Local legends

If what you seek is a garden with a natural feel and a strong sense of place, native plants have a lot to offer

- Karen Booth

The best gardens - those that have enduring appeal and look as if they were meant to be - sit in harmony with the environment that surrounds them. They have a sense of place and look as if they evolved naturally rather than being contrived by man (or woman). Plants that are naturally adapted to the climate and location will not only thrive, they'll give a garden a real feeling of belonging, and this is where native or indigenous plants step in.

Australia has an incredibly rich palette of native plants from which to draw, making it much easier than many people realise to create a variety of garden styles. A native garden does not have to be a bushland-style garden; it could be tropical or coastal, modern or formal, cottage-style or resort-inspired.

As with exotics, native plants can be clipped and shaped, grown as flowering annuals, used as groundcover, showcased in planters, employed as screening or edging, and called upon to add seasonal floral interest... they can even be used to add fragrance.

Before going down the road of choosing plants, however, decide if it's a native garden you want or an indigenous one. The difference is pretty straightforward. A native garden embraces Australian species drawn from around the country, while an indigenous garden only uses plants that are local to the area. These are plants that have evolved over the centuries to thrive in the local climate and soil conditions, so should need less maintenance.

A custom made pergola adds a modern counterpoint to the bushland planting.christianjenkins.com.au

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