Select the right plants for your garden and climate

Top End Region

Darwin’s climate swings from months of dry heat to months of heavy monsoonal rain, so choosing plants that can handle both is a must.

The good news? There are loads of beautiful, water-efficient options that absolutely love these conditions.

To make life easier, we’ve put together two handy plant lists - one for native species and another for exotics - to help you quickly find what suits your garden.

When selecting plants for the Top End, it’s worth thinking about cyclone safety. Much of Darwin sits on shallow soil over rock, which means tree roots tend to spread wide rather than grow deep. During cyclones or big storms, large trees with shallow roots can easily topple and cause damage.

Before planting, consider how tall a tree will grow, how its roots behave, and where you’re placing it. As a general guide, avoid planting large trees too close to your home or shed.

Central Region

Gardening in the desert is all about working with the environment rather than against it.

Alice Springs has hot, dry summers with very little rain, low humidity, and high evaporation rates.

Winters can be cool, sometimes frosty, and many areas have rocky, nutrient-poor soils. On top of that, salt can build up in arid soils and put extra stress on plants.

Choosing species that naturally suit these conditions means less watering, fewer headaches, and a garden that thrives instead of struggles.

Here are some native standouts that love desert life:

• Desert Rose (Adenium obesum) - Vibrant flowers and wonderfully drought-hardy
• Saltbush (Atriplex spp.) - Tough, useful for windbreaks and erosion control
• Grevillea species - Bird-magnets with low-maintenance charm
• Hakea and Acacia - Reliable, resilient trees with minimal watering needs
• Sturt’s Desert Rose - Beautiful, iconic and the NT’s floral emblem

And don’t forget - hardscaping can be your best friend in a hot climate.

Natural rock walls, pathways, raised beds and gravel-edged zones create structure, reduce the amount of thirsty vegetation, and help keep your water use in check.