The “vine-covered cottage,” “vine-dripping jungle,” or “vine-draped arbor” are the dramatic elements that create a kind of ambiance in the landscape that would be totally absent without them.  Each of our three areas has its own unique specimens to draw our interest in seeing how they can be incorporated into a re-vegetation project. Let us take a look at some of the native vines for landscaping.

Rare in the Air

Especially successful when infused in the design above line-of-sight, native vines for landscaping can be or can emphasize focal points, tie an ensemble together or create a romantic invitation to shelter. They can be just as effective as a delicate tracery that runs through a vignette as they are when massed over an arbor, just to prove their worth in a variety of settings.

Perth

We absolutely must begin with the native vines for landscaping of Perth that produce wonderful wine.  Not only lushly gorgeous, they fill the landscape with a healthy dark green that just enlivens the horizon and makes us feel that we’re witnessing a true symbol of “life.”  As seen here, Perth has every right to feel celebratory with a crop that looks like this, don’t they?

And lovely is the wedding held in this nicely trained vine-covered shelter.

For a lovely surprise, a restaurant grows its roots right in the middle of their vineyards for an inspiring dining occasion that lends another dimension with the wine that accompanies the cuisine.

Orange and golden trumpet vines are natives, along with bougainvillea and passion fruit, so that what Perth lacks in grass more than compensates with a variety of vines.

Alice Springs

Several native vines hang around in the desert area. Chief among them is the Aristolochia tagala.  With its waxy –looking tubes, sometimes in rows, and most often in a rose color, the fluted edges give it a particularly feminine appearance. 

Darwin

Still catching Darwin up with the other cities, we need to look at trees in the area.

Absolutely love this.  Can you imagine looking up one day and seeing trees out in the water?  The photographer gives us no clue as to what they are…

There are other lovely trees we can consider for our Darwin romp.  The Flamboyant is certainly a lively choice.  It’s another species that reached Darwin from the north and took up residence quite comfortably.  A most impressive tropical tree, it has an extensive blooming season and grows into a nice umbrella shape to provide a garden’s shady spot.  Alternatively, it would be a most handsome center of attention as the theme for a design.

Lastly, is the Hardinbergia Violacea vine whose color is so delightful. We’re drawn to it immediately.  We’re ready to move on to the next inventory of native plants in these remote areas of the continent. Next time ’round we’ll watch the flowers bloom in our fair cities and find some pretties for our collection.  Then we’ll enjoy the exercise of creating a few native designs with what we’ve collected.  What fun!

Do you find this article interesting? Feel free to share your thoughts below on Native Design. I also want to invite you to read the next article on our “Going Native” series.