Australian Native Border Plants: 20 Brilliant Performers for Dry Gardens

Overview

Designing a landscape in dry climates requires more than just aesthetic consideration. It demands plants that thrive in heat, drought, and poor soils. This article brings together 20 outstanding Australian native border plants.

Purpose-built by nature to endure harsh inland conditions, these plants offer structure, texture, and colour while asking little in return.

The list of these 20 Australian native border plants was not randomly compiled. Each one meets strict criteria to ensure they not only survive but excel in dry garden conditions.

• Exceptional drought tolerance: Ideal for low-rainfall or drought-prone regions.
• Proven performer: Adaptable to inland and arid Australian conditions.
• Suitable size: Height between 30 cm and 1 metre, perfect for borders and layering.
• Visually striking: Strong form, texture, or seasonal colour.
• Low maintenance: Naturally tidy and compact, easy to grow.
• Obtainable: Available in nurseries.

They can be used for edging paths, layering borders, or creating crisp outlines in low-maintenance, water-wise landscapes.

Australian native border plants for dry gardens

Group 1: 30 – 50 cm

1. Chrysocephalum apiculatum (Yellow Buttons)

• Attractive silvery foliage and masses of bright yellow flowers throughout the year.
• Fast-growing, excellent for hot, dry borders and mass planting.

2. Dianella revoluta ‘Little Rev’

• Striking upright, elegant blue-grey strappy foliage, with seasonal purple flowers and blue-purple berries.
• Strong vertical form, ideal for texture contrast in structured or contemporary dry gardens.

3. Eremophila glabra ‘Kalbarri Carpet’

• A flat-growing groundcover variety of Eremophila glabra (Common Emu Bush), with beautiful soft grey foliage and showy bright yellow flowers.
• Spreads densely, forming a weed-suppressive mat, great for attracting wildlife.

4. Lomandra confertifolia ‘Little Pal’

• Dense and upright tufts with eye-catching lime-green strappy foliage
• Rounded, compact, and uniform, great for visual interest.

5. Myoporum parvifolium (Creeping Boobialla)

• Low-spreading, forming a dense, ground-hugging mat with tiny white flowers.
• Often regarded as a lawn alternative, a strong performer in dry zones and tough sites.

6. Scaevola aemula (Fan Flower)

• Mounding habit with bright green succulent leaves and profuse fan-shaped flowers of various colours depending on the variety.
• Unique and eye-catching flowers, excellent in hot, dry spots with good drainage.

7. Goodenia ovata (Hop Goodenia)

• Glossy, crisp green foliage with small bright yellow blooms, attracting native pollinators.
• Holds shape well, ideal for dry, part-shade conditions.

8. Brachyscome multifida ‘Cut-leaf Daisy’

• Compact growth habit with finely dissected leaves and vibrant flowers year-round.
• Highly desirable due to its airy texture and lacy appearance, which adds flow and movement to the garden.

Group 2: 50 – 70 cm

9. Westringia fruticosa ‘Grey Box’

• A naturally compact, rounded variety of Westringia fruticosa (Coastal Rosmary), with attractive soft grey-green foliage and tiny white flowers.
• Often considered a native alternative to English Box, highly responsive to pruning, ideal for hedge row or group planting, suitable for both inland and coastal environments.

10. Rhagodia spinescens ‘Aussie Flat Bush’

• A low-growing variety of Rhagodia spinescens (Spiny Saltbush), Dense mound of silver-grey leaves; extremely drought- and salt-tolerant.
• A favourite for low formal borders, great for contrast planting, ideal for both arid inland and tough seaside conditions.

11. Eremophila glabra ‘Mingenew Gold’

• Same variety as ‘Outback Sunrise’, attractive mounded, low-spreading species, with green foliage and a profusion of soft yellow tubular flowers.
• Requires minimal watering and pruning, tolerates extreme heat, and attracts birds and pollinators.

12. Correa ‘Dusky Bells’ (Native Fuchsia)

• A common hybrid with a compact, spreading habit, featuring glossy, dark green foliage and interesting pink-red bell-shaped flowers.
• Strong shade tolerance, responds well to light pruning, ideal for both inland and coastal areas.

13. Poa labillardierei ‘Eskdale’ (Tussock Grass)

• Striking native grass with fine foliage that is blue-green in cooler months, and turning light brown in hotter months, distinct from other Australian native border plants.
• Beautiful upright, fountain-like arching form, with a wild, wind-swept look, ideal for arid and contemporary landscapes.

14. Lomandra longifolia ‘Tanika’

• A compact and dense variety of Lomandra longifolia with lush, blue-green, strappy foliage, often seen in mass planting.
• Extremely low-maintenance grass, widely used in various landscaping projects, highly adaptable to arid inland and harsh coastal conditions.

15. Leptospermum laevigatum ‘Fore Shore’

• A naturally compact variety of Leptospermum laevigatum (Coastal Tea Tree), featuring a neat and dense growth habit and attractive grey-green foliage with reddish-brown new growth.
• An extremely versatile plant, tough and resilient, highly versatile in formal or informal landscapes.

Group 3: 70 – 100 cm

16. Enchylaena tomentosa (Ruby Saltbush)

• Attractive, soft, fleshy, grey-green foliage with edible red berries.
• Neat and compact with great ground coverage, highly adaptable to tough growing conditions, ideal for dry inland and coastal gardens.

17. Eremophila glabra ‘Silver Ball’

• A naturally compact, rounded variety of Eremophila glabra, featuring stunning silvery-grey, velvety foliage and small yellow flowers.
• Often used as a low hedge or specimen plant, spectacular in mass plantings, adding beautiful shape and contrast, a true standout amongst Australian native border plants.

18. Eremophila maculata ‘Pink Passion’

• An upright, dense and compact emu bush with bright green foliage and magnificent, scented, rose-pink flowers.
• Reliable, long-flowering, tough in arid inland climates, highly attractive to birds and pollinators, responds well to pruning.

19. Maireana sedifolia (Pearl Bluebush)

• The most unusual among Australian native border plants, featuring highly ornamental blue-grey, succulent-like foliage.
• Known for its longevity (up to 300 years), offering excellent texture and contrast, extremely hardy for harsh inland or coastal conditions.

20. Correa glabra ‘Ivory Lantern’

• A smaller, upright variety of Correa glabra (Rock Correa) with crisp green foliage and delicate, bell-like, creamy-white flowers.
• Often considered a hedge plant or shrub in cottage-style native gardens due to its lush, dense foliage, neat shape and exceptional hardiness.

Final words

Creating a dry garden that’s both resilient and beautiful doesn’t require endless effort. It starts with smart plant choices. These Australian native border plants are more than just tough survivors. They bring structure, colour, texture, and seasonal interest to your landscape, while thriving on minimal water in challenging conditions.

Each species has been selected for its compact form, tidy habit, and proven adaptability in dry environments.

Whether you are lining a pathway, defining a garden bed, or building layers of texture, these super tough Australian native border plants will offer reliability and sustainability without sacrificing visual appeal.