Australian Plants

Omalanthus populifolius - now called Homolanthus nutans.

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

Ozothamnus diosmifolius

(formerly Helichrysum) Sago Bush. Shrub 2 - 3m. Narrow linear leaves to 1cm. Spectacular white flower heads to 8cm across, can be used as cut flowers.

Pandorea jasminoides

Bower of Beauty, Bower Climber. A climber with glossy, dark green pinnate leaves. The 50 mm conspicuous flowers are usually white with a red throat, but pink forms like that in the photograph are known and cultivated as well. Narrow pods follow the flowers.

Pararchidendron pruinosum

Snow Wood. A shrubby tree. Leaflets, at least 5 per stem, are dark green above and lighter below - some with a slight bronze sheen below. The light fluffy flowers turn brown or range as they age. These are followed by flat seed pods which twist open to reveal dark shiny seeds in autumn. The tree is partly deciduous in winter just before the new growth and flowers appear.

Parsonsia straminea

Silk Pod. A vine. Leaves vary in size. In old specimens the stems may be over 10cm in diameter. Flowers in December.

Patersonia sericea

Native Iris, Purple Flag. About 400 mm high, bright green 10 mm wide strap-like leaves. 3-petalled purple flowers in spring.

Patersonia sp.

Native Iris, Purple Flag. About 300 mm high, grey-green strap-like leaves. Lavender - purple flowers with 3 petals to 4cm across.

Pavetta australiensis

Rainforest shrub to 4m. dense terminal clusters of fragrant white flowers in October - November followed by black fruit.

Petalostigma pubescens

Quinine Bush. A small slow growing tree to 5m. The yellow to orange fruits are about 2 cm in diameter, and appear within the foliage in Autumn.

Petrophila shirleyae

Conesticks. This is a small upright shrub to baout a metre tall, with divided needle like foliage. It is realated to the Hakeas and Grevilleas. In spring the small while cylindrical flower heads appear - about 4 cm long. This is followed by a cone like fruit. The plant normally occurs in the sandy soils of the wallum in south east Queensland.

Phaleria clerodendron

A bushy Australian rainforest tree with dark glossy green leaves to 150 mm long. Spectacular white, scented, tubular flowers occur on the trunk and larger branches, followed by red ovoid fruits to 25 mm long.

Pimelea linifolia

Rice Flower. Herbaceous shrub to about 20cm. Flowers in terminal heads vary in size and colour from plant to plant, but are usually white, occasionally pink.

Pittosporum revolutum

Brisbane Laurel, Rough Fruit Pittosporum. A 2.5 m rainforest shrub. Leaves are in whorls and have rusty hairs underneath. 15 mm yellow flowers are followed by 30 mm dark yellow pods which open to reveal bright red sticky seeds.

Pittosporum rhombifolium - now called Auranticarpa rhombifolium.

Diamond Pittosporum; White Bolly. A small rainforest tree with toothed leaves. Masses of white flowers appear in summer, followed by masses of showy orange fruits in Autumn.

Pleiogynium timorense

Burdekin Plum. See my Bush Tucker pages.

Psychotria loniceroides

Rounded shrub. Small white flowers in late spring followed by cream berries.

Pullea stutzeri

Hard Alder. Bushy rainforest tree. Serrated leaves with brilliant red new growth. Clusters of white ball flowers along the branches several times per year.

Pultenea villosa

Slender shrub to 1m, although a commonly cultivated form is more compact. This cultivated form has a more reddish appearance when in flower, although the flowers are yellow pea flowers.Linear leaves less than 1cm with curved tips. Yellow pea flowers in terminal clusters in September. Photographed September in Cleveland and Thornlands.