Australian & Southern African plant palettes: The “Native Bush” Aesthetic

Did you know that some of the plants we always thought were native to Australia are actually from Southern Africa?

This article delves into the native bush aesthetic, and how some Southern African plants like proteas, leucospermum, leucadendron, and dietes are often used for better or worse.

Understanding the Aesthetics of Native Australian Bush Gardens

The aesthetic of native Australian bush gardens is typically characterised by rugged beauty, diversity, and resilience. Tough plants tolerating nutrient-depleted soils and drought conditions burst into bloom with brilliant colours that stand out in the harsh desert landscape.

Plants such as warratahs (Telopea spp.), banksias (Banksia spp.), grevilleas (Grevillea spp.), lomandras (Lomandra spp.), dietes (Dietes spp.), and kangaroo paws (Anigozanthos spp.) contribute to this look.

These plants not only look beautiful in the garden but also house and feed a wide variety of mammals, birds, insects and other fauna with their flowers, fruits and seeds.

South African Plants in Australian Gardens

Interestingly, several South African plants have found a place in Australian gardens, despite not being native to the continent. These include dietes, proteas, leucadendrons, and leucaspermums.

These non-native plants are chosen for reasons similar to their native counterparts: their visual similarity to Australian flora, their showy nature, their ability to withstand drought, and their attractiveness to pollinators.

But why would we choose these plants when there are native plants that look so similar, which promote and express our love for our own home-grown Aussie legends?

Why would we plant a leucospermum when we could plant a banksia, a waratah or a grevillea? Why would we plant a dietes when we could plant a kangaroo paw, a lomandra or a dianella? Why would we plant a leucodendron when we could plant a callistemon?

Protea… well, there’s nothing quite like a feathery or a king protea, is there?

The Controversy: Native vs Non-Native

Some gardeners argue that using non-native species may not provide the same levels of benefits to wildlife. But in my own personal experience, I’ve seen lots of wildlife flocking to exotic plants just like they do to native plants.

There are some specialised native pollinator-plant relationships that only certain native plants can provide for, such as certain orchids that can only be pollinated by a certain kind of moth.

However, the plants we’re talking about here are generally pretty open to generalist pollinators like rainbow lorikeets and native bees, rather than those specialised pollinators.

There’s a question of authenticity: Does the use of South African plants dilute the distinct aesthetic of the Australian bush garden?

Can you still call it a “native bush garden” if it has one or two exotic plants in it? Where do we draw the line? Does it even matter, as long as I like the garden?

Perspectives: To Keep it Aussie or Not?

The issue is viewed differently depending on who you ask. Some people insist on keeping their garden entirely Australian, finding satisfaction that all of their plants come from this country – their local region, even.

On the other hand, others are content with the aesthetic similarity between Australian and South African plants and see no issue in incorporating them into their gardens.

One thing’s for sure. Once you include a few exotic plants, it becomes a “bush aesthetic” instead of a “native bush aesthetic”. Or maybe you can call it a “native bush style garden with a few exotics,” but that’s a bit of a mouthful.

Daniel’s Wrap

This discourse encourages us to question our own preferences. Are we more inclined towards a purely Aussie aesthetic, or are we open to incorporating Southern African plants into our gardens?

This debate reflects broader conversations about identity, authenticity, and aesthetics in gardening. It invites us to explore the concept of a “bush garden style” beyond geographical boundaries, and whether that’s something we want to embrace or avoid.