BUSH CHRISTMAS

This year, swap the usual pine for a beautiful native plant

Woolly bush

The natural pyramid shape of this evergreen shrub makes it the ideal festive season tree. Its soft, silver- green woolly foliage gives rise to small, bright red flowers in spring and summer. Grow in a pot or in the garden, in a spot with full sun and well-drained soil.

NSW Christmas bush

Tiny, fragrant white flowers appear on this evergreen from late spring, but the merry display begins after they fall. The star-shaped sepals (the leaf-shaped structure that holds each flower) enlarge and turn red and pink. Plant in a large pot or in a spot with full sun or part shade and well-drained soil.*

Dwarf flowering gum

Usually grafted to ensure dwarf size and flower, its aromatic leaves are covered with fluffy red, pink, orange or white flowers in summer. For sensational red blooms, look for ‘Summer Red’ and ‘Dwarf Red’. Position in full sun, enrich the soil with organic matter and lightly prune after flowering.

Lilly pilly

Pink, red or bronze-green flushes of new growth adorn this medium to large tree. Suitable for pots, it can be clipped into a conical shape. The ‘Straight and Narrow’ variety grows into a slender 5-8m tall pyramid; ‘Bush Christmas’ can be pruned hard to a compact 1m.

FOR MORE PLANTS, VISIT

bunnings.com.au/plants Woolly bush

(Adenanthos sericeus) Feed with a native-specific, slow-release fertiliser in spring and lightly prune after flowering.

NSW Christmas bush

(Ceratopetalum gummiferum) The sepals also make a fantastic cut flower display, perfect when decorating for Christmas.

Dwarf flowering gum

(Corymbia ficifolia cvs) These handsome trees are highly attractive to birds, so expect a few feathered visitors.

Lilly pilly

(Syzygium and Eugenia var) Plant lilly pilly in sun to part shade. Powder puff-type flowers appear from spring through to autumn.

TOP 20 indoor plants

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TOP 20

INDOOR PLANTS

Houseplants not only enhance and breathe life into our living spaces, they also help purify the air. But where to start when it comes to choosing which ones to buy? While there used to be just a handful of varieties to choose from, there are now hundreds of different species and cultivars vying for a spot in your home. Here’s our top 20 to help get you started.

Top tips

n Feed plants when they are actively growing to help boost and support growth. Use a fast-acting liquid fertiliser or a slow- or controlledrelease granular product. n Fungus gnats are those little black flies that can be seen dancing around the top of potting mixes. While harmless, they’re annoying. Treat with Eco-Neem or a physical barrier like Yates Gnat Barrier to help keep them under control. n For most plants, water when the potting mix is almost dry. Insert your index finger into the top of the mix down to a depth of 2.5-5cm. If it’s moist, some mix will stick to your finger, but if it’s dry, it will flake off like dust. Alternatively, use a moisture meter which can gauge how wet or dry the potting mix is in the root zone. n Indoor plants almost always look better when they are arranged together in groups.

Fruit salad plant (Monstera deliciosa) A classic indoor specimen with large, glossy green leaves that develop fenestrations (holes) as the plant matures. Position in high, indirect light and use a stake to support the stems as they grow.

Every 7-10 days High or medium light Philodendron ‘Rojo Congo’ One of the best low-maintenance plants, with dark, lustrous foliage that emerges maroon before ageing to green. Give it a spot out of direct sunlight and dust the leaves occasionally to help them shine.

Every 7-10 days High, medium to low light

Devil’s ivy or pothos (Epipremnum aureum and cultivars) Deemed almost unkillable, this climbing or trailing plant can grow in low to high light. Good for hanging baskets. It can withstand short periods with little water, but don’t neglect it for too long.

Every 10-14 days High, medium to low light Ctenanthe (Ctenanthe setosa) A decorative plant that has silver-green leaves with attractive purple-red undersides. It thrives in a humid environment in high to medium light and needs a moist, well-drained potting mix. Lack of water causes the leaves to curl inwards.

Every 7-10 days High to medium light

Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) Lush, bushy, low on maintenance and well suited to hanging baskets. Position in a spot with bright filtered light. These ferns love humidity so are perfect for bathrooms. Mist the foliage once a week and ensure the potting mix is kept moist but not saturated.

Every 5-7 days Medium light Flamingo flower (Anthurium andraeanum) Heart-shaped leaves with pink or red spathes that contain flower clusters on a protruding spike. Put in a warm, bright spot in indirect light to encourage flowers. A little tolerant of neglect, so can withstand short periods without water.

Every 7-10 days High to medium light Swiss cheese vine (Monstera adansonii) A dainty relative of the fruit salad plant (M. deliciosa) with much smaller perforated, heart-shaped leaves and a climbing or trailing habit, so good for hanging baskets. Position in high, indirect light and mist regularly.

Every 7-10 days High to medium light Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides) With mini pancake-shaped leaves on the ends of long, thin stems, this plant is truly a unique specimen for the home. It needs plenty of high, indirect light and watering when the top 4cm of soil feels dry.

Every 5-7 days High to medium light

Syngonium (Syngonium podophyllum) An incredibly undemanding plant that will trail or climb if allowed. Its arrowhead-shaped leaves may be patterned and coloured green, white or pink. It loves a brightly lit spot out of direct sunlight.

Every 7-10 days High, medium to low light

Alocasia (Alocasia spp.) Many species make up this family of tropical plants. Their large leaves vary and may be glossy, velvety or highly textured. Position in a well-lit spot out of direct sunlight and water regularly, allowing the top 4cm of potting mix to dry out between waterings.

Every 5-7 days High to medium light

Dragon tail (Epipremnum pinnatum) Glossy deep-green leaves start off elliptical and whole, and split as the plant matures. As it grows, it creeps along the ground, so will eventually rigidly ‘trail’ over the sides of the pot. Give it a bright spot out of direct sunlight.

Polka dot begonia (Begonia maculata) A popular plant that has angel wing-shaped leaves with silver polka dots. Place in a spot with high, indirect light and keep moist. Allow the top 4cm of potting mix to dry out between waterings.

Every 7-10 days High to medium light

Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) An easy-to-grow indoor plant with attractive green and white, ribbon-like foliage. It produces many baby plants on the ends of long, arching stems, which look like little spiders hanging in the air.

Every 7-10 days High to medium light

Rubber plant (Ficus elastica) This has the potential to grow into a large tree, but will remain compact when kept as a potted indoor specimen. Tolerates low light, but prefers a well-lit position out of direct sunlight. Water when the potting mix is dry. Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana) A beautiful, upright palm with graceful, arching fronds that is tolerant of low light. It’s ideal for imparting a lush, tropical vibe to a living space.

Every 7-10 days Medium to low light

Calathea (Calathea spp.) The foliage in the many varieties of this tropical plant may feature blocks of colour, stripes or even a mosaic-style pattern. It thrives in high, indirect light but can tolerate lower light levels, too. Mist regularly to increase humidity, or leaf edges may become crispy and brown.

Every 7-10 days High to medium light

Dieffenbachia (Dieffenbachia spp.) The luscious leaves are typically green and yellow, and patterned with specks, blotches or lines. Grows best in high, indirect light, but can tolerate low light conditions. Keep potting mix consistently moist. Peace lily (Spathiphyllum spp.) A low-maintenance choice that tolerates low light conditions, although it does need adequate natural light to produce its attractive white ‘flowers’ or spathes. Allow the top 4cm of potting mix to dry out between waterings.

Every 7-10 days High, medium or low light

Zanzibar gem (Zamioculcas zamifolia) An attractive and hardy specimen with glossy dark-green leaves. It’s said to thrive on neglect – it needs little water and is tolerant of low light conditions – making it one of the easiest indoor plants to grow.

Every 14+ days Medium to low light

Fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) A popular plant with large, leathery leaves that emerge from a single or multi-stemmed trunk. In order to thrive, it needs lots of high, indirect light, regular misting to maintain humidity and watering when the top 4cm of potting mix is dry.