Tough Plants for Tough Places

Tough Plants for Tough Places

This week on Muddy Boots, Keith shares some of his favourite plants for challenging garden conditions — from hot, dry and exposed sites to poor soil, coastal winds, heavy clay, frost and shade.

We cover how to choose plants for difficult microclimates, improve challenging soils, and select plants that can thrive rather than simply survive.

Plants mentioned

Hot, dry & exposed

• Plane tree — Platanus digitata
• Salvia — Salvia spp.
• Santolina — Santolina spp.
• Rosemary — Rosmarinus officinalis
• Lavender — Lavandula spp.
• Allard's lavender — Lavandula × allardii
• French lavender — Lavandula dentata
• Teucrium — Teucrium spp.
• Euphorbia — Euphorbia spp.
• Limonium — Limonium spp.
• Billy buttons — Pycnosorus globosus
• Artemisia — Artemisia spp.
• Bottlebrush — Callistemon spp.

Poor, dry & coastal soils

• Correa — Correa spp.
• Westringia — Westringia spp.
• Grevillea — Grevillea spp.
• Hakea — Hakea spp.
• Acacia — Acacia spp.
• Black she-oak — Allocasuarina littoralis
• Casuarina 'Cousin Itt' — Casuarina glauca
• Callitris — Callitris spp.

Succulents & dry-climate plants

• Senecio — Senecio serpens
• Cotyledon — Cotyledon orbiculata
• Aeonium 'Schwarzkopf' — Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop'
• Aloe — Aloe spp.
• Agave — Agave spp.
• Kalanchoe 'Bear's Paw' — Kalanchoe tomentosa

Frost & cold

• Crepe myrtle — Lagerstroemia spp.
• Olive 'Mission' — Olea europaea 'Mission'
• Chinese elm — Ulmus parvifolia
• Black locust — Robinia pseudoacacia
• River birch — Betula nigra

Also featured

• Miscanthus — Miscanthus spp.
• Rudbeckia — Rudbeckia spp.
• Verbena — Verbena bonariensis
• Helenium — Helenium spp.
• Choisya — Choisya spp.
• Astilbe — Astilbe spp.
• Daphne — Daphne spp.

Soil tips

Keith explains why soil preparation is critical, particularly for difficult sites. We discuss compost, broadforking, gypsum for appropriate clay soils, and improving sandy soils with lignite humate.

The episode also highlights the importance of understanding the microclimate before selecting plants — because the toughest plant isn't necessarily the right plant for every location.

Book recommendation

Tough Plants for Tough Places by Sharon Amos — a useful reference for gardeners looking for plants that can handle challenging conditions.

More information

The Plant Runner: theplantrunner.com
The Plant Runner's Great Australian Indoor Plant Survey is also open until 30 November, with a chance to win $1,000 worth of plants and plant care.

Muddy Boots: muddyboots.net.au

Thanks to Clyde Compost for sponsoring Muddy Boots. Use code MUDDY15 for 15% off your order.

Happy gardening! 🌱

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