community Recommended native plants

Plants listed in this database are a collection of those considered to be best suited to Alice Springs gardens.

Most of the listed species are local to the region, though a few non-local Australian plants that grow well in Alice are also included.

This guide does not include any non-Australian plants even though some of these can be grown in Alice conditions. The purpose of this database is to encourage wider use of local native species, to create gardens better suited to local conditions, and ones that fit better with our bushland setting.

This page has a complete list of the plants. You can also browse by category using the menu on the right.

Abutilon leucopetalum (Desert Lantern–bush)

Acacia aneura (Mulga)

Acacia cambagei (Gidgee)

Acacia coriacea (Dogwood)

Acacia cowleana (Halls Creek Wattle)

Acacia cyperophylla (Red Mulga)

Acacia desmondii (Des Nelson Wattle)

Acacia dictyophleba (Sandhill Wattle)

Acacia estrophiolata (Ironwood)

Acacia holosericea (Candelabra Wattle)

Acacia jennerae (Coonavittra Wattle)

Acacia kempeana (Witchetty Bush)

Acacia latzii (Latz's Wattle)

Acacia ligulata (Umbrella Bush)

Acacia macdonnelliensis (Hill Mulga)

Acacia maconochieana (Salt Wattle)

Acacia maitlandii (Spiny–leaved Wattle)

Acacia murrayana (Colony Wattle)

Acacia oswaldii (Umbrella Wattle)

Acacia pendula (Weeping Myall)

Acacia peuce (Waddy Wood)

Acacia pruinocarpa (Black Gidgee)

Acacia salicina (Cooba)

Acacia sessiliceps (Curly–pod Wattle)

Acacia spondylophylla (Curry Wattle)

Acacia stenophylla (River Cooba)

Acacia stowardii (Desert Witchetty)

Acacia tetragonophylla (Dead Finish)

Acacia undoolyana (Undoolya Wattle)

Acacia victoriae (Acacia Bush)

Adenanthos sericea (Coastal Woolly Bush)

Alectryon oleifolius = Heterodendrum oleifolium (Bullock Bush)

Allocasuarina decaisneana (Desert Oak)

Alyogyne hakeifolia forms (Native Hibiscus)

Amphipogon caricinus (Greybeard Grass)

Anigozanthos flavidus forms (Kangaroo Paw)

Aristida inaequiglumis (Curly Wiregrass)

Astrebla lappacea (Curly Mitchell Grass)

Atalaya hemiglauca (Whitewood)

Atriplex nummularia (Old Man Saltbush)

Baeckea crassifolia (Desert Heath–myrtle)

Boerhavia coccinea (Tar Vine)

Bothriochloa ewartiana (Desert Bluegrass)

Brachychiton gregorii (Desert Kurrajong)

Brachychiton populneus (Kurrajong)

Brachychiton rupestre (Bottle Tree)

Brachyscome ciliaris (Variable Daisy)

Brachyscome iberidifolia (Swan River Daisy)

Brachyscome multifida (forms) (Cut–leaf Daisy)

Brunonia australis (Blue Pincushion)

Caliistemon "Hannah Ray" (Bottlebrush (cultivar))

Callistemon "Captain Cook" (Bottlebrush)

Callistemon "Dawson River Weeper" (Bottlebrush (cultivar))

Callistemon "Harkness" (Gawler Hybrid Bottlebrush)

Callistemon "Injune" (Bottlebrush (cultivar))

Callistemon "Kings Park Special" (Bottlebrush (cultivar))

Callistemon "Little John" (Bottlebrush)

Callistemon "Mauve Mist" (Bottlebrush (cultivar))

Callistemon "Reeves Pink" (Bottlebrush (cultivar))

Callistemon pauciflorus (Desert Bottlebrush)

Callistemon salignus (White Bottlebrush)

Callistemon viminalis (Weeping Bottlebrush)

Callitris glaucophylla (White Cypress Pine)

Calytrix carinata (Desert Fringe–myrtle)

Capparis mitchellii (Native Orange)

Capparis spinosa var. nummularia (Wild Passionfruit)

Carex fascicularis (Tassel Sedge)

Carissa lanceolata (Conkerberry)

Casuarina glauca (Swamp Oak)

Chamaelaucium uncinatum (forms) (Geraldton Wax)

Chenopodium auricomum (Northern Bluebush)

Chrysocephalum apiculatum = Helichrysum apiculatum (Common Everlasting)

Chrysopogon fallax (Golden Beard Grass)

Clerodendrum floribundum (Smooth Spider–bush)

Codonocarpus cotinifolius (Desert Poplar)

Convolvulus erubescens (Australian Bindweed)

Correa pulchella "Minor"

Corymbia aparrerinja = Eucalyptus papuana (Ghost Gum)

Corymbia citriodora = Eucalyptus citriodora (Lemon–scented Gum)

Corymbia opaca = Eucalyptus opaca (Bloodwood)

Crinum flaccidum (Darling Lily)

Crotalaria cunninghamii (Parrot Pea)

Crotalaria eremaea (Desert Rattlepod)

Cucumis melo ssp. agrestis (Native Cucumber)

Cullen australasicum = Psoralea australasica (Tall Verbine)

Cymbopogon ambiguus (Lemon–scented Grass)

Cymbopogon obtectus (Silky–heads)

Cynanchum floribundum (Native Pear)

Dichanthium sericeum (Queensland Bluegrass)

Dichondra repens (Kidney Weed)

Digitaria brownii (Cotton Panic Grass)

Dipteracanthus australasicus (Desert Petunia)

Disphyma crassifolium ssp. clavellatum (Round–leaf Pigface)

Dodonaea viscosa ssp. angustissima (Narrow–leaved Hop Bush)

Duboisia hopwoodii (Pituri)

Einadia nutans (Climbing Saltbush)

Enchylaena tomentosa (Ruby Saltbush)

Enneapogon polyphyllus (Limestone Bottlewashers)

Enteropogon acicularis (Curly Windmill Grass)

Eremophila "Summertime Blue"

Eremophila alternifolia (Native Honeysuckle)

Eremophila bignoniiflora (Creek Wilga)

Eremophila calorhabdos (Native Fuchsia)

Eremophila christophori (Dolomite Fuchsia Bush)

Eremophila freelingii (Rock Fuchsia Bush)

Eremophila glabra (Tar Bush)

Eremophila glabra "Murchison River" (Silver–leaf Tar Bush)

Eremophila glabra prostrate forms (Tar Bush)

Eremophila latrobei (Native Fuchsia)

Eremophila longifolia (Weeping Emu Bush)

Eremophila macdonnellii (Splendid Fuchsia)

Eremophila macdonnellii (Simpson Desert form) (Desert Fuchsia)

Eremophila maculata var. brevifolia (Lipstick Bush)

Eremophila maculata var. maculata (Spotted Emu Bush)

Eremophila microtheca (Heath–like Eremophila)

Eremophila nivea (Silky Eremophila)

Eremophila oppositifolia (Twin–leaf Emu Bush)

Eremophila ovata (Krichauff Ranges Fuchsia)

Eremophila polyclada (Flowering Lignum)

Eremophila racemosa (Native Fuchsia)

Eremophila sturtii (Turpentine Bush)

Eremophila weldii (Small–leaved Emu Bush)

Eremophila youngii (Native Fuchsia)

Erythrina vespertilio (Bat's Wing Coral Tree)

Eucalyptus "Torwood"

Eucalyptus caesia "Silver Princess" (Gungurru)

Eucalyptus camaldulensis var.obtusa (River Red Gum)

Eucalyptus coolabah ssp. arida (Coolibah)

Eucalyptus erythrocorys (Red–capped Gum)

Eucalyptus eucentrica = E. socialis (Red Mallee)

Eucalyptus gamophylla (Blue Mallee)

Eucalyptus gillenii (Mallee Red Gum)

Eucalyptus gillii (Curly Mallee)

Eucalyptus gongylocarpa (Marble Gum)

Eucalyptus intertexta (Bastard Coolibah)

Eucalyptus kruseana (Book–leaf Mallee)

Eucalyptus leucoxylon ssp. megalocarpa (Large–flowered SA Blue Gum)

Eucalyptus lucens (Shiny–leaved Mallee)

Eucalyptus minniritchi = E. orbifolia (Round–leaved Mallee)

Eucalyptus oxymitra (Sharp–capped Mallee)

Eucalyptus pachyphylla (Red–bud Mallee)

Eucalyptus salmonophloia (Salmon Gum)

Eucalyptus sargentii (Salt River Mallee)

Eucalyptus sessilis (Finke River Mallee)

Eucalyptus sideroxylon "Rosea" (Red Ironbark)

Eucalyptus spathulata (Swamp Mallet)

Eucalyptus thozetiana (Thozet's Box)

Eucalyptus torquata (Coral Gum)

Eucalyptus trivalvis (Victoria Spring Mallee)

Eucalyptus woodwardii (Lemon–flowered Gum)

Eulalia aurea (Silky Browntop)

Ficus brachypoda = F. platypoda (Native Fig)

Frankenia serpyllifolia (Bristly Sea–heath)

Glycine canescens (Silky Glycine)

Gossypium australe (Native Cotton)

Gossypium sturtianum (Sturt's Desert Rose)

Grevillea "Bronze Rambler"

Grevillea "Pryor's Hybrid"

Grevillea "Winpara Gem"

Grevillea juncifolia ssp. juncifolia (Honey Grevillea)

Grevillea lanigera "Mt Tamboritha"

Grevillea olivacea (Olive–leaved Grevillea)

Grevillea robusta (Silky Oak)

Grevillea rosmarinifolia (Rosemary–leaved Grevillea)

Grevillea stenobotrya (Rattlepod Grevillea)

Grevillea striata (Beefwood)

Grevillea thelemanniana (prostrate forms) (Spider–flower)

Grevillea thelemanniana ssp. obtusifolia = G. obtusifolia

Grevillea wickhamii ssp. aprica (Holly–leaf Grevillea)

Hakea divaricata (Fork–leaved Corkwood)

Hakea leucoptera ssp. leucoptera (Needlewood)

Hakea lorea ssp. lorea = H. suberea (Long–leaf Corkwood)

Halgania cyanea (Blue Halgania)

Hardenbergia violacea "Happy Wanderer" (Native Lilac)

Harnieria kempeana = Sarojusticia kempeana

Hibbertia glaberrima (Desert Buttercup)

Hibiscus sturtii (Sturt's Hibiscus)

Indigofera georgei (George's Indigo)

Ipomoea costata (Bush Potato)

Isotoma petraea (Rock Isotome)

Kennedia nigricans (Black Coral Pea)

Kennedia prorepens (Purple–flowered Pea Vine)

Keraudrenia integrifolia

Kunzea pomifera (Muntries)

Leschenaultia divaricata (Tangled Leschenaultia)

Livistona mariae ssp. mariae (Palm Valley Palm)

Lomandra longifolia (Spiny–headed Mat–rush)

Macgregoria racemigera (Desert Snow)

Macrozamia macdonnellii (MacDonnell Ranges Cycad)

Maireana species (Bluebush)

Marsdenia australis (Bush Banana)

Melaleuca armillaris (Bracelet Honey–myrtle)

Melaleuca armillaris "Green Globe" (Honey–myrtle cultivar)

Melaleuca bracteata (Black Tea–tree)

Melaleuca bracteata "Revolution Gold"

Melaleuca dissitiflora (Creek Tea–tree)

Melaleuca glomerata (Inland Tea–tree)

Melaleuca huegelii (Chenille Honey–myrtle)

Melaleuca hypericifolia (Hillock Bush)

Melaleuca incana "Velvet Cushion" (Honey–myrtle cultivar)

Melaleuca linariifolia (Snow in Summer)

Melaleuca linariifolia "Claret Tops" or "Purpura Compacta" (Honey–myrtle cultivar)

Melaleuca nesophila (Showy Honey–myrtle)

Melaleuca nesophila "Little Nessie" (Honey–myrtle cultivar)

Mentha australis (Native Mint)

Mimulus prostratus (Monkey Face)

Minuria leptophylla (Minnie Daisy)

Myoporum acuminatum (Boobialla)

Myoporum parvifolium (Creeping Boobialla)

Myoporum platycarpum (Sugarwood)

Olearia stuartii (Rock Daisy–bush)

Othonna gregorii = Senecio gregorii (Annual Yellow Top)

Owenia acidula (Emu Apple)

Pandorea doratoxylon (Spearwood)

Pandorea jasminoides (Bower of Beauty)

Pandorea pandorana (Wonga Vine)

Panicum decompositum (Native Millet)

Petalostylis cassioides (Butterfly Bush)

Pittosporum angustifolium = P. phylliraeoides var. microcarpa (Native Apricot)

Pluchea rubellifora (Pink Plains Bush)

Polycalymma stuartii = Myriocephalus stuartii (Poached Egg Daisy)

Portulaca oleracea (Munyeroo)

Prostanthera striatiflora (Striped Mint–bush)

Pterocaulon sphacelatum (Apple Bush)

Ptilotus exaltatus (Pink Mulla Mulla)

Ptilotus nobilis var. nobilis (Yellow Tails)

Ptilotus obovatus (Silver Tails)

Radyera farragei (Bush Hibiscus)

Rhagodia eremaea (Tall Saltbush)

Rhagodia spinescens (Thorny Saltbush)

Rhodanthe floribunda = Helipterum floribundum (White Paper–daisy)

Santalum acuminatum (Quandong)

Santalum lanceolatum (Plumbush)

Scaevola "Mauve Clusters" (Fan–flower)

Scaevola Species (Fan–flower)

Schoenia cassiniana = Helichrysum cassinianum (Pink Everlasting)

Senna artemisioides nssp artemisioides = Cassia artemisioides (Silver Cassia)

Senna artemisioides nssp. sturtii = Cassia desolata (Dense Cassia)

Senna artemisioides ssp. filifolia = Cassia nemophila (Desert Cassia)

Senna artemisioides ssp. helmsii = Cassia helmsii (Blunt–leaf Cassia)

Senna notabilis (Cockroach Bush)

Sida species (Sida)

Solanum centrale (Desert Raisin)

Solanum ellipticum (Potato Bush)

Sporobolus actinocladus (Katoora)

Stemodia viscosa (Sticky Bue–rod)

Swainsona formosa = Clianthus formosus (Sturt's Desert Pea)

Teucrium racemosum (Grey Germander)

Themeda triandra = T. australis (Kangaroo Grass)

Trachymene glaucifolia (Wild Parsnip)

Trichodesma zeylanicum (Cattle Bush)

Triodia species (Spinifex)

Triraphis mollis (Purple Plume Grass)

Ventilago viminalis (Supplejack)

Vigna lanceolata (Pencil Yam)

Wahlenbergia tumidifructa (Native Bluebell)

Wedelia stirlingii (Sunflower Daisy)

Westringia "Wynyabbie Gem" (Native Rosemary)

Westringia fruticosa (Coastal Rosemary)

Xanthorrhoea species (Grasstree, Yacka)

Xerochrysum bracteatum = Bracteantha bracteata = Helichrysum bracteatum (Golden Everlasting)