Holly Fuchsia

A native plant that is growing well and is a visual delight coming into flower at present is :

Graptophyllum illicifolium   or  Holly Fuchsia

It comes from the Mackay area of Queensland and is a tough shrub that can grow up to 3m . Our bush is about 2m high. When it is in flower it looks like it is "on fire" with masses of magenta coloured tubular flowers. Although it prefers shade ours grows in full sun and still performs well. It is pest free, drought tolerant but not frost tolerant. It has seeded regularly allowing us to plant in other spots in the garden.  The birds (noisy miners) seem to check it out for nectar as well.

Also a picture of one of our Spirea bushes coming into flower.  I am not sure which variety is but they always put on a lovely display come spring.
This plant also seems to be hardy, drought tolerant and pest free here.

Tom

I had to put the crow down yesterday . It was severely attacked by another crow and was badly mutilated in the head/neck area.