Four unique plants to add to your garden

Got bare spots to fill in the garden? Ditch the hedging and edging go-tos and check out these four unique plants instead. Often overlooked, they bring foliage and flower colour plus pollinators to outdoor spaces. From an evergreen native tree that makes an excellent screen and a bush tucker beauty, to a patio- and pot-friendly perennial and a striking shrub, these versatile varieties deserve a spot in your garden:

• Blueberry ash (Elaeocarpus reticulatus)
• Plectranthus ‘Mona lavender’
• Midyim berry (Austromyrtus dulcis)
• Chinese fringe flower (Loropetalum chinensis)

Blueberry ash (Elaeocarpus reticulatus)

Offering year-round appeal, this native can be grown as a feature tree, screening plant, informal hedge or large container specimen. Its glossy foliage makes a graceful backdrop throughout the year, with fringed white or pink flowers in spring and summer. Happy in everything from coastal to cool temperate gardens, it prefers full sun to part shade and well-drained soil.

Plectranthus ‘Mona lavender’

With its glossy green foliage with purple undersides and masses of lavender flowers, this easygoing perennial fills pots, brightens borders and adds colour to covered patios. Its autumn and winter flowers are a source of nectar for pollinators when many plants take a break. It enjoys partial shade as full sun can burn its leaves.

Midyim berry (Austromyrtus dulcis)

This versatile native can be grown as a low hedge or groundcover, to edge paths and borders, or in pots and raised beds. Delicate white flowers appear in spring and summer (and to mid-autumn in cooler areas), followed by speckled white berries that are edible once soft. It suits cool temperate, subtropical and tropical climates, and prefers full sun to part shade with well-drained soil.

Chinese fringe flower (Loropetalum chinensis)

This shrub’s burgundy foliage creates a striking contrast, especially when paired with plants featuring silver, lime or blue-toned leaves. Tassel-like pink blossoms decorate the branches from late winter into spring. Varieties with flowers in white to pale yellow are also available. Use it as a feature shrub, informal hedge or within mixed borders.

Keep in mind…

• Take care when selecting your plants as some can be poisonous to children and pets, and check their suitability for your region, as some may be classified as weeds in certain states and territories.
• Wear gloves and a mask when handling mulch, compost and potting mix, and store all garden chemicals and products out of reach of children and pets.

Got a question about a particular plant?

Check out our A-Z Growing and planting guide for the answers.

 

Photo credit: Adobe Stock.