Foreshore plants

Trees

  • Coastal banksia

    Banksia integrifolia subsp. integrifolia

    The iconic coastal banksia is a real workhorse, growing in several vegetation communities, including grassy coastal dunes and dry eucalyptus forests. Its shape can change according to the condition it is growing in, from dense shrubs with small leaves on exposed frontal dunes to large (up to 20 m) spreading trees in more protected areas.

    While regarded as tricky to grow by some, and sensitive to phosphorous fertilisers, the coastal banksia can be a great addition to a free-draining garden. Its showy, large, yellow flowers, glossy leaves and gnarled bark and structure make it a wonderful feature tree. And the native bird and animals that come to eat both the flowers and woody seeds are a fabulous addition to your garden or park.

    Plant me instead of umbrella tree, broad leaf pepper.

  • Plants beach acronychia

    Acronychia imperforata

    Tough as old boots, beach acronychia grows from the front of the secondary dune, right though the protected swales and hind dunes and is often found in patches of littoral rainforest. It grows smaller and denser, shaped by the wind in exposed areas and taller (up to 15 m) and more open in the protected hind dune. The creamy colour flowers attract butterflies and other insects and the pale-yellow fruit is enjoyed by many native bird and animals.

    The glossy dense leaves and 4 to 6 metre spread means that beach acronychia can be a valuable addition to a coastal free draining garden. It's adaptability when growing wild is reflected by its adaptability as a garden plant - while it can grow as an open spreading tree, when it is planted and pruned closely it will happily grow as a hedge.

    Plant me instead of umbrella tree, broad leaf pepper.

  • Plants piccabeen palm

    Archontophoenix cunninghamiana

    A slender, straight growing palm that grows to 25 metres in the protected hind dune swales, in creeklines and littoral rainforest. The large bright green fronds grow up to 4 metres long and are slightly paler underneath, nowhere near as pale as the underside of non-local alexander palms. The large panicles hold masses of pale purple, scented flowers that attract native bees. Later, small, round, red fruit attracts bird and possums.

    Piccabeens palms happily grow in many different soil types where there is a bit of moisture and protection and can be a spectacular group or single planting in a garden. The fronds drop off the trunk themselves, making maintenance in a garden a bit easier. The autumn flowers attract pollinators to your garden, and the red fruits can be a useful winter food source for birds, bats and animals.

    Plant me instead of alexander palm and cocas palm.

  • Plants coastal sheoak

    Casuarina equisitifolia var. incana

    The grey green weeping foliage and dark grey trunk of coastal she-oaks are an iconic part of Noosa’s coastal look and feel. These are the trees that venture closest to active coastal foreshores and take the brunt of fierce storms and coastal erosion. Coastal she-oak reduce the impacts of high winds and storm surges by slowing wind and water and holding the foredunes together. They also help protect the vegetation behind then from salt spray and fierce winds.

    The coastal she-oak grows to about 10 meters and can be a great addition to a free-draining coastal garden, especially where salt is a concern. The grey-green needles frame views beautifully and the sighing sound of the wind blowing through them is the sound of the Australian coast. Black cockatoos love the seeds in the tough woody cones. They self-mulch, so plant them in a garden bed where the thick layer of needles will work for you.

    Plant me instead of slash pine

  • Plants bribie island pine

    Callitris columellaris

    Another workhorse plant, Bribie Island pine grows in several vegetation communities, including dune forests, range woodlands and eucalypt forests, and in all Australian states except Tasmania. Perhaps as a result of its wide distribution and forestry use, it has at least 20 common names, but is best known as the Bribie Island Pine in SEQ. Growing up to 30 metres in protected areas, the bright green, cypress-like foliage provides fine broken shade and works as a windbreak. The small round cones on the female trees are treasured as a food source by small parrots and cockatoos.

    Highly adaptable, the Bribie Island pine will thrive in free draining soil anywhere except the most exposed coastal sites. The dark grey furrowed bark, beautiful foliage and open layered habitat can make a spectacular specimen tree in an open lawn or can work as a hedge in a large garden if more closely planted and pruned.

    Plant me instead of slash pine and exotic cypress

Shrubs

  • Plants golden candlesticks

    Banksia spinulosa var. spinulosa

    A shrub that grows up to 3 metres, the large yellow spike flowers are both spectacular to look at in the garden and for attracting birds. It grows in sand on dunes and nearby eucalypt woodland and forest in scattered pockets along the East Coast, including here in Noosa. While it is slow growing, it can take a heavy pruning, and will regrow reliably back from its ligno-tuber.

    Grow me instead of coral berry

  • Plants midyim berry

    Austromyrtus dulcis

    Another widely distributed plant that grows happily in free draining soils from the dunes to open forest. A small shrub growing to about 1 metre high but can easily spread more than a metre widthways in the right conditions. The pinky-bronze new growth on its attractive small leaf foliage, masses of small pinky-white flowers and purple and white fruits make this a highly attractive addition to all but the most exposed free-draining gardens. It will thicken up with judicious pruning.

    The flowers attract nectar eating insects and birds and the juicy fruits attract a range of native birds and animals.

    Grow me instead of Brazilian cherry

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    Plants wedding bushRicinocarpus pinifolius

    Growing in dunes and coastal heath to open eucalypt forest, the massed white flower display in spring is spectacular. This beautiful display is long lasting and well worth the space in a free draining sand garden. It grows to about 2 metres and attracts pollinators to your gardn.

    Grow me instead of Indian hawthorn

  • Photo courtesy of Coolum Native Nursery
    Plants Purple pea bush credit Coolum Native Nursery
    Hovea acutifolia

    A perennial small shrub that grows in sun and light shade in free draining forest margins. While foliage is nondescript and form can be a little sparse, the massed purple pea flowers in spring more than make up for it. Try grouping it for more impact or use it for splashes of spring colour. If you get the conditions in your garden right, purple pea bush will happily self-seed to keep your display going year after year. The bright purple flowers and hard pea pod seeds attract native bees and parrots to your garden.

    Grow me instead of lantana  

Understory plants

  • Plants prickly couch

    Zoysia macrantha

    Prickly couch is native to much of eastern coastal Australia and grows happily in exposed areas of the dunes. Salt tolerant, exposure tolerant, and handles being buried by sand, prickly couch is outstanding at holding surface sand in very harsh conditions,

    A select form of native prickly couch has been developed as a turf grass and is now widely available - there are a couple of non-native zoysias used for turf so make sure you get the right one. The turf select form is soft and dense under-foot and handles drought and salt much better than many other turf species.   

    Grow me instead of Queensland Blue Couch, bent grass, kikuyu, non-native zoysia

  • Plants hares foot fern

    Davallia pyxidate

    An epiphytic fern that grows in cracks in rocks, on trees or in the baskets of other larger epiphytic ferns. It is named after the brown furry rhizomes (or underground stems) that can look like a hare’s foot and protrude several centimetres from tis growing surface. The glossy green lacy fronds grow to approximately a metre high. It is very low maintenance in a sheltered spot and does great in a hanging basket or indoors.

    Grow me instead of asparagus fern.

  • Plants common flax lily credit coolium native nursery

    Photo courtesy of Coolum Native Nursery

    Dianella caerulea

    Widely available, and with many select forms, flax lily will happily grow in many gardens except for the most exposed. Tufts of strappy, dark-green leaves up to 1.5m are offset by the beautiful blue flowers and rich purple-blue fruits. These fruits are highly attractive to many native birds and animals – I’ve even caught the resident water dragon climbing up on garden furniture to get to them. They are easy to grow, require little maintenance when established and will happily self-seed if conditions are right. 

    Grow me instead of purple joyweed

  • Plants beach flax lilly credit coolum community native nursery

    Photo courtesy of Coolum Community Native Nursery

    Dianella congesta

    The Beach flax lily has paler blue flowers and fruit than the common flax lily, and is not as widely available, but is more able to handle seaside conditions. The fruits are just as attractive to native animals and birds. They are easy to grow, require little maintenance when established and will happily self-seed if conditions are right.

    Grow me instead of mother of millions

  • Plants pigface

    Carpobrotus glaucescens

    With only spinifex and a couple of vines growing closer to the sea, pigface is a vital foredune sand stabiliser. With interesting fleshy foliage and brightly purple. It happily grows in a range of free draining gardens and handles even extremely exposed and salty positions. Extremely hardy, they need little maintenance and will spread from seed and shoot if conditions are right. It is widely available - look for several select forms with interesting foliage and flower colours.

    Grow me instead of Singapore Daisy

  • Plants dune fan flower

    Scaevola calendulacea

    A found in the foredune forb-lands, the slightly fleshy lobes leaves set off the pretty blue fan flowers. The juicy purple fruit attracts native animals. It will thrive in many free draining gardens and handle tough seaside conditions. Look for select forms with larger, brighter flowers or enjoy the subtle beauty of the original.

    Grow me instead of asparagus fern