Australian Wildflowers and Hackable Natives: Save Money with Resilient Plants

Rising garden maintenance costs make machine-maintained plants a smart alternative to hand-manicured varieties. These tough plants regenerate quickly, even after harsh pruning, saving time and effort.

Knowing which plants effectively bounce back from hard cutting can help landscape designers and home gardeners confidently craft spaces that stand test of time while maintaining attractive natural shapes without getting out of hand or leggy.

Pruning Methods for Resilient Growth

• Slashing involves mowing or brushcutting vegetation, suitable for strappy plants and thin-stemmed woody plants.
• Coppicing cuts woody plants 5-30 cm above the ground, promoting bushy regrowth through epicormic shoots.
• Pollarding, similar to coppicing, is performed 1-3 m above ground, removing branches back to stubs. Though not always arborist-approved, this method can be undertaken even by novice gardeners on the right types of hardy shrubs.

While pollarding can be tricky to get right long-term, slashing and coppicing are easy for most people to master with the right plant choice.

The Rise of Hackable Aussie Natives

Modern breeding has produced low-maintenance, ‘hackable’ plants resilient to hard prunes. Ozbreed has foreseen this trend and has focused on releasing a range of plants that respond to this harsh but efficient maintenance method.

Strappy plants like Lady Tanika® Lomandra and Baby Breeze™ Dianella tolerate slashing, outperforming traditional turfgrass and hedges in cost-sensitive projects. However, not all species are equally tough—some varieties struggle under hard pruning.

Naturalistic shrubs benefit from hard cuts like coppicing or pollarding, shedding old growth to regenerate fresh and healthy branches. This approach helps shrubs show off their natural beauty without expensive, high-maintenance hedge trimming.

Strong Roots Mean Strong Plants

Resilient plants rely on robust root systems, enabling them to store energy and bounce back after severe conditions or pruning. While most wildflowers are generally treated as short-lived annuals, hardy varieties like Aussie Reflection™ Chrysocephalum and Pink Fusion™ Scaevola thrive for years with cutbacks.

Smart Landscaping, Big Savings

Opting for plants with durable roots and proven resilience reduces maintenance demands and cost. Whether cut with a mower, brushcutter, or trimmer, these Aussie natives are built to last and thrive. With these selections, you save time, money, and effort while crafting sustainable landscapes built to endure.