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Fact Sheet 4

"Coastal Plants"


Front line plants are those that will tolerate direct salt spray and salt laden winds. The young soft growth of these plants will be burnt during bad weather, although the plants will recover. The height of coastal species will be affected by the strength of the salt laden winds and usually these plants will not grow as tall as stated on the labels. Young plants can be protected by tree guards. Watering regularly is a must to establish these plants. Sandy soils mostly have good drainage but few nutrients. These sandy soils need well rotted matter (compost) added to them to help retain moisture and to supply nutrients. Deep watering is more beneficial than light hosing. A good layer of mulch placed around the base of the plant will stop it drying out.
Front line Coastal Ground Covers
Frankenia pauciflora
Myoporum parvifolium
       Creeping boobialla
Carpobrotus glaucescens    Pig face
Small Shrubs
Correa alba
Correa backhousia
Correa reflexa
(green)             Common Correa
Bracteantha bracteata         
Yellow paper daisy
Leucophyta brownii
Vitex ovata 'purpurea'
Lasiopetalum ferrugineum
   Rust velvet bus
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Medium shrubs
Acacia sophorae         Coastal wattle
Acacia suaveolens
      Sweet wattle
Hakea suaveolens
      Sweet Hakea
Banksia robur
            Swamp Banksia
Kunzea ambigua
        Tick bush
Melaleuca incana
        Grey honey mrytle
Westringia fruticosa
   Coastal rosemary
Melaleuca nodosa
Large Shrubs
Banksia ericifolia    Heath Banksia
Banksia marginata
    Silver Banksia
Banksia serrata
    Old man Banksia
Leptospermum laevigatum 
   Coastal teatree
Melaleuca ericifolia
    Northern paperbark
Melaleuca halmaturorum 
   Kangaroo paperbark
Melaleuca hypericifolia 
       Hillock bush
Small Trees
Acacia longifolia  Sydney golden wattle
Banksia integrifolia
    Coastal Banksia
Melaleuca leucadendron
Melaleuca viridiflora
Large Trees
Acacia floribunda    Sally wattle
Eucalyptus botryoides
    Bangalay
Eucalyptus robusta
    Swamp mahogany

Second line Coastal Plants
Second line plants will tolerate some salt exposure but need the protection of the front line plantings. Using the sand ridges or the rear of the house can provide a good barrier. Once a plant is established it generally requires little maintenance in these conditions. Pruning is mostly done by the elements but you may need to prune occasionally to keep compactness and shape.

Ground Covers

Actinotus helianthi         Flannel flowers
Dianella revoluta
          Spreading flax  lily
Dampiera purpurea
       Purple dampiera
Hardenbergia violacea
   False sarsparilla
Kennedia prostrata
       Running postman
Kennedia rubicunda
       Dusky coral pea
Scaevola aemula
          Fairy fan flower
Viola hederacea
           Native violet

Climbers
Billardiera scandens    Apple berry
Hardenbergia
    'Happy wanderer'
Hibbertia scandens
    Guinea flower
Pandorea jasminoides
Hoya australis

Small Shrubs
Anigozanthos flavidus(hybrids) Kangaroo paw
Bauera rubioides
    Dog rose
Boronia denticulata
Calytrix tetragona 
   Fringe myrtle
Correa pulchella
Correa mannii
Correa reflexa
    Common Correa
Crowea exalata
Crowea 'Poorinda Ecstasy'
Darwinia citriodora
    Lemon scented myrtle
Dodonaea cuneata
    Hop bush
Eriostemon myoporoides
    Long-leaf wax flower
Indigofera australis
    Native indigo
Lomatia silaifolia
    Parsley bush
Melaleuca thymifolia
    Thyme honey myrtle
Melaleuca violacea
    Violet honey myrtle
Micromyrtus ciliata 
   Fringed heath myrtle
Pimelea ferruginea
    Pink rice flower
Rulingia hermanniifolia
    Wrinkled kerrawang
Thryptomene saxicola
    Rock thryptomene

Medium Shrubs
Acacia myrtifolia    Myrtle wattle
Acacia terminalis
    Sunshine wattle
Baeckea linifolia
    Swamp Baeckea
Banksia collina
    Hill Banksia
Banksia serrata
    Old man Banksia
Callistemon linearis
    Narrow leaf bottle brush
Callistemon pinifolius
    Pine leaf bottle brush
Callistemon pallidus
    Lemon bottle brush
Grevillea banksii   
Red flowering silky oak
Grevillea juniperina
Grevillea longifolia
Kunzea parvifolia  
  Small leaved Kunzea
Lambertia formosa 
   Mountain devil
Leptospermum scoparium 
   Broom tea tree
Leptospermum squarrosum 
  Peach flowered tea tree
Melaleuca fulgens  
  Scarlet honey myrtle
Melaleuca lateritia 
   Robin red breast
Prostanthera incana

Large Shrubs
Callicoma serratifolia 
   Black wattle
Callistemon citrinus 
   Red bottle brush
Callistemon viminalis
Ceratopetalum gummiferum 
   Christmas bush
Hakea sericea 
   Needle bush
Leptospermum petersonii 
   Lemon scented tea tree
Melaleuca linariifolia 
   Snow in summer
Melaleuca styphelioides 
   Prickly paper bark
Prostanthera ovalifolia 
   Purple mint bush

Small Trees
Acacia baileyana    Cootamundra wattle
Acacia prominens    Gosford wattle
Callistemon salignus
    Willow bottle brush
Callitris rhomboidea  
  Port Jackson pine
Allocasuarina torulosa 
   Rose she-oak
Hakea salicifolia
    Willow leaved Hakea 
Pittosporum rhombifolium
Cupaniopsis anacardioides 
   Tuckeroo
Acmena smithii
    Lilly pilly
Glochidion ferdinandi
    Cheese tree
Syzygium oleosum 
   Blue lilly pilly
Elaeocarpus reticulatus    Blueberry ash
Syzygium luehmannii 
   Riberry
Trees
Acacia elata    Cedar wattle
Acacia melanoxylon
    Blackwood
Agonis flexuosa
    Willow leaf myrtle
Reference books
"Grow What Where", Australian Plant Study Group, Published by Nelson.
"Australian Native Plants", J.Wrigley & M.Fagg, Reed Books, Sydney.
"Rainforest Plants of Australia", David Jones, Reed Books, Sydney.

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Produced by the Australian Plants Society, Central Coast Group in conjunction
with Gosford City Council and Wyong Shire Council.