There are so many great native shrubs for Canberra gardens. We love them for the food and shelter they provide for native species and for attracting nectar loving birds. Once established native shrubs are generally very hardy and need less maintenance than exotic shrubs. They are also an important part of our local heritage. To help you get started we’ve compiled a list below of some of our favourites.
Frost and drought hardy native shrubs for Canberra gardens:
- Callistemon ‘Barrondah Station’
- Callistemon ‘Cherry time’
- Acacia cognata ‘Limelight’
- Acacia howittii – common name Sticky wattle
- Acacia podalyriifolia – common name Queensland silver wattle
- Correa ‘Marian’s Marvel’
- Indigofera australis – common name Australian Indigo
Natives can often look untidy because many people wrongly assume they don’t need pruning. Tip pruning makes all the difference, and promotes vigour, healthy growth, and flowers.
The best time to prune is after the tree or shrub has flowered so birds and bees can benefit from its nectar. Avoid pruning in winter or when the flower’s buds are forming. This is to prevent damage from Canberra’s frosts or low temperatures. Hard pruning into old wood can kill some shrubs so it’s best to do a gentler prune a couple of times a year. Use sharp, clean pruning tools so there are no tears or ragged cuts that can become infected.
Simple, ground height pruning is generally something you can DIY but don’t attempt to prune mature trees and shrubs yourself. You need the right equipment, knowledge, and insurance policies to make sure you are covered if something goes wrong. You also need to be certain you are complying with ACT legislation protecting trees above a certain size.
Callistemons attract nectar loving birds
TreeWorks is a leading tree services business operating in Canberra, Monaro, and Southern Tablelands. We are a fully licensed, Evoenergy accredited & insured tree surgery company and a member of Arboriculture Australia. Our climbers are appropriately trained and some of our arborists have over 25 years experience in large scale tree surgery and removals. Call 1800 873 343 or book online for a free on-site tree health and safety inspection.