What is an Australian style garden?
With an island our size, and temperatures from scorching to freezing, there’s not much you can’t grow somewhere Down Under.
Australia has more than 20,000 native species for backyard gardeners like us to choose from, as well as so many introduced species that thrive.
For us at Australian Style Hunter, the best Aussie gardens are a real melting pot that reflects our country — native beauties with blooms that once hailed from far-off continents, rugged rock beds dispersed with wildflowers or their descendants, and productive gardens that delight our foodie senses with their variety.
Best of all is when we can find incredible native flora alongside once imported varieties that have been improved by Australian growers. These newbies are often bred to resist pests and diseases, are more drought resistant, lower maintenance — and of course have maximum wow factor.
Here’s some growers we love. We’d love your help to add to the list (contact us details below).
Let’s start with Florelie flower farm in Victoria, as new Dahlia delights from their breeding program will be released next month and we’re counting down the weeks. Just when you think Dahlia’s couldn’t get any more perfect, it happens. Check out a preview of what’s coming by visiting Florelie’s Instagram page, and to be reminded of release dates.
Ross Roses has been breeding hybrids for twenty years in South Australia, and now has more than fifty stunning varieties to choose from. The Ross family has been breeding roses since 1902 — yes, you read that correctly. With a legacy that long there are a lot to choose from, but if we’re forced it would be Wildfire, and funds support for families who of Emergency Service Workers who lost their lives in service.
We’ve written before about Scented Garden Frangipanis, who turned us into cutting chasers. Another favourite of frangipani collectors across the country is Blackwall Frangipani, who breed their own varieties in Northern NSW (hint: Letica Rose is a collectors favourite).
There are also new variety Australian natives, which were first adapted to help professional landscapers deliver reliable ‘no fuss’ plants for their customers. Today Ozbreed not only supply to professionals but through Bunnings and online plant suppliers, and you can find anything from ornamental grasses to veges and herbs.
And, finally, for those looking to add some natives to diversify their existing garden, we recommend the Native Plant Project’s fab e-nursery.
Get in touch with photos of your own lovely melting pot gardens, or to add to our list of Australian hybrid varieties.