Some categories of small plant species for gardens:

• Direct-seeded annuals
• Small, compact shrubs
• Grasses and grass-like plants (sedges, rushes, lilies, kangaroo paws, ...)
• Groundcovers
• Climbing plants
  For small spaces and small gardens, and even for container gardening, climbing and scrambling plants can be grown on a trellis. See our page on Climbing Plants.
• Water and wetland plants
  Many of our local plants are suitable for bog gardens or planting in ponds or around a pond, but they are not listed here.
  

Some of the following shrubs can grow much larger than 1 metre, and need careful pruning to maintain a small, compact shape.

Two general rules for pruning:

1. As soon as the plant is established and growing in the container (container gardening) or the open ground of the garden, begin light tip pruning with fingers or secateurs.
   
2. After flowering, prune lightly with secateurs.

An example of a compact cultivar of a local species is Olearia axillaris 'Little Smokie' (George Lullfitz). Our local Olearia axillaris is often straggly, but can be pruned to shape.

A list of prostrate and groundcover cultivars of local species can be found on the Covering Banks, Slopes and Batters page.