, or purple coloured flowers that can grow to be around 30 centimetres across. Boronia is a great choice if you’re looking to add a splash of colour to your garden without having to worry about over-watering it. Boronia is a very hardy plant that can thrive in a range of different soil types. It’s also relatively easy to care for and doesn’t require a large amount of maintenance. Boronia is also a fairly low maintenance flower, meaning that you can enjoy it in your garden with very little effort from you.
The Louisa: Wild Boronias candle is the perfect way to scent your home with the smell of fresh boronias.
Lemon Myrtle
Next on our list of top Australian native plants is the lemon myrtle. This plant is native to Northern, New South Wales, and Southern Australia and is often used in cooking due to its citrus scent and flavour. The lemon myrtle is a small, shrub-like tree that produces clusters of yellow flowers that emit a beautiful citrus scent. The lemon myrtle is a great choice for growing in pots, as it requires very little maintenance. It’s also a relatively hardy plant that can thrive in a range of different soil types, although it prefers sandy soil.
Our Quong: Lemon Myrtle & Ginger candle is the perfect way to scent your home with this unique Australian herb.
Photo by Tea Creative │ Soo Chung on Unsplash
Wattle
Next on our list of top Australian native plants is the Wattle. The Wattle is a common plant that is often used to create a visual marker in rural areas. It is also used to create fences as it can grow to be very tall, reaching up to 7 metres in height. Wattle produces beautiful yellow flowers that attract a wide variety of insects, which is great for supporting local wildlife. The Wattle is a great choice for people who want to add some colour to their garden, but who don’t have the time or energy to care for a more delicate flower.
Our Henry: The Wattle candle is the perfect September wattle candle scent and will bring the beautiful scent of this flower into your home.
Photo by April Pethybridge on Unsplash
Rosella
Next on our list of top Australian native plants is the Rosella. The Rosella is a small, evergreen tree that produces beautiful red flowers in the spring and summer months. The rosella is also a great choice for growing indoors and can thrive in a range of different soil types. It’s also relatively easy to care for and doesn’t require a large amount of maintenance. The rosella is a great choice for people who don’t have a lot of time to care for a more fragile flower, but still want to add a splash of colour to their garden.
For the perfect Rosella scent, check out our Miles: Australian Wildflowers candle.
Lilly Pilly
Next on our list of top Australian native plants is the Lilly Pilly. The Lilly Pilly is a small tree that produces beautiful red flowers and is native to most of Northern and Central Australia. It’s a great choice for growing in sandy soil and can thrive in a range of different soil types. The Lilly Pilly is also a relatively easy plant to care for and doesn’t require a large amount of maintenance. It’s a great choice for people who don’t have a lot of time to care for a more fragile flower, but still want to add a splash of colour to their garden.
For the best Lilly Pilly scent, check out our Elizabeth candle, which is named after Elizabeth Isaacs who created her own variety of the Lilly Pilly.
Conclusion
There’s no better way to support local wildlife than by planting native Australian plants. These plants are ideal for a number of different landscaping purposes, from erosion control to providing a habitat for local wildlife.