Welcome to Indigenous Landscape Design Australia

Our mission is to help you create a garden of unrivalled beauty in harmony with the natural environment.

Why indigenous?
The many benefits of uniting aesthetics and ecology, drives our passion for creating authentic Australian, water-wise gardens that save time and money, without the risks of plants that may 'jump the fence' to become invasive weeds.

Aesthetics  A sense of unity defines every lasting work of art and design, and embraces architecture, literature, music, painting and gardens. Across the cultural spectrum, the naturalistic gardens of China and Japan, the giardini segreti of Tuscany, the elegant courtyard gardens of the Alhambra in Spain and the sweeping English landscape gardens, all work their magic through a sublime sense of unity. Different as they are from one another, they each have one element in common: A predominance of plants indigenous to that particular region.

Ecological integrity  The indigenous garden provides much more than visual unity. It also guarantees ecological integrity, and attracts a spectrum of desirable native birds and other wildlife. Depending on the location, these may include bandicoots, bilbies, gliders and koalas, and small endangered birds such as the Eastern Spinebill, Fairy Wren and Regent Honeyeater, among many others.

By providing suitable habitat and natural food sources, indigenous plants help save these and other threatened species from possible extinction. Among further benefits, the indigenous garden attracts fewer sedentary, territorial birds such as the Pied Currawong, Noisy Miner and others that drive out these small endangered birds.

The indigenous garden also eliminates the risks of exotic plants and artificial hybrids that provide a haphazard mix of nutrients; plants that may invade the natural environment, pollute the local gene pool or contribute to the spread of the deadly fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi and other diseases.

Saving money  The well designed indigenous garden is a balanced, healthy garden, enlivened by the colour and feeding antics of resurgent birds.

Insectivorous birds such as the Rufous Fantail, Scarlet Robin and Spotted Pardolote keep insect pests at bay, drastically reducing or eliminating the costs and hazards of toxic pesticides, including their potential costs to the health of humans, pets, plants, soil and wildlife.

Many exotics, particularly formal lawns, bedding plants and artificial hybrids are unsustainable. They need excessive water, fertilisers high in phosphorus and an assortment of fungicides, herbicides and insecticides. These chemicals may poison wildlife, contaminate the soil and allow the spread of environmental weeds and excessive algal growth in natural waterways.

The majority of Australian plants are adapted to infertile, low-phosphorus soils, and respond well to small applications of low-phosphorus fertiliser or none at all.

Some of Australia’s most beautiful plants are tolerant of drought, including the four species shown at the top of this page. An informed selection, grown in areas of the garden that become dry for long periods, provides a shield against water restrictions and the escalating costs of domestic water.

A symbol of reconciliation  Last, though not least, the indigenous garden symbolises reconciliation with Australia’s indigenous people and its timeless landscapes, invaded and degraded through ignorance and greed.

In 'Native Born', the Aboriginal singer songwriter Archie Roach laments:

"So bow your head old Eucalypt and Wattle tree
Australia’s bush is losing its identity
While city parks that they have planned
Look out of place
Because the spirit’s in the land . . ."

from the CD Charcoal Lane

The Australian environment, light, seasons, soils, climate, rainfall patterns and wildlife, all differ from the British Isles and Europe, and from every other continent. By looking beyond conventional stereotypes, exotic plants and formal lawns, we discover a landscape ethic ideally suited to our circumstances.

"Australians need to change their way of thinking about foreign plants. We should see in every species a potential weed; unless we have evidence to show it won’t spread, a presumption of guilt should be applied."