Plants We Used

Trees:

Acacia pycnantha 'Golden Wattle'
Fast-growing small tree. Local indigenous tree, usually found on dry sites. Flowers with sweetly-perfumed large golden balls in late winter and spring. Golden Wattle is the floral emblem of Australia.

• Attractive as a juvenile plant.
• Small habit allows for the use of smaller plants around its base.
• Attracts insect and seed eating birds.
• Drought resistant.

Shrubs:

Acacia acinacea 'Gold-Dust Wattle'
1.5x2m Yellow flowers late winter to spring. Prefers good drainage. Dappled shade& full sun.
May sucker on embankment to form an attractive drift.

• Can be grown under trees.

Dodonaea viscosa ‘Wedge-Leaf Hop Bush’

• Grows naturally on dry sites
• Height will not obscure view of the platform
• Prefers well-drained soils
• Especially attractive when planted in conjunction with Senna and Indigofera australis.
• Has attractive reddish seed capsules or ‘hops’ in spring.

Indigofera australis ‘Australian Indigo’

• Suited to dry shade next to station building
• Can be planted under trees (poplars).
• Veryattractive in groups.
• Attractive in conjunction with Senna and Lomandra
• Regenerates from the base after coppicing.
• Fastgrowing
• Fragrant
• Pretty foliage and mauve flowers

Myoporum petiolatum 'Sticky Boobialla'
Attractive dark green shrub with white flowers in winter-spring followed by purple berries.Becomes leggy with age and should be pruned severely to rejuvenate.

• Berries attractive to birds
• Screening shrub.
• Can be hedged.
• Suitable for dry semi-shaded areas.

Rhagodia parabolica ‘Fragrant Saltbush’
1.5 x 1.5m. Spindly to dense shrub with bluish-green foliage and sprays of tiny white fragrant flowers from November to January followed by small red berries. Occurs in isolated, rocky gorges northwest of Melbourne.

• Survives in rocky, well-drained soils on locations similar to the embankment.
• Forms attractive mounds.
• Contrasting light grey green foliage.
• Dense foliage will provide habitat for small birds and deter trespassers.
• Covers the ground so weeds will not grow beneath it.
• Can be grown in full sun and part-shade.
• Fire-retardant foliage.

Senna artemisioides spp. filifolia (Desert Cassia)
Slow-growing, open shrub of rounded habit, bearing bright yellow flowers in winter and spring. Found on dry escarpments on the Keilor Plains.

• Useful for planting under vigorous plants such as the peppercorn.
• Prefers dry, well-drained soils.
• Withstands light shade.
• Withstands heat.
• Has a long-flowering period.

Ground covers and Tufting Plants

Enchylaena tomentosa (Ruby Salt- bush)
Small prostrate shrub to 1 m wide with small yellow/red berries all year. Prefers sunny position but will grow under shrubs.

• Suits dry, well-drained soils.
• Grow to preserve this species as it is severely depleted in the wild.
• Will grow around the edges of the Peppercorn.
• Attractive, edible berries.

Einadia nutans (formerly Rhagodia nutans) ‘Nodding Salt-bush’
Indigenous ground cover, 30cm.x1.2m. Grows naturally in rocky scrub-land and is tolerant of dry soils. Has fire retardant foliage and insignificant green flowers followed by succulent red berries in summer and autumn. It is a useful ground cover for dry banks and rockeries. Tolerates full and part sun and responds to regular light pruning.

• Can be grown on dry banks where very few other plants will survive.
• Drought-resistant once established.
• Some seasonal interest from small colorful berries.
• Adaptable plant to sun and shade.
• Very prostrate ground cover.
• Looks natural when grown around rocks with Dianella admixta.

Dianella admixta (Spreading Flax Lily)
Indigenous plant with blue-grey strap leaves with blue flowers held well above the foliage in spring and early summer followed by edible blue berries. Occurs in most plant communities in the Keilor Plains.

• Grows naturally around rocks.
• Drought resistant
• Has attractive blue flowers followed by blue berries.
• Contrast with Rhagodia parabolica.
• Provides pollen for beneficial native insects.
• Flowers in sun or light shade.
• Fills an area by multiplying stolons.

Lomandra longifolia ‘Spiny-headed Mat-rush’
0.5-1m.x 0.5-1.2 m. Large tussock plant commonly used for street verge plantings. It has green strap-like leaves hiding clustered yellow, scented flowers in spring. Local indigenous plant found on the steep banks of watercourses and escarpments.

• Provides a contrast in form and foliage to other plants chosen.
• Tolerates dry, poor soils.
• Will grow under established trees and in full sun.
• Indigenous plant.

Myoporum parvifolium 'Creeping Boobialla'
Masses of white flowers in summer followed by fruit eaten by rosellas.
Hardy and dense, suited to embankments and retaining walls.1 meter spread.

Stipa elegantissima ‘Feather Spear Grass’

• Drought tolerant
• Highly ornamental mass planted
• Flowers interesting over a long period.
• Prefers dry soil.
• Will grow under trees (Acacia pycnantha)

Climbers

Clematis microphylla (Small-Leaved Clematis)
Vigorous climber with cream flowers from late winter to early spring followed by fluffy seed heads. Fluffy seed heads follows female flowers.

• Dramatic plant for embankments as it will cascade down from the top of the embankment.
• Brighten up late winter and early spring.
• Fast growing for quick effect.
• Drought tolerant once established.
• Seed head used by Ring-tailed possums to line their nests.

Under Station:

This is a very dry densely shaded location and planting should be confined to areas around rock groups that may be able hold planting pockets of mulched soil to retain the little moisture there is.
Any plants placed here should be looked on as a trial planting to ascertain how the indigenous plants selected survive without irrigation. There is a tap located under the ramp for watering plants until they become established.

Dianella tasmanica: (Tasman Flax Lily)
1 metre high clump of strap leaves with pale blue flowers held in racemes above the leaves followed by purple berries.

• Robust plant with strong, upright form.
• Attractive green foliage.
• Tolerates low light conditions.

Hypolepis australis
A fern similar in character to Bracken that is being grown by Newport Lakes Indigenous Nursery.

• One of the few ferns that can tolerate dry shade.Note: All ferns were lost in 2012 when the stairs were replaced. We decided not to replace ferns as no rain penetrates beneath the new stair landing.
• Light green foliage and fronds contrasts with dark green strap leaves of Dianella and fine mid-green tussock of Lomandra longifolia.
• Available locally

Lomandra longifolia
Can withstand neglect and very low light levels and dry soils. The leaves are mid green and graceful and reach a height of 50cm.-1m. The tussock will spread slowly to cover an area of approx. 1m. Honey-scented flower spikes occur on established plants in spring.

• Tolerates low light levels and dry soil.
• Leaf form provides a good visual contrast with other plants chosen.
• Plants are adaptable and reliable in difficult situations.