Native Plants That Attract Birds and Bees to South West WA Gardens
A wildlife-friendly garden can be beautiful, practical and full of life.
Native plants can provide birds with nectar, seeds, insects, shelter and potential nesting areas. Their flowers can also support native bees, honeybees and other beneficial pollinators.
However, attracting wildlife involves more than planting one flowering shrub. The most effective gardens combine plants of different heights, shapes and flowering periods to provide food and shelter throughout more of the year.
Why Choose Native Plants?
Native plants are well suited to creating habitat because they can provide food and shelter for local wildlife while also complementing South West conditions.
Depending on the plants selected, a native garden may offer:
Nectar for birds and bees
Seeds for parrots and smaller birds
Flowers for pollinating insects
Dense foliage for shelter
Insects for insect-eating birds
Protected areas for nesting and foraging
Seasonal colour and interest
Native plants still need to be matched to the property. Soil, drainage, sunlight, coastal exposure, available space and irrigation should all be considered before choosing them.
Grevilleas
Grevilleas are among the most recognisable bird-attracting plants used in Australian gardens.
Their flowers provide nectar and can attract honeyeaters, insects and bees. Because different Grevilleas flower at different times, using more than one variety may help provide a longer flowering period.
Grevilleas are available in forms ranging from spreading groundcovers to large shrubs, making them suitable for gardens of many sizes.
Options may include:
Grevillea ‘Mellow Yellow’
Grevillea ‘Pink Profusion’
Low-growing Grevilleas for garden edges
Dense shrub varieties for screening
Taller Grevilleas for larger gardens
The mature size should always be checked, as some varieties can become much larger than they appear when purchased.
Hakeas
Hakeas can provide nectar, seeds and valuable shelter.
Their flowers may attract birds, bees and other insects, while their woody seed pods can provide food for some parrots. Dense or prickly foliage can also create protected areas for smaller birds.
Hakeas vary significantly in size. Some remain relatively compact, while others grow into large shrubs or small trees.
They are best selected according to:
Available garden space
Soil type
Drainage
Wind exposure
Proximity to paths and entertaining areas
Desired screening height
Prickly varieties can be useful for habitat but may not be suitable directly beside narrow paths.
Banksias
Banksias are a valuable addition to wildlife-friendly gardens where there is enough room for the selected variety.
Their flower spikes provide nectar for birds, bees and other pollinators. Their seed cones may also attract parrots and cockatoos.
Banksias are available in many different forms, including:
Groundcover Banksias
Low spreading varieties
Medium shrubs
Taller shrubs and trees
A groundcover variety such as Banksia ‘Roller Coaster’ may suit a larger garden bed or embankment, while taller species can provide structure and height in more spacious gardens.
Banksias generally need suitable drainage, and the chosen variety should be matched carefully to the site.
Bottlebrushes and Melaleucas
Bottlebrushes are popular for wildlife-friendly gardens because their flowers can provide abundant nectar.
They can attract honeyeaters, bees and other insects while also creating an attractive garden feature. Depending on the variety, bottlebrushes may form compact shrubs, screening plants or sizeable trees.
Possible options include:
Callistemon ‘Snow Burst’
Callistemon ‘Wilderness White’
Red-flowering bottlebrush varieties
Weeping bottlebrush varieties
Melaleucas can also provide flowers, shelter and garden structure. Some varieties are useful in coastal or exposed conditions, while others are more suited to areas that retain moisture.
The mature height and width should be checked before planting either group near houses, fences, paths or underground services.
Correas
Correas are useful smaller shrubs for adding flowers and dense foliage beneath taller plants.
Varieties such as Correa ‘Dusky Bells’ can provide low-to-medium cover and work well as part of a layered native garden.
Their tubular flowers can attract nectar-feeding birds, while bees may also visit the flowers. Dense Correa planting can provide additional shelter closer to ground level.
Correas are often most effective when planted in groups rather than as isolated individual plants.
Kangaroo Paws
Kangaroo paws bring distinctive colour and form to native gardens.
Their flowers can attract nectar-feeding birds, bees and other pollinators. They work well through the front or middle of a garden bed, particularly when planted alongside longer-lived shrubs.
Kangaroo paws generally perform best with:
Good drainage
Plenty of sunlight
Suitable airflow
Removal of old flower stems and damaged foliage
Water during establishment
Because their appearance can change after flowering, they work best as one part of a broader planting design rather than being relied upon as the only feature.
Westringias
Westringias are practical shrubs for creating structure, shelter and repeated flowering within a garden.
Their small flowers can attract bees and other beneficial insects. Denser varieties may also provide protective foliage for birds.
Depending on the variety, Westringia can be used for:
Low borders
Groundcover planting
Medium shrubs
Informal hedging
Coastal gardens
Screening lower sections of a fence
Possible options include:
Westringia ‘Blue Gem’
Westringia ‘Grey Box’
Westringia fruticosa
Westringia ‘Mundi’
The lower-growing varieties will not provide a tall privacy screen, but they can help create the lower layer of a wildlife-friendly garden.
Native Daisies and Flowering Groundcovers
Smaller flowering plants are especially valuable for bees and other pollinators.
Low-growing flowers can provide accessible nectar and pollen while also filling gaps between larger shrubs.
Depending on the conditions of the property, suitable choices may include:
Native daisies
Scaevola varieties
Brachyscome varieties
Myoporum groundcovers
Low-growing Grevilleas
Other locally appropriate flowering groundcovers
Planting several of the same variety together can make flowers easier for pollinators to locate than scattering individual plants throughout the garden.
Native Grasses, Lomandras and Dianellas
A wildlife-friendly garden should not focus only on showy flowers.
Native grasses and grass-like plants add lower-level cover, texture and movement. They may also provide seeds, insects and protected foraging areas for birds.
Options may include:
Poa varieties
Lomandra varieties
Dianella varieties
Locally suitable native grasses and sedges
Dianellas can also produce flowers and berries, depending on the variety and growing conditions.
These plants are useful for connecting groundcovers with larger shrubs and creating a more natural layered garden.
Plant for Different Flowering Seasons
A garden containing only one flowering species may provide plenty of food for a short period and very little for the remainder of the year.
Where possible, choose plants that flower during different seasons.
For example, a mixed garden might include:
Grevilleas with long or repeated flowering periods
Bottlebrushes for strong seasonal flowers
Banksias flowering at different times
Westringias with smaller repeated flowers
Kangaroo paws for seasonal colour
Native daisies and groundcovers between shrubs
Actual flowering times can vary according to the variety, local conditions and seasonal weather.
Include Different Planting Layers
Different birds and insects use different parts of the garden.
A layered planting design may include:
Flowering groundcovers
Native grasses and small plants
Dense low shrubs
Medium flowering shrubs
Screening plants
A small tree where space permits
This creates more opportunities for feeding, shelter and movement than a garden made up mostly of lawn with a few isolated plants.
Layering also helps the garden look fuller and more established without placing plants too close together.
Dense Shrubs Help Small Birds
Large flowering plants may attract visible bird activity, but dense shrubs are particularly important for smaller birds.
Thick foliage can provide places to shelter, forage and potentially nest. Without protective planting, smaller birds may be less comfortable visiting an exposed garden.
Useful dense planting may include:
Correa
Westringia
Compact Melaleuca varieties
Hakea
Dense Grevilleas
Groups of compatible native shrubs
Planting several shrubs together generally provides better cover than spacing every plant widely apart.
Provide a Safe Water Source
A bird bath or shallow water source can make the garden more inviting, particularly during warm and dry weather.
Place it:
Near protective shrubs
Away from places where cats can hide
In a position that is easy to clean
Where birds can see their surroundings
In partial shade where practical
Refresh the water regularly and clean the container to prevent algae and contamination.
Bees also need access to water. A shallow dish containing clean water and partially submerged stones can give insects somewhere to land without falling into deep water.
Avoid Spraying Flowers With Insecticides
Broad insecticide use can harm both unwanted pests and beneficial insects.
Where practical:
Identify the pest before treating it
Avoid spraying open flowers
Use targeted treatments rather than spraying the entire garden
Apply products according to their labels
Encourage beneficial insects as part of the garden ecosystem
Avoid treating plants while bees are actively visiting them
A garden does not need to be completely insect-free. Insects are part of the food chain and provide food for many birds.
Leave Some Natural Garden Features
A garden that is cleared too thoroughly may offer fewer habitat and feeding opportunities.
Where practical, retain or incorporate:
Leaf litter
Small branches
Logs
Rocks
Seed heads
Dense lower growth
Areas of mulch
These features can support insects and provide places for birds to forage. They can be arranged deliberately so the garden still looks maintained and attractive.
Choose Plants for the Property
Not every native plant will thrive in every South West garden.
Before selecting plants, consider:
Mature height and width
Sun exposure
Coastal wind
Soil type
Drainage
Available irrigation
Proximity to buildings and paths
The amount of pruning required
Whether the plant is suitable for the available space
A plant that naturally suits the site will generally establish more successfully and require less intervention than one planted in unsuitable conditions.
Create a Bird- and Bee-Friendly South West Garden
Karri Coast Landscaping can help select and install plants suited to your property, preferred garden style and local conditions.
We can combine wildlife-friendly planting with soil preparation, reticulation, mulch, steel edging, turf and stone pathways to create a practical garden with colour, shelter and interest throughout the year.
