Shrubs
Coast Bitterbush
Adriana quadripartita
A compact shrub which can grow up to 3m or more with separate male and female plants. It produces its flowers mostly in spring, although they may appear year round. It is a host plant of the endangered Bitterbush Blue butterfly which feeds exclusively on the leaves and flowers of this species.
Coast Bonefruit
Threlkeldia diffusa
Grows to 20cm high and 1m wide. It has small fleshy leaves, green with a purple tinge. It tolerates saline conditions and thrives best in protected swales in the hind dunes. The fruits are hard and often reddish and occur throughout most of the year.
Coast Twin-leaf
Zygophyllum billardierei
Grows up to 60 cm high and has flattened leaves divided into two oblong to wedge-shaped leaflets of 1-3 cm long. Flowers are pale to bright yellow (fading to white with age). Common in South Australia, it is found scattered throughout coastal sand dunes and can grow on poor, arid sites.
Coastal Daisybush
Olearia axillaris
A hardy plant growing up to 3m and naturally dominant throughout the dunes. As a coloniser, it stabilises the sand, enriches the soil and provides protection for less robust plant species to establish. It also provides a valuable habitat for butterflies, birds and insects. White, daisy-like flowers occur along the stems in summer and autumn.
Coastal Saltbush
Atriplex cinerea
Tough plant for exposed coastal locations. Grows to 1m with grey-green leaves which are important food for caterpillars of the Saltbush Blue Butterfly. Important plant for creating and stabilising the foredune and has separate male and female plants; the female flowers are green, whilst the male flowers are yellow. If planted along roadsides reflected silver foliage increases visibility.
Coastal Umbrella Bush
Acacia cupularis
An important host plant for the Two-spotted Line-blue Butterfly and also provides nectar, seeds and shelter for birds and insects. It grows up to 2.5m and blooms from July to December producing yellow flowers.
Cockies Tongue
Templetonia retusa
A shrub growing to around 2m with blue green leaves. It produces bright orange-red pea flowers from Autumn, although some plants have yellowish flowers. The fruit is a flat pod that grows to about 5cm long and 1cm wide. The plant is attractive to nectar eating birds and butterflies.
Common Sea Heath
Frankenia pauciflora
Native to southern Australia, the Common Sea Heath produces pink or white flowers between Spring to Summer. The Latin name pauciflora means “few flowered”. It can be either found prostrate or growing to around 0.5m.
Cushion Bush
Leucopyhta brownii
Pretty, compact bush growing to 1m with silver foliage and pale yellow ball-shaped flowers in summer. Can tolerate being buried by drifting sand allowing it to thrive at the back of the foredune. Provides shelter for skinks and dragons. The story is that the flowers were used to fill pillows.
Cushion Fanflower
Scavolea crassifolia
Spreading robust shrub 1.5 high by 2m wide with glossy green leaves. important host plant for caterpillars of the Meadow Argus Butterfly and a nectar providing plant for other butterflies. It produces white, blue or pale purple flowers in spring to early summer which have a distinctive fan shape and its dense foliage is a great habitat for reptiles.
Marsh Saltbush
Atriplex paludosa
A sprawling shrub which can grow up to 1.6m tall. It is fire-resistant, drought and salt tolerant and excellent for soil erosion control. Indigenous peoples ground and cooked the seeds.
Nitre Bush
Nitraria billardierei
Broad and low shrub growing up to 2m high. Produces white flowers in spring which then mature into a fruit which is purple, red or golden in colour. The ripe berries are edible and taste like salty grapes. They can also be made into jam or dried or stored. Quantities of the fruit of this species were used as a food source by indigenous peoples.
Ruby Saltbush
Enchylaena tomentosa
Tough shrub with green-blue leaves and edible berries. The tiny yellow, orange, red or purple fruits are eaten by birds, lizards and people (cook before eating). Attracts native wildlife and birds. Regenerates easily throughout the dunes, tolerates sand and droughts. Grows best in protected swales or in the hind dunes.
Seaberry Saltbush
Rhagodia candolleana
A dense, sprawling and scrambling shrub. Flowers are inconspicuous but followed by striking pyramidal sprays of shiny red berries that peak in the autumn period. A host plant for caterpillars of the Saltbush Blue Butterfly, the red berries are a good food source for birds, insects and reptiles, although bitter to the human taste, the leaves can be dried to be used as a salt substitute. Also used to make a pink dye.
Sweet Appleberry
Billardiera cymosa
Attractive to seed eating birds and lizards, this shrub has dark green leaves and grows to shin high. It produces striking purple/blue flowers in spring and small, sweet edible fruits in summer which can be eaten raw or cooked. The berries have a sweet aniseed taste.