Waterwise Verge Gardens
Why Establish Verge Gardens
Verge or nature strip gardens offer a range of environmental and aesthetic benefits. By planting native species, they attract pollinators and support urban biodiversity. They also help reduce the urban heat, improve stormwater drainage while absorbing carbon and filtering air pollutants. Landscaping the verge provides an attractive entrance to your home and helps create a welcoming streetscape.
The creation of a well thought out verge garden provides value to the adjacent homeowner by reducing the need for mowing and watering, use of chemicals and fertilisers saving them time and money. Importantly they can also increase property values through improved curb appeal.
The City encourages residents to undertake landscaping and maintenance of the verge area adjacent to their property and is offering a financial incentive to help residents improve the quality of their verge.
Residents who successfully apply, install and maintain their new verge landscape for 4 months may be eligible for a rebate of $10 per square metre of landscaped verge area capped at $500. Additionally if a non-compliant verge such as gravel, paving or artificial grass is removed in favour of waterwise verge landscaping this rebate may be doubled to $20 per square metre of landscaped area capped at $1000. Details for how you can get involved to take advantage of this great initiative are available on the Verge Incentive Scheme page.
To help inspire you, the City has planted four demonstration sites at Edgeware Park in Lynwood showing various examples of waterwise landscaping which can easily be achieved at relatively low cost. Each of the four gardens have a distinctly different feel to help show what can be achieved and include Cottage Garden, Mediterranean Garden, Australian Native Garden and Local Native Garden. Details for each garden type shown at Edgeware Park including planting layout and plant species are included below to help you with your landscaping project.
Plant Options
A cottage garden is a charming, informal style of garden characterised an informal overflowing mix of flowers, herbs, and sometimes vegetables, all planted closely together in a seemingly unstructured way. It often features a variety of colours, textures, and heights, creating interest throughout the year. The overall look is abundant, slightly wild, and inviting.
Name |
Style |
Flowers |
Flowering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salvia Mirage | Shrub | Pink, red, white, or purple | Spring to autumn |
| Salvia Mystic Spires (Mystic Spires Salvia) | Shrub | Blue | Spring to autumn |
| Lavandula (Lavender) | Shrub | Purple | Spring to summer |
| Salvia officinalis (Sage) | Shrub | Purple or blue | Spring to summer |
| Cosmos spp. (Cosmos) | Shrub | Pink, white, or orange | Spring to autumn |
| Portulaca grandiflora (Annual portulaca) | Ground cover | Pink, yellow, red, orange | Spring to autumn |
| Hypocalymma robustum (Swan River Myrtle) | Shrub | Pink | Winter to spring |
| Hypocalymma angustifolium (White Myrtle/Kudjid) | Shrub | White | Winter to spring |
| Brachyscome iberidifolia (Swan River Daisy) | Ground cover | Blue, violet, or white | Spring to summer |
| Rhodanthe chlorocephala rosea (Everlasting Daisy) | Ground cover | Pink | Winter to spring |
| Hemerocallis 'Stella de Oro' (Stella Citron Daylily) | Strappy leaves | Yellow | Spring to autumn |
| Hemerocallis 'Stella Rouge' (Stella Rouge Daylily) | Strappy leaves | Red | Spring to autumn |
| Hemerocallis 'Stella Tangerine' (Stella Tangerine Daylily) | Strappy leaves | Orange | Spring to autumn |
| Hemerocallis 'Stella Bella' (Stella Bella Daylily) | Strappy leaves | Yellow | Spring to autumn |
| Leucadendron discolor (Pincushion Protea) | Shrub | Red and yellow | Winter to spring |
| Thryptomene baeckeacea (Pink Cascade) | Ground cover | Pink | Winter to spring |
| Kalanchoe blossfeldiana (Flaming Katy - Brilliant Star) | Shrub | Red, orange, yellow, pink | Winter to spring |
| Geranium 'Calliope Big Rose' (Calliope Geranium) | Shrub | Red or rose | Spring to autumn |
| Pelargonium 'Great Balls of Fire' (Zonal Geranium) | Shrub | Red | Spring to autumn |
| Scaevola 'Just Classy' (Fan Flower) | Ground cover | Blue | Spring to autumn |
| Westringia 'Flat n Fruity' (Coastal Rosemary) | Shrub | White or light mauve | Spring to autumn |
| Correa 'Bicheno Bells' (Native Fuchsia) | Shrub | Pink | Autumn to winter |
| Thymus vulgaris (Thyme) | Shrub | Purple | Spring to summer |
| Thryptomene baeckeacea (Prostrate Thryptomene) | Ground cover | Pink | Winter to spring |
A Mediterranean garden is a warm, sun-loving landscape comprising plants which prefer warm dry summers and cool wet winters. It features drought-tolerant plants such as lavender, rosemary and succulents and can include fragrant plants. The colour palette leans toward silvery greens, soft purples, and earthy tones. The overall feel is low-maintenance and perfectly suited to dry, hot climates.
Name |
Style |
Flowers |
Flowering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotyledon | Succulent | Orange-red | Winter to spring |
| Echeveria 'Emerald Ripple' | Succulent | Red, orange, pink, or yellow | Spring to summer |
| Senecio mandraliscae (Blue Chalk Sticks) | Succulent | Insignificant | N/A |
| Sedum Mini 'Variegated' (Sedum) | Succulent | Yellow | Summer to autumn |
| Thymus vulgaris (Common Thyme) | Herb | Pink or purple | Spring to summer |
| Lavandula (Lavender) | Shrub | Purple, blue, or white | Summer |
| Limonium perezii (Sea Lavender) | Shrub | Purple and white | Summer |
| Senecio serpens (Blue Chalksticks) | Succulent | Yellow | Summer |
| Kalanchoe 'Bronze Sculpture' | Succulent | Yellow | Winter |
| Crassula 'Green Pagoda' | Succulent | White | Winter |
| Delosperma lemannii (Delosperma) | Succulent | Yellow | Spring to summer |
| Lomandra 'Lime Tuff' (Lomandra) | Strappy leaves | Yellow | Spring to summer |
| Rosmarinus 'Tuscany Blue' (Rosemary) | Shrub | Blue | Spring to summer |
| Salvia officinalis (Sage) | Herb | Purple, pink, or white | Spring to summer |
Western Australian native gardens showcase the unique and diverse flora of our region, featuring hardy, drought-tolerant plants adapted to the local climate and soils.
They typically offer interesting structural foliage, vibrant colours and attract native birds and insects, and include striking species such as kangaroo paws, grevilleas and banksias.
The result is a garden that reflects the rugged beauty of the Western Australian landscape requiring little maintenance while supporting local biodiversity.
Name |
Style |
Flowers |
Flowering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grevillea lavandulacea x alpina 'Jelly Belly' | Shrub | Red or pink | Winter to spring |
| Grevillea 'Winter Delight' | Shrub | Creamy white with pink tinge | Winter |
| Grevillea crithmifolia (Grevillea) | Shrub | White | Winter to spring |
| Chorizema varium (Flame Pea) | Shrub | Orange-red | Winter to spring |
| Correa Bicheno Bells (Correa) | Shrub | Red and green | Winter to spring |
| Acacia cognata 'Limelight' | Shrub | Yellow | Spring |
| Casuarina 'Cousin It' | Ground cover | Insignificant | N/A |
| Convolvulus cneorum (Convolvulus) | Shrub | White | Spring to summer |
| Banksia blechnifolia (Banksia) | Shrub | Red-orange | Spring |
| Myoporum parvifolium (Myoporum) | Ground cover | White | Spring to summer |
| Carpobrotus virescens (Native Pig Face) | Ground cover | Pink-purple | Spring |
| Anigozanthos 'Bush Bonanza' (Kangaroo Paw 'Bush Bonanza') | Strappy leaves | Yellow-orange | Spring to summer |
| Anigozanthos 'Bush Ballad' (Kangaroo Paw 'Bush Ballad') | Strappy leaves | Red | Spring to summer |
| Anigozanthos 'Bush Fire' (Kangaroo Paw 'Bush Fire') | Strappy leaves | Red-orange | Spring to summer |
| Anigozanthos 'Bush Zest' (Kangaroo Paw 'Bush Zest') | Strappy leaves | Orange | Spring to summer |
| Anigozanthos 'Cel Aussie Spirit' (Kangaroo Paw 'Cel Aussie Spirit') | Strappy leaves | Red | Spring to summer |
| Anigozanthos 'Cel Fireworks' (Kangaroo Paw 'Cel Fireworks') | Strappy leaves | Red and yellow | Spring to summer |
| Anigozanthos 'Cel Masquerade' (Kangaroo Paw 'Cel Masquerade') | Strappy leaves | Pink | Spring to summer |
| Anigozanthos 'Bush Dance' (Kangaroo Paw 'Bush Dance') | Strappy leaves | Red | Spring to summer |
| Anigozanthos 'Bush Glow' (Kangaroo Paw 'Bush Glow') | Strappy leaves | Red | Spring to summer |
| Rhodanthe chlorocephala rosea (Everlastings) | Shrub | Pink | Winter to spring |
| Hypocalymma augustifolium (White Myrtle / Kudjid) | Shrub | White | Winter to spring |
| Hypocalymma robustum (Swan River Myrtle) | Shrub | Pink | Winter to spring |
| Westringia 'Grey Box' (Coastal Rosemary) | Shrub | White | Spring to summer |
| Thryptomene baeckeacea (Prostrate Thryptomene) | Shrub | Pink | Winter to spring |
| Banksia ashbyii 'Dwarf' (Ashby's Banksia – Dwarf) | Shrub | Orange | Spring to summer |
| Banksia candolleana (Propellor Banksia) | Shrub | Yellow | Spring to summer |
| Banksia petiolaris (Prostrate Banksia) | Ground cover | Yellow | Spring to summer |
| Banksia nivea (Honeypot Dryandra) | Shrub | Yellow | Spring to summer |
| Gastrolobium 'Lemon Drops' | Shrub | Yellow | Spring |
| Scaevola 'Just Classy' | Ground cover | Blue | Spring to summer |
| Westringia 'Flat n Fruity' | Ground cover | White | Spring to summer |
| Lomandra 'Lime Tuff' | Strappy leaves | Yellow | Spring to summer |
A locally native Western Australian garden is designed using plant species that are indigenous to the Canning region, creating an ecologically supportive landscape.
These gardens reflect the natural beauty of the local bushland, often incorporating endemic shrubs, groundcovers, and trees such as:
- kangaroo paws
- feather flowers
- local varieties of hakeas and grevilleas.
The layout is typically informal using materials like natural mulch, to blend seamlessly with the surroundings.
This type of garden thrives with minimal water and maintenance, supports local wildlife, and helps preserve local biodiversity by staying true to the area’s unique plant ecology.
Name |
Style |
Flowers |
Flowering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaufortia squarrosa (Sand Bottlebrush) | Shrub | Red | Spring to summer |
| Hypocalymma robustum (Swan River Myrtle) | Shrub | Pink | Winter to spring |
| Eremophila glabra (Kalbarri Carpet) | Shrub | Yellow, red, orange, or green | Spring |
| Grevillea thelemanniana (Spider Net Grevillea) | Shrub | Red or pink | Winter to spring |
| Dianella revoluta (Black-anther Flax Lily) | Strappy leaves | Blue | Spring to summer |
| Chorizema cordatum (Heart-leaf Flame Pea) | Shrub | Orange and red | Winter to spring |
| Verticordia plumosa (Plumed Featherflower) | Shrub | Pink | Winter to spring |
| Anigozanthos manglesii (Red and Green Kangaroo Paw) | Strappy leaves | Red and green | Spring |
| Anigozanthos viridis (Green Kangaroo Paw) | Strappy leaves | Green | Spring |
| Hardenbergia comptoniana (Native Wisteria) | Climber | Purple | Winter to spring |
| Hemiandra pungens (Snakebush) | Ground cover | Pink or purple | Spring |
Please note verge gardens need to comply with the City’s Policy ET.529 Verge Landscape Treatments. For more information, please visit the Verge Landscaping request page.
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