Bold exotic plants change the look of a house from the street: a bird of paradise beside the entry, a dragon tree against a rendered wall, cordylines along a path. Australia's range of climates means much of this grows outdoors that would need a glasshouse elsewhere. The limits are frost in the south and humidity in the subtropics. This guide covers which exotics suit each climate and aspect, what to plant in the south in their place, and the rules that apply to exotic plants here.
Exotics that suit an Australian exterior
| Location | Exotics that do well outdoors |
|---|---|
| Darwin and tropical Queensland | Heliconia, traveller's palm, licuala, gingers, bougainvillea |
| Brisbane and the subtropics | Frangipani, hibiscus, cordyline, golden cane palm, monstera |
| Sydney and coastal NSW | Strelitzia, xanadu, and bougainvillea in warm spots |
| Perth and Adelaide | Olive, agave, dragon tree, bougainvillea, rosemary |
| Melbourne and Canberra | Cold hardy substitutes, or pots that shelter over winter |
Choosing plants for the most effect
A front garden needs one clear focal point, repeated supporting plants and a low layer to tie them together. Good focal plants include the giant white bird of paradise, which reaches 6 metres and needs room, the giant elephant ear covered in our elephant ear care guide, and a yucca for a dry, sunny wall. For more on placing a single plant where it will be seen, see our guide to feature trees for a front yard.
For a dry, low water frontage, build on succulents, aloes and the plants in our agave garden ideas, with more suggestions in our list of drought tolerant plants for a Brisbane garden.
Match the exotic to the aspect
North is the sunniest side here and south the shadiest. West takes the afternoon sun and the heat stored in the walls, and east is the mildest. A west facing front in Perth or Adelaide is the hardest position on the property: plant agave, olive and dragon tree there, not soft leaved tropicals. Keep broad, soft foliage for the east and for sheltered courtyards.
Cold hardy substitutes for southern gardens
- In place of tropical cordylines: Cordyline australis, hardy to about minus 5 degrees. Our cordyline guide covers both groups.
- In place of heliconia: Strelitzia nicolai or canna.
- In place of tropical palms: lady palm, or tree ferns.
- In place of frangipani: crepe myrtle, for months of summer flower.
Two Australian rules for exotics
Biosecurity. Bringing plants, seeds or cuttings into Australia without a permit is illegal, and movement between states is restricted, particularly into Western Australia and Tasmania. Buy from Australian nurseries that ship legally into your state.
Do not let them escape. Most of Australia's environmental weeds arrived as garden plants. Check your council's weed list before planting near bushland, deadhead anything that seeds freely, do not dump garden waste in bushland, and plant clumping bamboo, not running bamboo.
Keep roots away from the house
This matters when planting close to walls and paving. Figs, including Ficus hillii and Ficus benjamina, have aggressive roots that lift driveways and break sewer lines. Poincianas and large eucalypts are similar. Keep them well away from slabs, paving and services, or grow figs in planter boxes where the roots are contained.
Getting them through summer
- Shelter from hot, dry wind matters more than the heat itself. Large tropical leaves shred however much you water.
- Give broad, soft foliage morning sun and afternoon shade. Full sun on an overseas label is not Australian full sun.
- Make sure the soil drains. In wet Brisbane and Sydney summers most exotic losses are root rot, not drought.
- Mulch 75 mm deep to keep the roots cool.
- Group plants so they raise the humidity around each other, which matters in Perth and Adelaide.
Paths, pots and edges
Keep the hard surfaces simple so the plants carry the design: one paving material, one pot colour, and gravel or a single groundcover between the larger plants. Large pots either side of the door, each planted with the same thing, do more than a row of mixed small ones. Our guide to front yard planting for kerb appeal applies the same ideas to the whole frontage.
Common questions
What exotic plants grow in Melbourne?
Cordyline australis, yucca, canna, lady palm, tree ferns and crepe myrtle, with frost tender plants kept in pots that can be moved under cover.
Which exotic plants suit a hot west facing wall?
Agave, yucca, olive, dragon tree and bougainvillea.
Can I bring plants or seeds in from overseas?
Not without a permit. Buy from Australian nurseries.
Ready to plant?
Browse the exotic and rare plants collection for the unusual, anchor the design with feature trees, or build a water wise frontage from architectural plants for designer gardens. We deliver live plants Australia wide, backed by our 30 day satisfaction guarantee.
