Plants for Warm Temperate Climates

The widest choice in the country, and the catch that comes with it

Warm temperate gardeners can grow nearly anything: over 1,000 of the plants here are frost hardy, more than 900 tolerate coastal salt, and over 650 handle real humidity. The catch is that a plant list this long hides the genuine decisions. Speed against maintenance is the big one. Sweet viburnum planted at 1m spacings closes a 2m to 3m hedge inside three seasons, then wants two or three trims a year for the rest of its life, while a slower Magnolia 'Little Gem' screen at 1.5m spacings takes longer to close and asks for one tidy annually. The second decision is evergreen versus deciduous: crepe myrtles and Japanese maples give autumn colour and winter sun where an evergreen wall would shade the house all year.

Matching plants to warm temperate microclimates

Your suburb matters more than your state here. On the coastal strip, salt wind burns soft growth, so lean on westringia, olives, magnolias and star jasmine, and browse the coastal plant range for the front line. Inland and western suburbs cop 40 degree summer days, prime country for crepe myrtles, olives, lavender and rosemary. The hills and elevated fringes of all three cities frost regularly, which is what the frost hardy filter is for. Humid east coast pockets suit gardenias and lilly pillies that would sulk in Perth's dry summer air without extra water.

Planting and spacing that works

Plant in autumn or spring so roots establish in mild soil. Dig twice the pot width and no deeper, water in heavily, and mulch 75mm deep with mulch held clear of stems.

• Privacy screens. Sweet viburnum, murraya or Lilly Pilly 'Resilience' at 1m apart; Magnolia 'Little Gem' or 'Teddy Bear' at 1.5m; pencil pine at 1m for a formal column screen.
• Formal edges. Japanese box at 30cm to 40cm; French lavender or Westringia 'Zena' at 60cm.
• Climbers and groundcovers. Star jasmine at 1m covers a fence or bank; no mow grass at 30cm centres; native violet at 300mm in moist shade.
• Groves and windbreaks. Olives at 3m apart, held at 3m to 4m with an annual prune.

Care basics for the zone

Water deeply twice a week through the first summer, then taper to occasional deep soaks; a long drink the night before a forecast heatwave does more good than a sprinkle during one. Feed once in early spring with controlled release fertiliser, using a low phosphorus blend for natives. Prune spring flowering shrubs straight after flowering and summer performers like crepe myrtles in late winter. In Perth and Adelaide, improve sandy soil with compost at planting and expect to water more often in February than the east coast does.

Common questions

What is the best hedge for Sydney, Perth or Adelaide?

Sweet viburnum for fast broad screens, lilly pillies for glossy native walls, Japanese box for formal work under 1m. All three handle every mainland capital in this zone, and the hedging and screening collection lets you filter by height and growth rate.

Can I mix tropical looks with Mediterranean plants?

Yes, and warm temperate gardens do it better than anywhere else. Keep frost tender drama like giant bird of paradise and frangipani in warm sheltered corners, and give olives, lavender and rosemary the open baking sun. The two palettes meet happily around a pool.

Which flowering trees perform best in this zone?

Crepe myrtles are hard to beat for months of summer flower, with the White Crepe Myrtle 'Natchez' reaching 6m with cinnamon bark and strong mildew resistance. Magnolias, jacarandas and bottlebrush all thrive here too; jacarandas just need room away from paving for their surface roots.

What copes with salt wind near the beach?

Westringia, coast banksia, olives and star jasmine all carry coastal ratings, and magnolias handle second row positions. The olive range doubles as a windbreak that fruits.

How does delivery work?

Everything here is delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.