Flowers are great, but there’s more to gardening than just seasonal blooms! If you’re looking for native Aussie plants with colourful foliage, you’re in the right place. Whether you’re looking for shades of silver, blue, purple or red, here’s a selection of resilient, colourful native Australian plants to enhance your garden.
Westringia fruticosa ‘WES09’ PBR Trade Name White Mundi™
A tough ground cover with cream and grey-green variegated foliage and spring white flowers. Grows 40cm high, 1m wide. Thrives in sun to part shade, tolerates coastal winds, frost, and various soils.
Westringia fruticosa ‘WES11’ PBR Trade Name Goldie Box™
Golden-variegated foliage with grey-green tones and white flowers in spring and autumn. Reaches 45cm high and wide. Ideal for hedges or features, tolerates drought, frost, and poor drainage.
Chrysocephalum ‘CAP07’ PBR Intended Trade Name Aussie Reflection™
Blue-grey foliage with yellow flowers. Grows 20cm high (35cm with flowers), 0.5m wide. Thrives in sun to light shade, tolerates drought, frost, and occasional flooding.
https://www.ozbreed.com.au/plant-ranges/native-shrubs-groundcovers/aussie-reflection-chrysocephalum/
Eremophila glabra prostrate ‘EREM1’ PBR Trade Name Blue Horizon™
Low-growing ground cover with blue-grey foliage and winter yellow flowers. Reaches 25cm high, 1m wide. Prefers sun, free-draining soil, and tolerates drought.
https://www.ozbreed.com.au/plant-ranges/native-shrubs-groundcovers/blue-horizon-eremophila/
Westringia fruticosa ‘WES04’ PBR Trade Name Grey Box™
Compact shrub with soft grey foliage and white flowers (Sept–May). Grows 30–45cm high and wide. Thrives in sun to light shade, tolerates drought and frost.
Callistemon viminalis ‘KPS38’ PBR Trade Name Red Alert™
Compact bottlebrush with red new growth in autumn and spring. Grows 2–2.4m high, 1.5–2m wide. Tolerates drought, frost, and various soils.
Dianella tasmanica ‘NPW2’ PBR Trade Name Blaze™
Striking purple foliage, 40cm high and wide. Thrives in sun to heavy shade, tolerates heat, drought, and frost.
https://www.ozbreed.com.au/plant-ranges/strappy-leaf-plants/blaze-dianella/
Dianella caerulea ‘DBB03’ PBR Trade Name Cassa Blue®
Compact clumping plant with blue foliage and purple-yellow flowers (Sept–Nov). Grows 50cm high, 40cm wide. Thrives in sun to partial shade, tolerates drought and cold.
Dianella hybrid ‘DP401’ PBR Trade Name Clarity Blue™
Clear blue foliage, 55cm high, 45cm wide. Thrives in sun to part shade, tolerates drought, frost, and occasional wet feet.
https://www.ozbreed.com.au/plant-ranges/strappy-leaf-plants/clarity-blue-dianella/
Dianella spp ‘DIAN04’ PBR Intended Trade name Summer Rev™
Blue foliage with flowers and berries. Grows 50–60cm high, 40–50cm wide. Thrives in sun to partial shade, tolerates heat, frost, and drought.
Lomandra longifolia ‘MURU’ PBR Trade Name Great White™
Variegated white-green foliage, 40–50cm high and wide. Thrives in sun to moderate shade, tolerates drought, cold, and wind.
https://www.ozbreed.com.au/plant-ranges/strappy-leaf-plants/great-white-lomandra/
Lomandra hystrix ‘LMV200’ PBR Trade Name Lucky Stripe™
Clean variegated foliage, 78–100cm high, 90cm wide. Thrives in sun to part shade, tolerates dry or wet conditions.
https://www.ozbreed.com.au/plant-ranges/strappy-leaf-plants/lucky-stripe-lomandra/
Lomandra longifolia ‘NPW3’ Trade Name Variegated Tanika™
Fine variegated leaves with yellow flowers (Apr–Oct). Grows 50–60cm high, 65cm wide. Thrives in sun to moderate shade, tolerates drought and frost.
https://www.ozbreed.com.au/plant-ranges/strappy-leaf-plants/variegated-tanika-lomandra/
Lomandra filiformis ‘LMF500’ Trade Name Savanna Blue™
Compact blue foliage, 30cm high and wide. Thrives in sun to part shade, tolerates drought and frost.
https://www.ozbreed.com.au/plant-ranges/strappy-leaf-plants/savanna-blue-lomandra/
Poa poiformis ‘PP500’ Trade Name Kingsdale™
Blue arching foliage, 45cm high and wide. Thrives in sun to part shade, tolerates drought and frost.
Poa spp. ‘POL12’ PBR Trade Name Eskdale Blue™
Deep blue foliage, 45cm high and wide. Thrives in sun to part shade, tolerates drought and frost.
https://www.ozbreed.com.au/plant-ranges/native-grasses/eskdale-blue/
Poa spp. ‘POL11’ PBR Trade Name Rustic™
Green foliage turning rustic brown. Grows 45cm high and wide. Thrives in sun to part shade, tolerates drought and frost.
https://www.ozbreed.com.au/plant-ranges/native-grasses/rustic-poa/
Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘PAV300’ PBR Trade Name Pennstripe™
Variegated foliage with feathery plumes. Grows 45cm high and wide. Thrives in sun to part shade, tolerates drought, frost, and humidity.
Rhagodia spinescens ‘SAB01’ PBR Trade Name Aussie Flat Bush™
Low-growing saltbush with blue-toned foliage. Grows 30–50cm high, 1m wide. Thrives in sun to light shade, tolerates drought, frost, and coastal salt.
Rhagodia spinescens ‘SAB02’ PBR Intended Trade Name Aussie Hedge Bush™
Mounding shrub with silvery blue-grey foliage. Grows 1–1.6m high and wide. Thrives in sun to part shade, tolerates drought, frost, and coastal winds.
https://www.ozbreed.com.au/plant-ranges/native-shrubs-groundcovers/aussie-hedge-bush-rhagodia/
Conclusion
From cool blues and silvery greys to vibrant reds and deep purples, these resilient plants offer bold contrasts or harmonious blends for Australian landscapes. Explore these options for your next design!