South Australia

How this collection works

Not every grower in the country freights to every state, so this page shows only the stock grown by partners who deliver into South Australia. What you see is what can actually reach your door, from tubestock through to advanced ex ground trees at landscape scale. Standard delivery starts from $29.95, large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries the 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Gardening in the South Australian climate

Most of settled SA is Mediterranean: long hot dry summers, mild wet winters, and less annual rainfall than any other state. That rules out thirsty tropicals but suits a surprisingly wide palette. On the Adelaide plains, frost is light and rare, so jacarandas, crepe myrtles and olives all thrive. The Adelaide Hills are a different garden altogether, with regular winter frost and higher rainfall, so choose frost hardy deciduous trees and tough evergreens there. Coastal suburbs and the peninsulas add salt wind, which is where westringia and other coastal natives earn their keep. Soils vary from deep sand to heavy clay, and many run alkaline, which most Mediterranean and Australian native plants take in their stride.

What grows well in SA

Deciduous ornamentals are the backbone of Adelaide gardens: crepe myrtles for summer flowers on low water, ornamental pears like the Chanticleer for reliable autumn colour, and weeping mulberries as feature trees. Among evergreens, look to the drought tolerant end of our best hedging plants, particularly westringia, box and photinia, which hold a hedge on far less water than a lilly pilly. Australian natives such as lomandra, dianella and kangaroo paw handle sand, alkalinity and dry summers with almost no help, and no mow grasses make a practical lawn substitute where water restrictions bite.

Planting and establishment in SA

Autumn is the best planting window in a Mediterranean climate. Plant from March to May and the winter rain does most of the establishment watering for you, so roots are settled before the first hot summer. Spring planting works too, but budget for deep watering twice a week right through until autumn. Improve heavy clay with gypsum before planting, use a soil wetting agent on water repellent sand, and mulch everything 75mm deep. Feed in early spring with a controlled release fertiliser, choosing a low phosphorus native formulation for natives.

Common questions

Which parts of South Australia do you deliver to?

We ship to every state and territory, and this collection is specifically stock from growers who freight into SA, covering Adelaide and most regional centres. Delivery starts from $29.95, with no minimum order. Advanced and large trees are freighted at cost and quoted for your address.

When is the best time to plant in SA?

Autumn, comfortably. Soil is still warm, rain is coming, and plants get two mild seasons to root in before summer. Avoid planting evergreens in December and January unless you can water deeply and often.

What survives frost in the Adelaide Hills?

Deciduous trees such as ornamental pears, crepe myrtles and mulberries shrug off Hills frost, as do box, westringia and photinia. Skip frost tender choices like poincianas and most tropical foliage plants, which belong on the plains or further north.

My soil is alkaline. Does that limit me?

Less than you would think. Most Mediterranean plants, olives, pears, crepe myrtles and the majority of hardy natives are comfortable at a higher pH. The main casualties are acid lovers like camellias, azaleas and magnolias, which do better in SA grown in pots of quality potting mix.