Native Garden

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Burke’s Backyard recently visited the 2 acre native garden on a 5 acre property belonging to Merv and Olwyn Hodge in Queensland. The natives include a large number of grevilleas (about 160 species and many hybrids that Merv Hodge has bred himself) as well as eucalypts, hakeas, banksias, eremophilas, grass trees, palms and spear lilies. The plants generally survive on rainfall only and the soil is impoverished decomposed sandstone.

Grevilleas

Merv is concentrating on developing some low growing grevilleas that are suitable for the smaller backyard. Some recommended grevilleas for backyards and others that were featured include:

  • Grevillea ‘Robyn Gordon’ – A small growing shrub (about 1-1.5m or 34′ high and about 1.5-2m or 4-6′ across) with red flowers throughout the year. Attracts native birds and is a hybrid between G. banksii and G. bipinnatifida. It is worth growing in all areas of Australia.

  • Grevillea ‘Superb’ – A spectacular grevillea that was bred by Merv Hodge which is popular throughout Australia. It is similar to ‘Robyn Gordon’ in growth and habit but has orangey apricot flowers. It has the same parents as G. ‘Robyn Gordon’ but is better suited to the warmer zones of Australia.
  • Grevillea ‘Misty Pink’ – A medium-sized shrub (about 3m or 10′ high) with pale pink flowers throughout the year and is best suited to the warmer zones of Australia.
  • Grevillea ‘Moonlight’ – A tall growing grevillea which can grow as a small tree to about 5m (15′) tall with soft lemon flowers and is highly bird attracting. It is best grown in the warmer zones of Australia.
  • Grevillea dielsiana – A prickly form of grevillea with red flowers.
  • Grevillea sp. ‘Burra Range’ (similar to Grevillea ‘Sandra Gordon’) – The Burra Range is not available commercially but ‘Sandra Gordon’ is. They are both tall growing trees (between 3-6m or 10-20′ tall) with golden yellow flowers. Both attract native birds and are best suited to the warmer zones of Australia.
  • Grevillea juncifolia – Golden yellow-orange flowering grevillea with broom like foliage.
  • Grevillea banksii ‘Ruby Red’ – A red flowering prostrate form of this variety which doesn’t tolerate frost and is best suited to the warmer zones of Australia.
  • Grevillea sericea – A deep pink flowering grevillea with tiny flowers that comes from the Sydney region but will grow in most areas of Australia.

Care

If you want to start a native garden Merv Hodge suggests removing the grass by spraying it with Zero herbicide and digging up the garden ready for the native plants. Native plants and in particular grevilleas benefit from regular pruning. Grevillea specialists recommend pruning the plant in early spring and cutting it back by about one third. Old plants that are looking scruffy can be rejuvenated by pruning in this manner. With small, low-growing grevilleas that have become scrawny it is best to simply pull them up as they can be readily replaced with a new, vigorous plant. Within six months the new plant will have become well established. Grevilleas do not require a lot of fertilising but Merv Hodge uses fish emulsion products when fertilising his grevilleas.

Other plants featured

  • Gymea lily (Doryanthes excelsa) – A beautiful foliage plant that has a bright red bird attracting flower at the top of the flower spike.
  • Thryptomene baeckeacea – A pink flowering shrub that comes from the Geraldton area of Western Australia growing to about 1.5m (5′) high.
  • Flannel flower (Actinotus helianthi) – Lovely grey foliage contrasting with white to cream flowers which blend well with rocky areas in the garden.

Further information

Contact your local specialist native nursery for these native plants. If they are not available the nursery should be able to order them in.
The Hodge’s native garden will be open in late winter 1999 under the Australian Open Garden Scheme (AOGS). Contact the AOGS next year on their toll free number next year for the details, phone: 1900 155 064.