Plants to plant - 7
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Senecio maritimus coast groundsel A widespread, low, annual, or perennial herb that grows on dunes and in bushland. The slightly fleshy leaves are variable and may be thickened in coastal plants. The fruit is an achene (dry, single-seeded) with white whiskery hairs attached, to assist its wind dispersal.Flowers: yellow – July to December. See more on Florabase.
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Sowerbaea laxiflora purple tassles A tufted, perennial herb with linear leaves to 30cm long. A few plants remain in Cottesloe among other Cottesloe limestone species. In the photo Sowerbaea is the purple flower in the left foreground.Flowers: purple – August to November. See more on Florabase.
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Spinifex hirsutus satin-leaved spinifex A rhizomatous perennial grass, easily recognised by its broad, flat, silvery, leaves which are hairy on both sides. Not as common along the Cottesloe foreshore as long-leaved spinifex but an important dune stabiliser at the toe of unstable sand dunes.Flowers: green, white, silvery – October to January. See more on Florabase.
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Spinifex longifolius long-leaved spinifex A perennial grass with male and female plants. Rhizomes spread through the sand forming tussocks which become important dune stabilisers. The whole female flower head can be 250mm in diameter and when dry, rolls in the wind distributing seeds along the shifting sand.Flowers: green, brown – April to January. See more on Florabase.
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Spyridium globulosum basket bush The botanical name comes from the Greek for basket, spyridion – as the tiny flower heads are surrounded by leafy bracts. This shrub can grow to 5m high but is often kept low by salt winds. The undersurface of the green leaves is covered with woolly white hairs.Flowers: white – June to November. See more on Florabase.
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Templetonia retusa cockies’ tongues A shrub with many branches that grows on limestone, to 4m high in a protected position. The bright red flowers give the impression of a cocky's tongue. The pea-pod is leathery, flat and ribbed. It is common around the salt lakes on Rottnest Island.Flowers: red, rarely yellow or white - April to September. See more on Florabase.
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Threlkeldia diffusa wallaby saltbush A small low growing much-branched perennial herb which is found on mobile dunes. The leaves are fleshy and the succulent red, bird attracting fruit, turns black, when mature.Flowers: green – mainly August to January. See more on Florabase.
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Thysanotus arenarius sand-dune fringed lily A tufted perennial herb that has rhizomes. Very few plants remain among limestone vegetation in Cottesloe. Each flower lasts only a day and is usually closed by early afternoon. Fruits are papery capsules.Flowers: purple – May/ October – December. See more on Florabase.
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Tricoryne elatior yellow lily A low growing, rhizomatous, perennial herb which has very recently disappeared from remnant heath in Cottesloe, due to infestation of a troublesome weed – Ferraria crispa or black flag. In photo - yellow lily in foreground.Flowers: yellow- January to December. See more on Florabase.
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Xanthorrhoea preissii grasstree (balga) A few of these beautiful plants remain in Cottesloe, particularly at Cottesloe Native Garden. The trunks grow to 5m high and the densely packed tall flower spikes provide nectar for insects, native bees, birds, and butterflies - including the Australian painted lady.Flowers: white, cream – January to November. See more on Florabase.
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