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What the Landscape Professional needs to know when specifying Ozbreed plants

To make sure your plants aren't substituted and you are getting the right Ozbreed plant, use this list of Ozbreeds Authorised Suppliers.

Warning! Plant types are continuously being substituted

Substitution of plants can ruin your design. Plants that are of a totally different size, shape or texture are often substituted. Worse still, they are sometimes substituted with plants that will not perform in that situation, or even a completely different species.

With grasses and strappy leaf plants there may not be a very noticeable appearance difference, but there definitely is a performance difference. When Lomandra longifolia’s such as Tanika are substituted with Lomandra confertifolia’s there is a major performance difference as the confertifolia’s can’t handle tough roadside conditions.

With some of our new Westringias it’s a bit of both. We have had comments on projects where Mundi has been specified and the plants had grown way above knee height. The Mundi had been substituted with common Westringia and the appearance is noticeably different.

Why do they substitute?

Usually contractors substitute to save a few percent on price, which helps their profit, or allows them to win the bid. Sometimes it is the supplier selling the wrong plant.

How can you protect your design from this?

Ask for a certificate of Authenticity in the contract or in the quality assurance documents.

The contractor at the time of purchase must obtain from the supplier a certificate of Authenticity that the plants supplied are authentic and true to type. The plants on the certificate must be the same as the ones in the specification.

OR

The contractor at the time of purchase must obtain from the supplier a certificate of Authenticity that the plants marked with an * in the schedule are authentic and true to type. The plants on the certificate must be the same as the ones in the specification.

In the last 12-18 months throughout Victoria there has been a shift in the landscape market to use a smaller pot or tube, whereas it has always been typically the use.

Plant sizes available

Ozbreed plants are available in a variety of sizes, but for the majority of plants the minimum size allowed is a 250ml pot or tube. Previously it has been a minimum size of 90mm diameter across the top of the pot but this has been simplified to a minimum of 250ml.

Viro-Tubes are not recommended for the Shrub and Groundcovers and Hardy Exotic plant ranges as they are not deep or large enough for these types of plants. Viro-Tubes were designed for plants with specialised root systems such as grasses and strappy leaf plants. See below for recommended pot sizes for these ranges.

Ozbreed’s Native Grasses

True Native grasses such as Poa Eskdale or Kingsdale, Pennisetum (Nafray, Pennstripe, Purple lea), and Themeda Mingo are fast growing plants so they can be planted in smaller sizes or larger sizes if preferred. The Ozbreed native grasses are available in a minimum size of a Viro-Cell tray. They are also available in Viro-Tubes, 250ml (90mm) pots or tubes and 140mm pots.

Ozbreed’s Strappy Leaf Plants and Foliage First

Strappy Leaf plants such as Lomandra and Dianella types are a little slower to establish than grasses, so the minimum size these are sold is generally a Viro-Tube size, although some roads departments prefer them to be in a 90mm (250ml) size pot as a minimum. The extra size gives them a better head start in harsh road side plantings. They are also available in 140mm pots for quicker results, and some nurseries grow them in 200mm pots.

Ozbreed’s Native Shrubs and Groundcovers and Hardy Exotics

After consulting with roads departments, who want a slightly larger sized pot for this group, Ozbreed has decided the smallest size for these types of plants is a 250ml pot or tube. They are slower to root out than strappy leaf plants or grasses, so the extra potting mix really helps with the establishment of these plants. They are also available in 140mm and 200mm pots.

Ozbreed’s Hardy Exotic Range of plants are also slower to root out than the grasses and strappy leaf plants, so the minimum size of these plants is a 250ml pot. They are also available in 140mm and 200mm pots.

Ozbreed’s Advanced Trees

The minimum size these plants are sold in is a 200mm pot. For landscape projects where maturity is required, then larger sizes like 300mm/25 litre pots, or 400mm/45 litre pots are available. Or even larger; 75L, 100L, 150L and 200L pots are available from some growers.

Environmental plant breeding

Ozbreed uses natural breeding to produce new varieties. The process mimics nature. Most plants have been bred by choosing a better plant from large batches of seedlings. Many of these new plants will not produce viable seed. Eg; TANIKA Lomandra longifolia LM300 PBR has never produced a viable seed. Plants like LITTLE JESS Dianella caerulea ‘DCMP01’PBR will rarely produce a viable seed, but if they do the seedlings will revert back to natural forms, making these plants an environmentally safe choice. 

The great thing about using these types of plants is that the design will not only look much better, but the performance of the landscape will be greatly enhanced, all without compromising any environmental factors.

Ordering and specifying Ozbreeds Native Grasses

Native grasses don’t have as big a demand as they used to, so advanced ordering is usually recommended for large quantities. Especially for varieties like Courtney® Poa poiformis ‘PP300’ PBR and Eragrostis elongata ‘Elvera’ PBR. Nurseries that usually have small quantities available of the majority of Ozbreed grasses are Bluedale Enterprises, Botanica Nurseries, Alliance Seeds and Kenthurst/Diversity. Any of these nurseries have the ability to grow these grasses in larger quantities, but for some varieties they need to be advanced ordered.

For large quantities of one plant, to make sure you get the plants you want and have specified, call the grower to make sure they have enough supply and put in an advance order if they don’t. You should do this as soon as possible after the design has been approved by the client. It’s best to plan ahead with plants for larger jobs, otherwise you may have to change the specifications and design. Plants take time to grow, there shouldn’t be an assumption that there is a large supply and they definitely shouldn’t be an afterthought for large projects.

If you have any questions please contact us on 02 4577 2977

Imagine this low growing MUNDI ™ Westringia fruticosa 'WES05' PBR being substituted by a common Westringia... The height makes a big difference

An example of a Certificate of Authenticity

Examples of the new shapes and sizes available in the 250ml minimum pot size

The new 250ml minimum pot or tube size allows for the use of many circular tubes

One of Ozbreeds many sterile natives, TANIKA ® Lomandra longifolia ‘LM300’ PBR

Eragrostis elongata ‘Elvera’ PBR is a beautiful grass, but it isn't available in large quantities unless pre ordered