Australian Plants

Faradaya splendida

A strong climber of the rainforest. The plant needs a lot of room to grow, and will grow over other plants in its path. The large white flowers are followed by the large fruit which look like potatoes, and are about the same size as them. The flowers have long stamens and styles. The leaves are large, and glossy dark green.

Ficus congesta

This large shrub is a cluster fig. The large leaves are attractive, especially with the coloured new growth, and the bush has a neat symmetrical appearance when young. The figs are found inside the plant, mainly growing from the lower trunk in large clusters, but some fruit is also found along the branches. The figs are about 1 cm diameter.

Ficus coronata

Creek Sandpaper Fig. See my Bushtucker pages

Ficus macrophylla

Moreton Bay Fig. This is a large tree of the rainforests, but commonly grown in older parks, where it is a large spreading tree. It has large leaves, dark green on top, but gold-brown underneath. It produces purplish fruits.

Gahnia aspera

A dense tufting plant to 75 cm, with strap-like leaves with fine serrations which can cut your skin. Reddish seeds on spikes appear within the foliage. Difficult to propagate.

Graptophyllum excelsum

Native Fuchsia. A small shrub with glossy green toothed leaves, and brilliant red flowers. This specimen was growing in a pot on my verandah, facing north.

Grevillea baileyana

(formerly G. pinnatifida) White Oak. A rainforest tree to 8m. Tree is covered in creamy cylindrical flower spikes in late spring. Large glossy green leaves, divided when young. Underside is gold changing to a silvery grey. Attractive all year round.

Grevillea banksii - prostrate form

Banks' Grevillea. A groundcover which has greyish green divided leaves. The red flower spikes are about 10cm long and occur through the year. The usual naturally growing form of Grevillea banksii is a large narrow shrub 7m tall (Yeppoon to Byfield) with mostly red flowers or to 4m tall with mostly white flowers (Bundaberg to Maryborough) in spring. However the most commonly grown form is a 3m shrub with red flowers throughout the year.

Grevillea robusta

Silky Oak. Large rainforest tree which in home gardens still grows very tall - to 20 m, witha narrow habit. I have noticed that in colder climates they are not as tall and more spreading. Beautiful divided foliage is silvery on the undersides. Bright orange flowers occur in racemes to 15 cm long in spring, later in colder climates. In the tropics flowering occurs when the tree is completely deciduous, typical of many monsoonal rainforest trees.

Grevillea venusta

Byfield Grevillea, Byfield Spider Flower. This unusual grevillea comes naturally from the high rainfall district of Byfield, north of Yeppoon. It grows into a well shaped, rounded, small tree 3 to 5 metres high. Initailly the leaves are divided, but become undivided on maturity, as do a few other Queensland species. It is a very bird attractant plant, giving shelter to small honeyeaters. This plant photogrpahed in September, in Thornlands - Redland Shire.

Hakea florulenta

Small upright shrub, white claw flowers in early spring, followed by woody fruits. Grey-green slender leaves to 12cm long.

Hakea purpurea

Medium shrub to 1.5 m with sharp needle leaves. Lots of red spider flowers in spring, similar to grevillea flowers, followed by woody capsules.

Hardenbergia "Minihaha"

Small spreading dense shrub with dark purple pea flowers.

Harpullia pendula

Tulipwood, Native tuckerooo. This is a medium rainforest tree common in Brisbane gardens and streets. It has large glossy green leaves and makes an excellent shade tree with dense cover. Flowers are not spectacular, but the yellow - red fruits in two lobes are conspicuous. These open to reveal black seeds, although they are often eaten by insects.

Hibbertia scandens

Snake Vine, Guinea Flower. Climber or groundcover. Broad leaves, fleshy stems, 5cm yellow flowers followed by orange fruits.

Hibbertia stricta

Guinea Flower. Similar to H. vestita. Prostrate plant with short linear leaves and bright yellow flowers about 1.5 cm across. It was growing among grass in an area mowed by council mowers, in damp soil within 40m of a creek. Photographed in September in Cleveland.

Hibbertia vestita

Guinea Flower. Prostrate plant with bright yellow flowers 2-3cm across, late winter to spring.

Hibiscus geranoides

The photograph of this has been removed since it no longer believed to be a native of Australia. It is a shrub to 1m with 5cm pink flowers several times per year.

Hibiscus heterophyllus

Native rosella.This shrub is often seen beside Queensland roads. The leaves vary in shape - some are more lobed than others, and populations also vary as to their flower colour- white, yellow with a red throat, and pink especially

Homolanthus nutans - formerly called Omalanthus populifolius.

Native Bleeding Heart. Rainforest shrub to 4m tall, with the old leaves turning red. Green fruits follow the tiny green flowers.

Hovea acutifolia

Pointed Leaf Hovea. Shrub to 3m producing 1cm purple pea flowers in August to September. The leaves are green on top, but golden brown underneath.

Hymenosporum flavum

Native Frangipani. Open, erect, rainforest tree with dark green leaves and perfumed cream to yellow flowers to 4cm.