Call in the Wild

Borrow ideas from this wonderful native garden to transform your backyard into a vibrant, eco-friendly haven teeming with life.

Imagine stepping into your garden and being greeted by the buzz of bees, the flutter of butterflies, and the songs of birds. Creating a wildlife-friendly garden is easier than you think—and it brings so much life and energy to your outdoor space. A visit to Boongala Gardens in Kenthurst, Sydney’s northwest, shows just how native plants can be used to attract and support wildlife.







 

1. Glory to grevilleas

Grevilleas are the mainstay of the flower borders here at Boongala. Nectar-feeding birds love them! Their compact growth provides shelter. Here, ‘Dorothy Gordon’ with its extraordinary colour, two-toned pink and dark burgundy, makes a good informal hedge and privacy screen growing to 3m. Plant in full sun with well-drained soil, and feed with a native-specific fertiliser in spring.

2. Trees of life

Essential for habitat, shade, and hosts for other plants, there is a fine collection of native trees at Boongala. Casuarina cones (nuts) attract black cockatoos and act as hosts for staghorns, elkhorns, and bush orchids. Native Frangipani (Hymenosporum flavum) with fragrant frangipani-like flowers is a beacon for birds. Queensland Bottle trees (Brachychiton rupestris) are a feature in this garden; some were planted 35 years ago. They make excellent hosts for native orchids.









Resist the urge to tidy your garden—let Nature take its course. And allow plants to die naturally, as they provide important shelter for all wildlife."

3. Hop to it

Kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos) is an iconic Aussie plant that attracts bees, nectar-feeding birds, and butterflies. ‘Bush Pearl’ and the entire Bush Gem range flower all year round, provided the soil is well-drained. This dwarf variety grows to 1 metre with prolific flowers and is well suited to growing in pots. Cut the spent flower stems, including the leaf fan that holds the stem, close to the ground to encourage new flowering stems. Feed with a native plant fertiliser—we love Neutrog’s Bush Tucker—in the warm months, and water regularly during hot, dry, or windy weather to promote regular flowering with them.

 

4. Welcome wildlife...

Resist the urge to tidy your garden too much—let Nature take its course. Allow plants to die off naturally, as dead plants provide important shelter for wildlife. At Boongala, hollow logs are left on the ground among the grasses, offering homes for blue-tongue lizards, while others are positioned higher up for ring-tailed possums.



You can also create inviting spaces for birds by including wide, shallow water bowls with a few rocks for small birds to bathe in, and deeper tubs with sturdy sticks for larger birds to perch and access the water easily.











"Choose flowering native trees: select specimens such as Buckinghamia, tree waratah, and flame tree to create shade and provide a special habitat for birds and bees."





 

5. ...to stay a while

Encouraging beneficial insects into your garden not only enhances its biodiversity but also helps with pollination and natural pest control. Insect hotels are a great way to provide shelter for a range of helpful bugs like solitary bees, ladybugs, and lacewings. These structures are easy to incorporate into any garden, offering a safe space for insects to nest and stay over winter.



You can either purchase an insect hotel or get creative and make your own using materials like bamboo canes, hollow stems, dry leaves, and small logs drilled with holes. Place your insect hotel in a sunny, sheltered spot away from strong winds and heavy rain.

6. Gold for your garden

Nectar-feeding birds are among the easiest wildlife to attract to your garden. Focus on planting species with tubular-shaped flowers, such as kangaroo paw, correas, eremophilas, and epacrids. These flowers are specifically designed to attract nectar feeders like spinebills, honeyeaters, and wattlebirds, making them perfect for bringing vibrant birdlife into your space.



The spectacular parrot family, including lorikeets and rosellas, thrives in gardens that provide nectar and seeds from eucalypts, wattles, casuarinas, and tea trees. In addition to parrots, finches like red-browed firetails and zebra finches are attracted to the seeds of native grasses, such as wallaby and kangaroo grass. Meanwhile, insectivorous birds like fairy-wrens, fantails, and thornbills help keep pest populations in check by feasting on unwanted insects in your garden.



To create a safe haven for these small birds, incorporate spiky-leaved plants that provide shelter and protection. Consider adding varieties like Grevillea rosmarinifolia, Acacia oxycedrus, and Melaleuca styphelioides. By fostering a welcoming environment with diverse food sources and shelter, you'll attract a lively array of birds that enhance the beauty and balance of your garden.





 

TOP TIP

Nourish your plants often. Feed your native garden with a specialised native fertiliser to ensure healthy growth.

 

DID YOU KNOW?

Some people mistakenly believe that native plants require no maintenance. Most natives benefit from regular pruning, especially after flowering to maintain a tidy and compact appearance.

GRAHAM’S GREVILLEAS FOR YOU

Grevillea ‘Peaches and Cream’ is a large shrub (3 × 3m) covered in large, tapered blooms (10–15cm in length) that age from pink to cream to luminous green. Blooming for most of the year, it’s great for hedging and attracting wildlife.

Grevillea ‘Midas Touch’ has striking golden-yellow flowers in spring and summer. It prefers full sun with good drainage and is water-wise. Hybridized in WA, it grows 3 × 4.5m tall, making it a great tall privacy screen. Lightly prune after summer to encourage dense growth and for size control.

Grevillea ‘Molly’ has fabulous large red flowers, grows to 2 × 2m, makes a fine feature shrub, and is a great screen. It tolerates light frost and dry spells and is well-suited for coastal gardens.

Note: Some grevilleas can cause skin irritation. Wear protective clothing when handling.