Low fuss flowers for your garden
Not everyone has hours to spend fussing over garden beds, and the good news is you don't need to. Plenty of flowering plants thrive on neglect, coping happily with hot, dry summers and sandy soil while still putting on a great show of colour
Grevillea
Grevilleas are hardy, fast growing and come in dozens of varieties, from low groundcovers to small trees. Their spiky, colourful flowers attract native birds and bees, and once established they cope well with long dry spells and poor soil.
Kangaroo paw
With its tall, unusual flower spikes in shades of red, yellow, orange and pink, kangaroo paw brings a splash of colour that lasts for months. It prefers well-drained soil and a sunny spot, and doesn't need much watering once settled in.
Lavender
Lavender is a reliable performer for anyone after fragrance as well as flowers. It handles dry conditions well, needs very little attention, and the bees love it. A light prune after flowering keeps the plant compact and encourages more blooms next season.
Agapanthus
Agapanthus is almost impossible to kill, which makes it a favourite for gardeners who want colour without the fuss. The tall purple or white flower heads appear over summer and the strappy leaves stay green year-round.
Correa
Correa, sometimes called native fuchsia, is a hardy shrub that flowers through the cooler months when many other plants are dormant. It tolerates poor soil, needs little water once established, and its bell-shaped flowers are a magnet for honeyeaters.
Salvia
Salvias offer months of colour with very little effort. They're drought tolerant once established and respond well to a hard prune, bouncing back with fresh growth and more flowers.
Bottlebrush
Bottlebrush is a garden favourite for good reason. Its bright red, pink or cream flower spikes appear over a long season and draw in honeyeaters and other birds. It's tough as nails once established and copes well with dry spells and poor soil.
Society garlic
Don't let the name put you off. Society garlic produces clusters of soft purple flowers on and off through most of the year, and it's remarkably unfussy about soil and water, making it a great border or edging plant.
Bougainvillea
For a big burst of colour, bougainvillea is hard to beat. This vigorous climber produces masses of papery flowers in vivid pinks, purples and oranges, and once it's settled in, it's happy surviving on minimal water.
Westringia
Also known as native rosemary, westringia is a compact, rounded shrub covered in small white or mauve flowers for much of the year. It's a low-maintenance favourite for borders and hedging, tolerating dry conditions, wind and poor soil with ease.
A few tips for success
Grouping plants with similar water needs together makes watering far simpler, and a good layer of mulch helps retain moisture and keep weeds down. Most of these plants prefer well-drained soil, so if your garden holds water after rain, raised garden beds can make a big difference.
With the right plant choices, a colourful garden doesn't have to mean hours of weekend maintenance.
Note: While these plants are well suited to home gardens, some can spread beyond the garden in certain areas. If your property is near bushland or waterways, check local council or gardening advice before planting.
