Best trees to plant in the Western Plains

Climbers
Ground cover
Herbaceous perennials
Shrubs
Tufted perennials

Climbers

Best climbers for the Western Plains region
Botanical name	Mature size H x W	Tolerates	Special uses	Common name
Clematis microphylla	Climber	Sand Clay		Small-leaved Clematis

Ground cover

Best ground cover for the Western Plains region
Botanical name	Mature size H x W	Tolerates	Special uses	Common name
Convolvulus erubescens	Matures to 3m	Clay		Pink Bindweed
Einadia nutans	Matures to 3m	Clay	Fencing Firebreak Soil erosion control	Nodding Saltbush
Kennedia prostata	Matures to 3m	Sand Clay Frost		Running Postman
Microlaena stipoides	40cm x 3m	Sand Clay Frost	Food source Light grazing Soil erosion control	Weeping Grass

Herbaceous perennials

Best herbaceous perennials for the Western Plains region
Botanical name	Mature size H x W	Tolerates	Special uses	Common name
Chrysocephalum apiculatum	20cm x 1m	Sand Clay Frost		Common Everlasting
Chrysocephalum semipapposum	80cm x 50cm	Salt		Clustered Everlasting
Craspedia paludicola	80cm x 20cm	Clay Water Frost	Cut flower production	Swampy Billy-buttons
Eryngium ovinum	30cm x 30cm	Clay		Blue Devil

Shrubs

Best shrubs for the Western Plains region
Botanical name	Mature size H x W	Tolerates	Special uses	Common name
Acacia acinacea	2m x 2m	Clay Frost	Windbreak	Gold Dust Wattle
Acacia verticillata	3m x 4m	Sand Clay Water	Windbreak	Prickly Moses
Billardiera scandens	1.5m x 1.5m	Clay Frost	Bird habitat	Common Apple Berry
Bursaria spinosa	3m x 2m	Clay Frost	Bird habitat Soil erosion control Windbreak	Sweet Bursaria
Correa glabra	3m x 3m	Clay Water Frost		Rock Correa
Enchylaena tomentosa	40cmm x 1m	Clay Salt Frost	Fencing	Ruby Saltbush
Exutaxia microphylla	80cm x 2m	Clay Water Frost	Soil erosion control	Eutaxia
Gynatrix pulchella	3m x 1.5m	Clay Water Frost		Hemp-bush
Leucopogon lanceolatus	1–3m x 3m	Sand		Spiked Beard Heath

Tufted perennials

Best tufted perennials for the Western Plains region
Botanical name	Mature size H x W	Tolerates	Special uses	Common name
Agrostis avenacea	60cm x 50cm	Clay	Honey production	Common Blown Grass
Bothriochloa macra	40cmm x 30cm	Clay	Firebreak Food source	Red-leg Grass
Carex inversa	30cm x 50cm	Clay Water		Knob Sedge
Carex tereticaulis	1m x 1m	Clay Water		Common Sedge
Danthonia Austrodanthonia spp.	80cm x 20cm	Sand Clay Frost	Food source	Wallaby Grasses
Dianella spp.	60cm x 1.5m	Sand Clay Frost	Animal habitat	Black-anther Lily-flax
Dichanthium sericeum	80cm x 20cm	Clay		Silky Blue-grass
Eleocharis acuta	80cm x spreading	Water Frost	Animal habitat Bird habitat	Common Spike-sedge
Gahnia spp.	2m x 2m	Water	Bird habitat	Saw Sedge
Lepidosperma spp.	1m x 1m	Sand Clay Water	Bird habitat	Sword Sedge
Lomandra spp.	1m x 1m	Sand Clay Water Frost	Animal habitat	Spiny-headed Mat-rush

Tolerances

Sand - suitable to plant in deep sand
Clay - suitable to plant in deep clays
Salt - can withstand medium salting
Water - tolerant of persistent waterlogging and low oxygen levels
Frost - tolerant of frosts. Heavy frosts will harm most plants, only plant when frost is unlikely.

Special uses

Wind - suitable for use in windbreaks or provides wind protection.

Fire - has characteristics that may reduce the severity of a fire, for example:

high water content,
bark that is fire resistant, or
dense foliage to reduce wind speed.

Dense planting of such plants near buildings can reduce the impact of a bushfire.