Plants to plant - 6
 |
Mesomelaena pseudostygia semaphore sedge A tufted perennial sedge that grows on sand and gravel to 75cm high, in clumps to 50cm wide. The interesting name is derived from mesos (Greek) middle, melos (Greek) black, pseudo (Latin) false, stygios (Greek) of the styx or nether world.Flowers: brown, black with cream stamens – April to June. See more on Florabase.
|
 |
Myoporum insulare (boobiala) A dense shrub, growing to 5m high on mobile and stable sand dunes. The large leaves are fleshy and hooked at the apex. The succulent purple fruits are eaten by birds.Flowers: white with purple spots – August to December. See more on Florabase.
|
 |
Olearia axillaris coast daisybush One of the most common foreshore plants in Cottesloe that grows to 2m. It derives its silvery-grey colour from the white woolly hairs on its leaves. The leaves have a pleasant scent and it was used as a cooking herb by Willem Vlamingh at Rottnest Island in 1696.Flowers: white, cream, yellow – Jan to July, November to December. See more on Florabase.
|
 |
Olearia dampieri subs. dampieri A compact, dense green shrub, to 0.5m high. Growing on coastal limestone at Mudurup Rocks and identified by the WA Herbarium.Flowers: white – April to December. See more on Florabase.
|
 |
Parietaria debilis pellitory An annual herb that grows to 40cm high, in coastal or limestone areas, in shady spots. Pellitory is one of the few plants on which a migratory butterfly, the yellow admiral, breeds. The admiral detects plants by their scent, and lays its eggs usually on the underside of the leaves. Cottesloe Coastcare is attempting to reintroduce this plant.Flowers: white, green – August to November. See more on Florabase.
|
 |
Rhagodia baccata berry saltbush A common spreading shrub along the Cottesloe foreshore that grows to 2m high. There are male and female plants and they are salt-tolerant. The deep-red berries are eaten by birds and bobtail lizards. A small butterfly, the saltbush blue, breeds on the plant.Flowers: green - sporadic and March to June. See more on Florabase.
|
 |
Santalum acuminatum sweet quandong Quandongs used to grow in Cottesloe and Coastcare volunteers are attempting to reintroduce a few plants to suitable areas. An attractive small tree that can grow to 8m. Quandong is a semi-parasite growing on the roots of surrounding plants, preferring wattles and sheoaks. One of our larger butterflies, the spotted jezebel, feeds on this plant. Photo shows a seedling.Flowers: green yellow – October to March. Red succulent fruit. See more on Florabase.
|
 |
Scaevola anchusifolia silky scaevola An erect or decumbent shrub, growing to 1.5m high. Coastcare has only discovered one plant remaining in Cottesloe and cuttings have been taken in an effort to reintroduce more plants to the area. Silky scaevola grows on limestone ridges and sand dunes.Flowers: pale blue, white or pink - June to November. See more on Florabase.
|
 |
Scaevola crassifolia thick-leaved fan-flower A common Cottesloe foreshore plant with a low spreading habit and thick, serrated, almost circular leaves. It grows well on dunes and on limestone cliffs. Scaevola is a Roman surname given to a man who had his right hand burnt off – used for this genus as the flowers have a one-sided fan shape. Many native bees visit the flowers to collect pollen or to search for a mate.Flowers: pale blue or white - July to February. See more on Florabase. |
 |
Schoenus clandestinus See more on Florabase.
|
 |
Schoenus grandiflorus large-flowered bog-rush A rhizomatous, tufted perennial sedge that grows to 1.5m high on coastal sand dunes. Uncommon in Cottesloe but some plants remain at Cottesloe Native Garden.Flowers: brown – January/April - June. See more on Florabase. |
