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                    Find plants for pots and planter boxes

                    Close-up of a succulent plant with pointed red-tipped leaves
                    To ensure your plants survive, make sure you choose the right plants for your location.

                    When selecting plants, you should always consider the amount of direct sunlight, available water for irrigation, wind levels, amount of growing space and species types.

                    Also consider the aspect of the location as this will influence when and for how long the area receives sunlight.

                    Plants in pots and containers dry out very quickly and cannot survive on rainfall alone. Think about how to regularly irrigate these plants. You might need watering cans, automatic irrigation systems, hoses, diverted down pipes or water tanks.

                    Plants in pots need to be fertilised. Fertilisers come in many different forms including liquid emulsions, organic manures, pellets and powders. 

                    Your plants will also need to be re-potted on a regular basis depending on how fast they grow.

                    Our urban nature planting guide will help you find the right plant for your growing conditions. 

                    Species lists

                    Experiment with different plant species to see what suits your situation best.

                    Upright plants for pots

                    • Aspidistra elatior (cast iron plant)
                    • Agava attenuata (swans neck agave)
                    • Arthropodium cirratum (New Zealand rock lily)
                    • Bromeliads such as Billbergia pyramidalis var. concolor
                    • Clivia species, Nephrolepis cordifolia (fishbone fern)
                    • Orchids, Ficus microcarpa var. hillii
                    • Acacia cognata varieties
                    • Lavenders
                    • Cordylines
                    • Agapanthus praecox varieties
                    • Darwinia citriodora (lemon-scented myrtle)
                    • Correa reflexa (native fucshia), Correa alba (white correa), Correa baeuerlenii (chef’s cap correa)
                    • Convolvulus cneorum (silver bush), Grevillea ‘scarlet sprite’ and other grevillea varieties
                    • Dietes grandiflora, Dietes bicolour
                    • Nandina domestica, Nandina domestica ‘nana’, Philotheca myoporoides (native wax flower)
                    • Phlomis fruticosa (Jerusalem sage), Phlomis italica (Balearic Island sage)
                    • Rhaphiolepis umbellata (Yeddo hawthorn), Raphiolepis indica (Indian hawthorn)
                    • Strelitzia reginae (bird of paradise)
                    • Rosmarinus officinalis (common rosemary)
                    • Bamboos, ferns and palms can also be used, however, will require more regular watering in summer and some shade depending on the species.

                    Trailing or ground cover plants for pots

                    • Arctotis varieties (African daisy)
                    • Coprosma x kirkii (Kirk’s trailing coprosma)
                    • Myporum parvifolium (creeping boobialla)
                    • Grevillea lanigera ‘Mt Tamboretha’
                    • Grevillea ‘bronze rambler’
                    • Erigeron karvinskianus (seaside daisy)
                    • Dichondra argentea ‘silver falls’
                    • Origanum vulgare (oregano)

                    Planter boxes in mostly shade

                    • Clivia species
                    • Hellebores (Christmas rose)
                    • Sedums
                    • Bulbs
                    • Dianella tasmanica (Tasmania dianella)
                    • Aspidistra elatior (cast iron plant)
                    • Bromeliads such as Billbergia pyramidalis var. concolor

                    Planter boxes with sunlight

                    • Anigozanthus varieties (kangaroo paw)
                    • Limonium perezii (sea statice or lavender)
                    • Arctotis varieties (African daisy)
                    • Carpobrotus rossii (pig face)
                    • Agapanthus praecox small varieties
                    • Convolvulus cneorum (silver bush)
                    • Darwinia citriodora (lemon-scented myrtle)
                    • Liriope muscari (turf lily)
                    • Rosmarinus officinalis (common rosemary)
                    • Geraniums and pelagoniums
                    • Annuals / bedding plants for colour such as petunias, marigolds, vinca (potted colour varieties), salvias, gazanias, nasturtiums, Portulaca grandiflora, bedding begonias and zinnias

                    Climbers and ramblers

                    • Ficus pumila (climbing fig)
                    • Parthenocissus tricuspidata (Boston ivy)
                    • Kennedia rubicunda (dusky coral pea)
                    • Kennedia nigracans (black coral pea)
                    • Wisteria varieties
                    • Muehlenbeckia complexa (maiden hair creeper)
                    • Hibbertia scandens
                    • Cissus antarctica (kangaroo vine)
                    • Clematis varieties
                    • Trachelospermum jasminoides (star jasmine)

                    Please note that some of these plant varieties:

                    • may require a frame to climb or be attached to
                    • may be vigorous growers and require regular pruning to control growth. 

                    See your local nursery for further details including drought tolerance, sun and shade requirements.

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