Know your light
Watch how many hours of direct sun the spot gets in a day. Full sun, part shade and full shade suit very different plants. A hot west-facing wall is very different from gentle morning sun.
The right plant, the right place
Choosing plants
Choose plants with confidence by matching them to your light, soil, climate and the space you have.
← Back to Planting & CareStart with these checks
- Note the sun hours where the plant will go.
- Check the mature height and width.
- Decide what you want the plant to do.
Start with your Southern Plants™ care label
Southern Plants™ puts care into its labels to help you choose a suitable home for each plant.
Your Southern Plants label is designed to help you choose. Check its light, water and mature size information against the spot you have in mind, then scan the QR code for the plant’s full growing guide.
Find your plant’s growing information →
The right plant, the right place
Choosing plants
The most important gardening decision happens before you dig: choosing a plant that suits your space. A plant matched to your conditions grows stronger, needs less help and keeps looking good for longer. A few simple checks make the choice much easier.
Start with your garden, not the plant
It is easy to fall for a plant in flower. Before you do, check that your garden can give it what it needs.
Know your soil
Is it sandy, loamy or heavy clay? Does water drain away quickly or sit after rain? Match the plant's soil and drainage preferences to what you have, or improve the soil first.
Know your climate
Consider frost, heat, wind and salt spray. A plant that thrives in a sheltered courtyard may struggle on an exposed coastal site.
Read the label
Every Southern Plants™ label is designed to help you choose. It shows the plant's light and water needs, its mature height and width plus key care information. A QR code on the label takes you to the plant's own page on this website, with its full growing guide.
Plan for the mature size
That small plant in a pot will grow. Check the mature height and width so it has room to reach its natural shape without crowding paths, windows or neighbouring plants. If you want a plant you can keep smaller, look for varieties that can be kept trimmed.
Decide what the plant needs to do
Think about the job you want the plant to do: screen a view, add colour, attract birds, grow food, fill a pot or cover the ground. Knowing the purpose narrows the choice quickly. Also think about year-round appeal — foliage, form and flowering time — not just how it looks today.
Be honest about maintenance
Some plants need regular pruning, feeding or watering to look their best. Others look after themselves once established. Choose plants that suit the time you have. Your garden will be a pleasure rather than a chore.
A simple way to choose
- Note the sun hours, soil and drainage where the plant will go.
- Measure the space to know the mature height and width you can allow.
- Decide what you want the plant to do — screen, colour, wildlife, food or pots.
- Use the filters in our Plant Finder to narrow the choice to plants that match.
- Read the label and plant page before you buy, then plant with confidence.
Our Plant Finder lets you filter by light, water, mature height and width, garden use and more, so you only see plants that suit your space.
Easy-care plants available now
A selection of low-maintenance plants currently available from Southern Plants™. Choose a plant to see its full growing guide.
New Zealand Rock Lily
Arthropodium cirratum
Copper Sun Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata 'SpinTop Mariachi Copper Sun'
Cordyline Electric Pink
Cordyline banksii 'Sprilecpink' (Electric Pink™)
Photinia Robusta
Photinia x fraseri 'Robusta'
Rhaphiolepis Maximus™
Rhaphiolepis indica 'Maximus™'
Peacock Flower
Dietes bicolor
Wild Iris
Dietes grandiflora
Grevillea Bronze Rambler
Grevillea rivularis x G. 'Poorinda Peter' 'Bronze Rambler'
Your next step towards growing with confidence
You do not need to know everything at once. Start with your plant’s growing requirements, try the steps that suit your garden, and build confidence as you see what works.
Open Plant Finder