Cool list

Winter viburnum (Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Darwin’)
This upright twiggy shrub (pictured above) isn’t very obvious in the warmer months of the year, but as its leaves colour and fall it starts producing small clusters of highly fragrant pink blooms and will keep flowering until the end of winter. Well-drained but moisture-retentive soil is best for this plant, which will sit nicely in any narrow gap between other shrubs. The blooms make good cut flowers.

• Flowers from June to September
• Position in full sun or part shade
• Grows 3m high and 1–5m wide
• Suitable for warm temperate and cold temperate climates

Long-leaf wax flower (Philotheca myoporoides)
A well-known and well-loved native from south-eastern Australia, this pretty shrub has glossy, rich green leaves and masses of pink buds that open to reveal starry white flowers. Given a spot with sharp drainage, this plant should live for years. Prune regularly after flowering to maintain a compact habit. Keep an eye out for the numerous forms and cultivars that grow to different sizes.

• Flowers from June to November
• Position in full sun or part shade
• Grows 1–3m high and 1–3m wide
• Suitable for subtropical, warm temperate, and cold temperate climates

Silver cassia (Senna artemisioides)
This fabulous silver-leafed native plant comes from arid regions of all the mainland states and, in a well-drained position, will cope with almost anything but heavy frost. The foliage is quite fine and gives the plant a feathery appearance, and this sets off the golden yellow flowers. This is another plant that benefits from a prune after flowering to maintain its shape. A great shrub for the back of a border.

• Flowers from June to November
• Position in full sun
• Grows 3m high and 2–3m wide
• Suitable for tropical, subtropical, arid and warm temperate climates

Discover more winter-flowering beauties in the July issue of ABC Gardening Australia magazine – on sale now!

Story by Stephan Ryan
Header image by Shutterstock