Waterwise Plants
The following species generally represent hardy and waterwise native plants from the savannah woodland & rangelands:
Or jump to another category
ALL IMAGES SUBJECT TO STRICT COPYRIGHT.
Permissions granted for image use on the Territory Native Plants Website does not constitute transfer of rights or permit reproduction, reuse or download to any third parties. Image copyright is retained by the owner.
Attractive trailing shrub. Watermelon pink to white/cream hibiscus-like flowers last one day, but prolific during wet season. Re-shoots from underground tuber with first rains. Tubers, leaves and shoots edible raw or cooked. Wide medicinal uses. Food plant for the Spotted Bollworm moth and Cotton Leaf roller. 1-1.5m
Slender small delicate shrub/small ornamental tree, with fine leaves and pale yellow flowers. 2-5m.
Large tree with dense foliage, creamy yellow and sweet scented flowers. Useful for shade, windbreaks revegetation and rural property plantings. 10-20m
Hardy and showy ornamental understory shrub for gardens and rockeries. Small elephant ear shaped leaves. Long cylinder deep yellow to golden flowers. 2-3m.
Spectacular and hardy ornamental wattle in both flower and foliage. Attractive green-grey leaves with showy bright yellow flowers. Useful for filling and screening. 4-7m.
Erect and pretty multi branched wattle, bright yellow flowers. Useful screening and landscape shrub. 1-4m
Very pretty and neat small shrub with pale yellow pod flowers. Foliage used as herb flavouring for cooking meat. Flowers for long periods. 1-3m.
Spreading feature shrub, very common Acacia species across Darwin with yellow rod shaped flowers and twisted seed pods. Seeds ground to make flour and then damper or flat bread. 3-4m.
Hardy, shapely and fast growing small to medium wattle with prolific blooms of showy pale yellow cylindrical flowers. Suitable for in filling, screening/shade and revegetation. 4-10m
Hardy slender medium shrub, cream/yellow globule pod flowers. Sap can be eaten like a bush toffee. Useful for filling and screening. 3-8m.
Unique shrub with green grey foliage, handsome weeping foliage and bursts of contrasting bright yellow flowers. 3-4m
Hardy, neat slender small pioneer shrub with pale yellow globular flowers. Useful for garden beds, infilling and revegetation. 1-2m
Splendid small shrub, with large braces of bright yellow flowers seen often throughout the year. Useful for borders, streetscapes, accent and filling. 0.5-1m.
Delicate slender wattle, endemic to the Top End. Pendulous foliage, pale yellow globular flowers and distinctive fine foliage. Useful for gardens, rockeries or infilling. 3-6m
Very hardy erect bushy wattle with bluey-grey foliage and profusion of bright yellow cylindrical spikes. Cattle fodder. 4-6M
Small pretty wattle with rounded bright yellow globular flowers. Useful for garden beds, rockeries, infilling and revegetation. 1-3m
Attractive hardy low-medium spreading shrub, long yellow cylindrical flowers, thin straight pods. 1-3m
Large spreading shrub. reddish young shoots, short yellow cylindrical flowers. Excellent hardy and fast growing low bushy shrub. 1-3m
Small neat compact shrub with splendid spreading form. Prolific bursts of showy yellow flowers throughout the year. 1-1.5m
Very large spreading feature tree. Hardy, fast growing with impressive shade. Highly scented white flowers. After several years establishing performs well with little water. Deciduous. 10-15m
Very large spreading feature tree. Hardy, fast growing with impressive shade. Highly scented reddish pink and creamish golden colored flowers. After several years establishing performs well with little water. Deciduous. 18-30m.
One of the Top End’s most Impressive large cyclone and termite resistant shade trees. Majestic dense evergreen canopy. Can live for over a hundred years. Important source of honey. Non invasive roots. 15-20m
Widespread & hardy top end perennial grass. Tufted and deep rooted. Important early season food source for native finches, including Gouldian. 1-2M
Hardy evergreen tree with beautiful pink to purple flowers. Native to South America but naturalised in the NT. Sweet cashew apple edible raw or processed into fruit drinks or liquor, and used for jams and lollies. Cashew nut is toxic raw and requires heat treatment. 5-10m
Handsome medium sized showy shrub/small tree with beautifully scented foliage. Magnificent large bright yellow globular flowers with unique seed pods. 1-3m
Small slender tree with attractive pendulous foliage, long drooping cream-white flowers and unique papery winged fruits. A desirable small waterwise garden shrub or tree. Host plant for the Wattle or Miskin’s Blue Butterfly.
Decorative small tree to medium feature shrub. Beautiful bright yellow large distinctive flowers which can be licked or sucked for nectar. Green-white holly shaped leaves, bird attractant. 3-7m.
Hardy, drought tolerant tree with pendulous branches, attractive small butterfly shaped foliage and velvety pink tubular flowers. Rich in nectar for birds, butterflies and bees and protein source for cattle. 5-10m
Shrub or small screening tree, white flowers for much of the year. Full sun/dappled shade. Drought resistant. Eucalypt forest & stream margins. 4-8M
Tall layered deciduous tree with stunning red flowers when leafless, unique woody thorns on trunk & buttress roots. Kapok seed pod filled with white fluffy stuffing. Flowers and leaves edible. Occurs in monsoon vine forests and river banks. Related to the Boab. 10-20M
A small and very distinctive feature and accent shrub with holly shaped foliage, bold new crimson growth and blooms of bright yellow flowers. 2m.
Medium to large decorative shade tree, cyclone resistant, small bright red bursts of flowers, large boat shaped seed pods, changing from green to black when ripe. Seeds edible when roasted to remove dangerous irritant hairs. 5-15m
Medium feature shrub with showy red flowers. Seeds edible when roasted to remove dangerous irritant hairs. 2-4 m
Small to medium sized deciduous woodland tree related to the commercial mango, with abundant green edible plum like fruit. Hardy species, prized as a food plant and amongst the tastiest NT bush tucker. 4-10m
Distinctive Top End pine tree with cone shaped form and lovely delicate bluey green/grey foliage. Very hardy large tree with aromatic timber. Timber and bark distilled to make Blue Cypress oil, with a sweet woody and herbaceous aroma. 10-18m
Incredibly impressive small and very hardy feature shrub bursting with masses of showy pink-purple flowers. 1-4m.
Spreading decorative groundcover with pink-purple pea shaped flowers and large beans, exploding when ripe. Excellent decorative trailing ground creeper for coastal rehabilitation. esplanades, streetscapes, rural properties and urban gardens.
Tall hardy and fast growing riverine tree with pendulous needle like foliage and hard woody cones. Endemic to Australia and also common along east coast. Pretty tree for rural gardens and for erosion control./soil stabilisation. Tolerates inundation. 10-15M
Large accent she-oak tree, slender green twig foliage, found across coastal Darwin. 35m.
Hardy and attractive tall, densely tufted grass with fine white feathery plume. Provides contrast, border and low screening for urban and rural garden beds, ponds, pools, rockeries and stabilisation/run off control. 3-5yrs. 1-2m.
Hardy and attractive, densely tufted perennial grass. Endemic to the Top End. Found near lagoons, floodplains & watercourses. Excellent finch attractant. 1-2m.
Lovely colourful medium sized shrub, with green-red leaves. Attractive dark purple fruit with white showy perfumed flowers. Butterfly attractant. 2-4M
Deciduous small ornamental shrub/tree with showy large yellow edible flowers which taste like butter and are used in Asian salads. Unique fruits filled with dense white fibre. 3-7m
Pretty and fast growing ornamental coastal tree, native to the Bahamas. Beautiful dark red-orange flowers, sandpapery leaves. White, fragrant fleshy fruits. Tolerates part shade. 5-10M
Splendid spreading tree with clusters of large trumpet shaped bright orange flowers. Heart shaped glossy leaves. Useful as small screening tree. 5-10m
Small pretty bloodwood from Kakadu and Arnhem Land with long weeping foliage, tessellated brown to reddish bark, smooth leaves and white or pink flowers. Endemic to the Top End. 6-8 m
Widespread Top End ghost gum with blackish grey trunk base abruptly turning smooth white. Stunning cream flowers on bare branches below new season leaf growth. Deciduous in late dry. 10-12M
Grand spreading ghost gum with majestic canopy of large glossy foliage & creamy white flowers. Smooth white bark shedding in thin flakes to pale grey. Deciduous in the dry season. 12-15M
Stately large tree of open forest & woodland, often on moist soils. Handsome & stable for parks, gardens and rural properties. Large clusters of cream flowers with nectar favoured by native bees. 10-15M
Widespread ghost gum featuring bright red/maroon flush of new foliage mid dry season. Distinctly tessellated stocking of rough bark on lower trunk with smooth white bark above. 10-15M
Colourful ornamental small tree/mallee with brilliant blooms of showy pink/red or white flowers. Brown to yellow brown bark. Very hardy and adaptable. 4-8M
Large, tough, handsome and adaptable evergreen bloodwood from arid and semi-arid NT. Profuse white flowers produce nectar food source for animals including honeyeaters, insects and possums. 15-18M
Gorgeous erect single stalked perennial shrub with brilliant blue violet pea shaped flowers. Excellent colourful specimen for gardens, rockeries and pots. 1m
Hardy, handsome rounded tree with lovely greenish to white flowers. Brilliant yellow fruit with bright red seeds. Excellent medium sized evergreen shade tree. 5-8m
Hardy and attractive native perennial grass, with distinctive green leaves and white silky heads. Related to the commercial lemon grass, can be used as as substitute as all parts have pleasant lemon scent. Also used in tea, drinks or food flavouring. Important medicinal plant for colds and pain. Provides contrast, border and low screening for urban and rural garden beds, ponds, pools and rockeries. 1.5m
Common rocky area grass with persistent fluffy seed heads. Related to commercial lemon grass. Can be used for tea, food flavouring or medicinal wash. Useful for creating finch habitat. 2M
Unique decorative waterwise woodland tree. Dense weeping foliage, attractive pale yellow fruits and red seeds. 4-10m.
Popular low clumping evergreen ornamental. Strappy glossy leaves and sweet edible blue-purple berries & nutty seeds. Blue-lilac flower petals with yellow inner. Very hardy & adaptable. Tolerates part shade for understory planting. 1M
Small compact tree with dense lush dark green foliage and edible fruit that leave a dry taste in the mouth. Excellent small filling, screening tree for urban and rural gardens. 3-5m
Excellent hardy evergreen tree. Can be pruned as attractive screening bush or large shrub, with dense glossy green leaves and masses of impressive yellow fruit, turning red to black. Tolerates sandy soils. 5-8M
An attractive medium sized shrub/tree with light green dense leaves, Pretty tri-cornered pinkish papery winged capsule pods turning brown when ripe, containing small round black seeds. 6m
Beautiful native annual or perennial grass, small and slender with delicate purplish soft flower heads. Provides contrast, border and low screening for urban and rural garden beds, ponds, pools and rockeries. 0.8m
Attractive medium sized NT salmon gum with enormous triangular leaves, white grey bark shedding to brilliant salmon-pink and profuse bursts of white flowers. 10-20m
Very hardy small mallee widespread in the arid centre. White-cream flowers with white to grey/brown bark. 3-6M
Beautiful shapely and hardy small gum with handsome form, lovely salmon orange bark green-grey foliage and cream flowers. 3-8m.
Large eucalyptus tree, common Darwin bushland native, wooly bark at trunk base becoming smooth higher towards crown. Showy orange or scarlet flowers. Very hardy. Seeds and chaff are shaken from the pods and eaten raw. 15-25m.
Small to medium decorative evergreen mallee widespread through central NT. Buds turn pink before producing large creamy yellow flowers. Sweet edible nectar can be sipped directly or mixed with water to make a sweet beverage. 2-3M
Beautiful small to medium feature eucalypt with lovely yellow orange flakey bark and incredible display of beautiful bursting orange flowers. Bird attractant. 7-12m.
Medium sized hardy woodland tree, common Darwin bushland native, rough stringy bark, cream or white flowers. 9-18m.
Regarded as one of the more attractive gum trees of the Top End, distinct in its smooth pale orange to creamy-pink bark which turns a brilliant salmon colour. Very hardy and adaptable to many kinds of well drained soils. 5-10m.
Small to medium tree endemic to Top End and VRD, with smooth pale yellow/pink/orange, bark ageing to white. 10-15M
Shapely and very hardy small tree. Tasty green-yellow fig fruits with clear, sweet nectar rich in Vitamin C. Tolerates diverse habitats. Separate male and female plants. 4-8M
Glorious open shrub with blue-green holly-like foliage and brilliant yellow-orange flowers, seen throughout the year. A rare Grevillea from the Arnhemland plateau and one of the Top End’s most decorative. Prefers well drained soils in full sun 1-4M
Very pretty small shrub endemic to the NT. Holly like leaves and decorative greenish white to yellow orange pendulous flowers year round. Excellent fast growing, hardy ornamental feature shrub. 1-2m.
Small, slender and hardy tree with edible seeds, lime green leaves and attractive delicate pink flowers. Seeds are extracted from pods and eaten raw. 2-4m
Very pretty and hardy low shrub. Often used for feature gardens and landscape plantings for its blooms of showy pink/red flowers which are licked or sucked for the nectar. Bird attractant, needs sun. 1-2m
Impressive spreading ground cover, hedged bush or shrub endemic to the NT. Often used in feature gardens, rockeries and landscape plantings for its grey green leaves and blooms of showy yellow green flowers. Hardy and attractive. Bird attractant, needs sun. 1-2m
Splendid small tree with slender form and large sprays of delicate and showy pink/red flowers. Seeds are taken from the pod and eaten. Pretty tree for parkscapes, streetscapes, rural properties and urban gardens. 5-7m
Stunning tall shrub/small tree. Gorgeous perfumed & nectar rich cream-white flowers attract many birds & bees. Silvery pendulous foliage. Rarely seen in cultivation 3–6M.
Small multi stemmed shrub endemic to the Top End with stunning bright green/pink flowers. Hardy and showy specimen for border, filling and accent in garden beds and rockeries. 3m
Fast growing and hardy feature tree with showy bright orange flowers and silvery fern leaves. Delicious sweet nectar is licked, sucked or used to make a sweet drink. Bird attractant. 5-8m.
Spectacular slender ornamental shrub. Ideal for gardens, with delicate orange-red flowers for much of the year and unique silver-grey foliage. 3-5M
Near threatened small Grevillea from the Arnhem coast and plateau. Bright yellow, white, or apricot flowers darkening to red with strong very sweet fragrance. 1.5-3m
A spindly shrub with coarse hairy foliage and prolific delicious fruit with sweet tangy taste and chewy texture. Important edible revegetation species and medicinal plant. To 1.5m
Medium sized deciduous tree with glossy new growth and papery winged seed capsules falling to the ground like spiralling helicopters. Very hardy and effective revegetation species. 6-10m
Hardy small shrub with pretty soft pale orange to yellow flowers, attractive to honeyeaters, and unique spiralling seed pods. Monsoon forest edges & open woodland. Border, filling & screening specimen. Can tolerate part shade & dry periods. 2-3M
Hardy and attractive rounded tropical shrub or tree with showy yellow flowers and rich dense green foliage. Tolerates high wind, salt spray and poor drainage. Useful feature tree for filling, shade, screening and windbreak. 5-8m
Hardy and attractive rounded tropical shrub or tree with showy yellow flowers and rich maroon-green leaves. Useful feature and accent tree for filling, shade, screening and windbreak. Up to 10 m tall
A spreading decorative ground creeper growing along the top of Darwin beaches, rocky headlands, parks and streetscapes with beautiful showy pink trumpet shaped flowers seen all year round.
Delicate and highly decorative small shrub with attractive mauve flowers and black drupes when ripe. 1.5-3m
Hardy & highly versatile small strappy garden edging ornamental. Heavily scented nectar attracts pollinating insects. Suitable for indoor potting, or full sun. Australian native to all but NT & WA. 0.4-1M
Impressive small clumping pandanus with stunning architectural form. Seeds are extracted from fruit, roasted and eaten. Useful for feature gardens, rockeries, filling and screening. Attractive yellow globular fruits. 3-5m
Colourful and hardy medium feature tree, dark green attractive leaves and spectacular blooms of cascading yellow flowers. Common Darwin shade, street and rural planting. 10-12m.
A favoured NT native fruit, eaten raw or dried and stored. Slender small hardy shrub or tree with bright pink red new growth and impressive yellow flowers. 3-5m
Small hardy evergreen understory tree with dense foliage and bright orange fruits. Useful for infilling, revegetation, screening and windbreaks on rural properties. 3-6m
Slender sprawling evergreen shrub endemic to Arnhem Land and Kakadu, with thin pine like leaves and gorgeous red flowers throughout the year. A delicate ornamental suited to gardens and rockeries. 2-3m
Distinctive small pendulous central Australian tree or shrub. Covered with bright cream to yellow flower blooms, and bright red sticky seeds. Useful small, unique and hardy filler tree. 6-8M
Small deciduous tree with beautiful distinctive large pink and white flowers. Outer fleshy fruit edible, and important medicinal plant with antibacterial qualities. 5-10m
Bushy succulent evergreen shrub with small white flowers and fruits. Glossy dense tropical foliage, able to be trimmed and hedged. Excellent for around pools, screening and privacy. Hardy and salt tolerant. 2-3m
Handsome medium sized screening and feature tree with showy bright red fruit and edible black seeds which taste like raw peanuts. Useful ornamental, filling and screening tree. Bird attractant, cyclone resistant. 5-15m
Small pretty and hardy shrub. Delicate snowy white tubular flowers, petals in rotating pattern. Yellow/orange banana shaped edible fruit. 1-3m
Pretty evergreen shrub with bright yellow flowers and delicate needle thin, yellow-green broom-like pendulous foliage. Woomera tree. 2-3M
Lovely small shrub endemic to northern Australia. Soft silky grey bluish foliage and pink to purple pea flowers produced throughout the year. 1-2M
Medium sized semi-deciduous Daly River/VRD shade tree with pendulous branches & weeping form. Green-cream flowers. Black nuts & small edible kernel. Can tolerate periodic inundation. Cattle fodder. 5-10M
Small to medium semi-deciduous spreading bushland tree with pale green fruit, cream flowers and large oval leaves. The fruit is the world’s highest known natural source of Vitamin C. Commercially harvested for its culinary uses including gourmet bush condiments like jams, chutneys and pickles. Sap is eaten like bush toffee. 5-7m
A tufted leafy native perennial grass. Bluish to yellow green, maturing to yellowish-brown to red. 2m
Perennial, hardy clumping grass from Sth West NT. Useful for ornamental feature planting & erosion stabilisation. Important grass for creating finch habitat. 0.8M.
Perennial, hardy clumping grass 1-2M across. Useful for ornamental feature planting & erosion stabilisation. Important grass for creating finch habitat. 1M
Perennial, hardy clumping grass from arid NT. Useful for ornamental feature planting & erosion stabilisation. Important grass for creating finch habitat. 2M
Beautiful small decorative shrub with prolific bursts of showy fine feather like flowers. An excellent delicate specimen for gardens, filling and feature areas. 2-5m
Lovely ground cover with green/grey leaves and gorgeous purple to white radiating flowers. Hardy, salt tolerant and water wise creeping specimen for rural & urban gardens as well as streetscapes and coastal areas.
Lovely low sprawling shrub or medium bush with gorgeous green, greyish foliage and delicate pale blue to purple flowers. Hardy, salt tolerant and water wise for rural & urban gardens as well as streetscapes and coastal areas. 1-3M
Beautiful small to medium decorative feature tree, with profusion of impressive clustered yellow flowers, followed by small yellow pods. 10m