It’s hard to find shade-loving plants at the best of times, but shade-loving natives can be even more challenging.

Plant selection and research is important – I love native plants, and it is surprising how many love the shade and cool spots.

Most of my selections are endemic to Tasmania and are perfect for our region.

The Tasmanian laurel (Anopterus glandulosus)  is a beautiful species, growing to about two to four metres.

It has dark glossy leaves with snowy white flowers flushed with pink that appear at the end of spring and often flower again in autumn.

This hardy species is slow growing but worth the wait, and attracts both nectar and insect eating birds.

The camphor bush (Baeckea camphorate)  is a lovely spreading shrub with green camphor-scented leaves and sweet little white flowers that give a soft, bright display in late spring or early summer. 

This small shrub loves partial to deep shade and, once established, is also a drought-tolerant specimen.

Darwinias are a genus of about 70 species only found in Australia – in particular, the Darwinia taxifolia subspecies macrolaena grows to one metre, with small flowers in clusters of two to four.

The flowers are red and have a unique shape with an unusual form, and would stand out in a native garden.

They flower in the spring and summer and this little plant is hardy to the shade, loves some protection from the summer sun and grows really well from cuttings.

Isopogens are related to Grevilleas and Banksias and are upright shrubs growing to about two metres.

They flower with unusual form, the flowers occurring on the terminal branches.

Isopogens come in different colours with slight variations to foliage. They are lovely, and the Isopogen anemonifolius is a yellow flowering form called drumsticks.

Once you start looking for shade lovers there is actually quite a good range.

Keep your eyes out also for the Gaultheria hispida (snow berry), and Baloskion tetraphllum (tassel cord rush). 

The combination of white berries and red flowers of them look magic together.

Spring is on the way, not that we’ve had any hint of that yet. Time to get the neglected parts of the vegetable garden ready for planting. Add lime and organic matter to your soil and dig it in. If you haven’t got a crop of peas in yet – there’s still time.

The Albury Wodonga and District Orchid Club Annual Show will be held at the Mirambeena Centre on October 10-11.