Fresh ideas you can use at home — from the team at Yield Australia | Quality Plants & Seedlings
Legend: 🐾 = gentler for homes with pets (generally considered low-tox if nibbled) · 🐝 = bee/pollinator magnet · ♻️ IPM = supports Integrated Pest Management (diverse bloom/beneficial insect habitat).
Always supervise curious pets and confirm plant-specific guidance with your vet/ASPCA before planting indoors.
Victorian backyards are changing. We’re seeing smarter plant choices, more texture, and designs that work with our climate (not against it). Here are the 10 big trends we’re helping customers bring to life in 2025-26 — plus plant picks you can grab from QPS to get started.
1) Drought‑smart, Mediterranean silver
The look: sun‑kissed courtyards and coastal vibes with silver foliage that bounces light and shrugs off heat.
Why it works: silver/grey leaves reflect sun and cope with wind and salt.
Try: Convolvulus cneorum ‘Silvery Moon’ (♻️ IPM), Westringia ‘Smokie’ (🐝 · ♻️ IPM), Leucophyta brownii (♻️ IPM), Helichrysum italicum (🐝 · ♻️ IPM).
Tip: mass 3–5 of the same plant for impact; add crushed stone or light gravel mulch.
2) Pollinator lanes (colour that works for wildlife)
The look: long flowering swathes that feed bees, butterflies and honeyeaters.
Why it works: months of colour with low maintenance.
Try: Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ (🐝 · 🐾 · ♻️ IPM), Salvia microphylla selections like ‘Royal Bumble’/‘Hot Lips’ (🐝 · ♻️ IPM), Salvia guaranitica ‘Lake Baikal’ (🐝 · ♻️ IPM).
Tip: repeat colours in blocks for a designer feel and easier habitat.
3) Shade‑first courtyards
The look: calm, lush spaces that thrive on the south side of the house.
Why it works: cool retreats are gold in a hot summer.
Try: Fatsia japonica ‘Spider’s Web’ (♻️ IPM), Cremanthodium reniforme / tractor seat plant (place out of pet nibble zones), Epimedium ‘Sandy Claws’ (caution with pets), Tiarella ‘Pink Skyrocket’ (🐾), Hosta ‘Blue Angel’ (🐾 outdoors with supervision).
Tip: layer heights — tall foliage at the back, patterned groundcovers upfront.
4) Statement foliage heroes
The look: one or two big‑leaf showstoppers that make everything else look intentional.
Why it works: instant “wow” without fussy maintenance.
Try: Tetrapanax papyrifer ‘Rex’ (sap may irritate skin—gloves, keep from pets), Phormium ‘Bronze Baby’ (♻️ IPM), Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Tokyo Delight’ (caution with pets).
Tip: use a larger pot for your hero (200 mm+), then frame with simpler plants.
5) Textural grasses & movement
The look: soft swaying edges that catch the breeze.
Why it works: texture = depth, and grasses are water‑wise.
Try: Poa sieberiana var. cyanophylla (♻️ IPM), native Themeda/Austrostipa where suitable (♻️ IPM), compact flaxes.
Tip: combine with rock or corten steel for contrast.
6) Edible‑meets‑ornamental
The look: a good‑looking garden you can eat from.
Why it works: high food prices and small spaces; edibles can be beautiful too.
Try: lettuce blends for colour (🐾 · ♻️ IPM), compact kale (🐾 · ♻️ IPM), herbs like Thymus ‘Doone Valley’ (🐝 · ♻️ IPM), dwarf citrus in tubs (🐝 at bloom).
Tip: plant weekly, harvest weekly so it doesn’t all mature at once.
7) Potscaping: layered containers
The look: grouped pots at the front door, on terraces or balconies.
Why it works: easy to water, move and restyle with the seasons.
Try: 130 mm “fillers” like Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ (generally gentle but discourage heavy pet nibbling), Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ (🐾 for cats · 🐝 · ♻️ IPM) around 200 mm “thrillers” like Fatsia ‘Spider’s Web’ (♻️ IPM) or Salvia ‘Lake Baikal’ (🐝 · ♻️ IPM).
Tip: odd numbers (3 or 5 pots) and varying heights make it feel designed.
8) Native‑forward, low‑care structure
The look: tidy bones that handle heat, wind and a busy life.
Why it works: resilient plant palette, less water, more birds.
Try: compact Grevillea ‘Blossom Baby’ (🐝 · ♻️ IPM), Westringia ‘Zena’ (🐝 · ♻️ IPM), dwarf Callistemon ‘Little John’ (🐝 · ♻️ IPM).
Tip: clip once or twice a year; underplant with groundcovers for a finished look.
9) Lawn‑lite living
The look: less mowing, more living — green paths and patches that stay neat.
Why it works: reduces water and weekend maintenance.
Try: Ophiopogon japonicus ‘Compactus’ (🐾), Pratia ‘Country Park’ (🐾), thyme mats for sunny steppers (🐝 · ♻️ IPM).
Tip: define the non‑lawn areas with a crisp edge (steel/aluminium) to keep things tidy.
10) Small space, big drama
The look: townhouse courtyards and balconies that feel lush, not cluttered.
Why it works: vertical layering + foliage contrast tricks the eye.
Try: wall planters with Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ (gentle but discourage heavy pet nibbling), tall pot with Tetrapanax ‘Rex’ (sap caution), mid pot with Tiarella (🐾), ground tray of Epimedium (caution with pets).
Tip: stick to a tight palette (two foliage colours + one flower colour) for polish.
How to plant for success (quick guide)
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Right plant, right spot: sun lovers in 6+ hours of sun; shade fans on the south/east side or under trees.
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Soil prep: blend organic matter and a slow‑release fertiliser before planting; top with mulch to lock in moisture.
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Watering: deep, occasional watering beats frequent sprinkles. Use a drip line or watering spikes if you’re busy.
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Planting rhythm: sow or plant a few things every week so your garden always has something fresh.
Shop the look with QPS
We grow year‑round with varieties proven for VIC conditions. Ask us for:
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Silver coastal pack: Convolvulus cneorum, Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’, Westringia ‘Smokie’. (🐝/♻️ IPM emphasis; supervise pets)
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Shade retreat pack: Fatsia ‘Spider’s Web’, Epimedium ‘Sandy Claws’ (pet caution), Tiarella ‘Pink Skyrocket’ (🐾).
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Pollinator colour pack: Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ (🐾 · 🐝), Salvia microphylla selections (🐝), Salvia ‘Lake Baikal’ (🐝).
Quick reference: pet & pollinator notes
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Often bee‑friendly: Salvias, Nepeta, thyme, Callistemon, Grevillea, Westringia.
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Gentler around pets (garden use): Nepeta (catnip), Tiarella, dwarf mondo, Pratia, many lettuces/herbs.
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Place out of easy nibble zones / supervise: Hydrangea, Tetrapanax (sap irritation), Epimedium, tractor seat plant.
IPM tip: Plant for diverse flowering across seasons, minimise broad‑spectrum sprays, and encourage beneficial insects with mulch, water dishes and mixed textures.
Need help matching plants to your aspect? Swing us a message with your postcode and a photo — we’ll suggest a palette that thrives where you live.
— Team QPS · Werribee South
