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This site provides information about plants suitable for landscaping use within South Australia.
Landscapes Alive Plant Selector is an initiative of the Sustainable Landscapes Project. Research and development for Landscapes Alive is assisted by the Local Government Research & Development Scheme.
This site currently provides information about plants suitable for landscaping use within South Australia.
The focus is on species that have low water requirements once established and are non-invasive in the areas for which they are recommended. All species have been subjected to an intensive selection process to meet these two criteria. Plants include those indigenous to the greater Adelaide area, native to another part of Australia or introduced from another country.
The water requirement of each plant is indicated as either minimal or moderate.
Please note: plants that require regular supplementary water once established are not included.
Detailed information is provided about each plant including soil and light preferences, physical appearance, growth habits, attraction for native fauna, common landscaping uses and other qualities and cautions. Please note that soil types can vary significantly within Council areas and that modified environments may not contain original soil types. Soil types in the planting location should be considered prior to plant selection.
It should also be noted that some plants have specific requirements. It is important to select the plants that will suit the environmental conditions of each particular planting location. These conditions may include soil type and modification, aspect, drainage, fire risk and climate including rainfall patterns, temperatures, wind, sun exposure and frost.
While the majority of plants listed are commercially available, you may find some less commonly used species that prove to be more difficult to source. Early communication with plant nurseries and/or growers is strongly encouraged to allow sufficient lead time for preferred species and numbers to be available.
The collection or harvest of plant material or seeds from native plant species is regulated in South Australia. For more information about this including what permissions and permits are required please visit: http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/biodiversity/sustainable-use/what-kind-of-permit.html
Some plant species listed will be indigenous to your area. In such circumstances and in particular when planting near to natural reserves or parks, it is highly recommended that the origin of the material to be planted is identified and, where possible, plants originating from ‘local provenance’ parents should be used. There is also potential risk of some plant taxa (ie Grevillea spp) hybridising with local species. It is therefore advisable to seek expert advice on which species may pose potential threat to adjacent natural vegetation communities.
The Sustainable Landscapes Project is a collaborative partnership between the Land Management Corporation, Innovation and Economic Opportunities Group (through Mawson Lakes Economic Development Project), Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board, SA Water and the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide (Department of Environment and Heritage).
