Australian Native Plants

Australian Native Plants: Cultivation and Uses in the Health and Food Industries provides a comprehensive overview of native food crops commercially grown in Australia that possess nutritional and health properties largely unknown on a global basis. These native foods have been consumed traditionally, have a unique flavor diversity, offer significant health promoting effects, and contain useful functional properties. Australian native plant foods have also been identified for their promising antioxidant and antimicrobial properties that have considerable commercial potential. This book is divided into three parts: The first part reviews the cultivation and production of many Australian native plants (ANP), including Anise Myrtle, Bush Tomato, Desert Raisin, Davidson’s Plum, Desert Limes, Australian Finger Lime, Kakadu Plum, Lemon Aspen, Lemon Myrtle, Muntries, Native Pepper, Quandong, Riberry, and Wattle Seed. It then examines the food and health applications of ANP and discusses alternative medicines based on aboriginal traditional knowledge and culture, nutritional characteristics, and bioactive compounds in ANP. In addition, it reviews the anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory properties of ANP and discusses food preservation, antimicrobial activity of ANP, and unique flavors from Australian native plants. The third section covers the commercial applications of ANP. It focuses on native Australian plant extracts and cosmetic applications, processing of native plant foods and ingredients, quality changes during packaging, and storage of Australian native herbs. The final few chapters look into the importance of value chains that connect producers and consumers of native plant foods, new market opportunities for Australian indigenous food plants, and the safety of using native foods as ingredients in the health and food sectors.

Australian Native Plants provides a comprehensive guide to the horticulture of our native plants. Based on nearly 50 years of experience at Kings Park and Botanic Garden in Perth, the book describes the necessary growing conditions for mainly Western Australian native plants and covers some of the more technical aspects such as plant propagation and grafting, the use and benefits of tissue culture, methods of seed collection and storage, and the role of smoke in improving germination. Western Australia is home to about five per cent of the world’s vascular plants and contains Australia’s only terrestrial ‘biodiversity hotspot’. Written by experts with an in-depth knowledge of how to grow these plants outside their natural habitat, Australian Native Plants provides the more technically minded professional or enthusiast with information based on decades of research, experimentation and application. It aims to encourage the growing of Australian plants so that they can be used more widely and contribute to interesting, attractive and diverse private gardens and public landscapes in a changing environment.

Growing Australian Native Plants from Seed is the most comprehensive book available on growing native plants from seed. The practical book includes information on how to germinate seeds, growing seedlings in containers and species suitable for direst seeding. Details are provided on growing over one thousand native plant genera and thousands of individual species.

Native offers planting palettes and design themes, gardening techniques and inspiration for an original and exciting perspective on the very best of Australian local flora. When Kate Herd started experimenting with how she pruned and trained the native plants in her riverside garden in Melbourne, she made some amazing discoveries. A eucalyptus shrub she had cut right back to the ground reappeared as the most beautiful sprawling ground cover. Westringia was shaped to impersonate perfect English Box balls. And she found that Tasmanian beech trees could grow as a copse in small city courtyards. Jela had similar experiences in her own garden design practice and together Kate and Jela have explored the unique beauty and resilience of Australia's native plants. Known for their absolute versatility and hardiness in the garden, native plants also offer up original forms for cut flowers and sculpture. Garden designers Fiona Brockhoff and Sue Barnsley, Sculptor Tracey Deep and Artist Janet Lawrence all share their own love of Australian plants and how they incorporate them into their work. Chapters cover topics such as: Feature Foliage, Sculptural Forms, Pliability, Shady Spaces and Flowering Meadows.

Winner of the 2018 HMAA Laurel Award for best book First published as The Australian Native Garden There's never been a more crucial time to droughtproof your garden and to consider Australian native plants as a key component in your outdoor space. This award-winning practical volume, from two of the country's foremost horticultural experts, offers everything you need to know about designing and growing a garden that promotes careful water use and features Australian native plants in the home garden. Including information on the fundamentals of Australian soils, cultivation techniques, drainage, pruning, fertilising and maintenance, as well as creating a fire-resistant garden, establishing habitats attractive to native fauna and growing your own bush foods. The Waterwise Australian Native Garden is a highly illustrated, comprehensive showcase of the best plants to choose and the best gardens from which to draw inspiration. It's a must-have for garden lovers all over this wide, brown land. 'If you're looking to improve or create a native garden, this is the book for you' - Australian Geographic 'This is a book to treasure, and one that will be a companion for a lifetime' - Adelaide Advertiser 'An authoritative reference for home gardeners everywhere' - Country Home Ideas

Did you know that there are plants that eat insects? Plants whose seeds spread in poo? Plants that move when you touch them? And plants that grow on other plants? Plantastic! presents 26 of Australia's most unique and incredible native plants. Discover and identify native plants found in your local park, bushland, or even in your very own backyard. With its perfect balance of fun facts, activities, adventurous ideas and gorgeous illustrations, Plantastic! will prove just how fantastic Australia's native plants really are!