Many of these varieties inhabit local bushland. They take kindly to life in cultivation and are suitable to grow as foreground plants or in rockeries, cottage gardens and containers.

Ajuga australis, the Australian bugle, is a widespread species that is common throughout New England bushland and roadside verges. In our garden, this ajuga competes successfully with weeds in areas that were sheep camps.

Ajuga australis is known as the austral bugle and is a perennial herb (without a woody stem). Austral bugle stems are usually erect and about 15cm high. The leaves are up to 12cm long, bluish underneath with toothed margins. Leaves surround the stem in a basal rosette. The flowers are lobed, tubular and spread along the upright stems. They are usually blue, but there are forms with purple, pink and white blooms.

Mentha species is a native mint and related to the better known culinary mints. The native mint develops into a suckering ground cover with small, aromatic leaves. Flowers are mauve and rather insignificant.

This native mint could be planted beside paths so that when walked on the invigorating mint aroma is released.

Thysanotus tuberosus, the fringed lily, is a tuberous plant with grass-like leaves. Flowers are carried on an erect stem 15–20cm long. Each stem branches and carries clusters of conspicuous flowers in spring and summer. The flowers are purple with three petals and about 3cm in diameter. The fringed lily has a wide distribution in NSW and also occurs in Queensland, Victoria and South Australia. The fringed lily is common in local bushland.

Plants are invisible until they burst into bloom then they are hard to miss. During the flowering period each plants carries a number of beautiful blooms. This species would one of the most colourful plants to be found in local grasslands. This is an ideal plant for cottage gardens or three or four plants grown in a container.

Dichopogon fimbriatus is known as the chocolate lily and is another grassland species. The chocolate lily is a perennial herb with grass-like leaves. In spring and summer, plants produce flowering spikes that carry a number of blue, six-petalled flowers that have a strong chocolate aroma. Flowering plants are smelt before sighting.

Chocolate lilies would be an aromatic and colourful addition to cottage gardens and rockeries. For maximum effect, a number of plants could be planted together.

Finally, we should mention the bulbine lilies. There are two local species. Bulbine bulbosa is a common species and is a perennial herb with thin fleshy leaves. In spring, plants produce a solitary flower spike that carries a dozen bright yellow flowers.

Bulbine vagans is another perennial herb but with a limited distribution. This species grows in crevices in cliffs around Dangar’s Falls, east of Armidale.

This lily also has fleshy leaves but in this case, each plant carries multiple flower spikes. Each spike carries a number of bright yellow flowers.

Both species are suitable for cultivation in rockeries and cottage gardens as well as containers.

These ankle-high plants will bring colour and interest to cottage gardens and rockeries.

More native news:

Growing a floral emblem in your garden

Using natives for your hedge

Rare and threatened grevilleas need a survival plan