Top 10 Must-Have Tropical Plants for Queensland Gardens
Metrosideros little dugald
Description:
Metrosideros collina 'Little Dugald' is a compact, evergreen shrub prized for its dense, glossy green foliage and vibrant red, bottlebrush-like flowers. Its moderate size and hardy nature make it ideal for hedging, borders, or as a standout specimen in garden beds and containers. This resilient plant is well-suited to coastal gardens, thriving in full sun and tolerating salt and wind exposure.
Flowers:
From late spring to the end of summer, 'Little Dugald' produces an abundance of bright red flowers that attract nectar-feeding birds. The flowers are shaped like small bottlebrushes, adding striking color and texture to the landscape during the blooming season.
Foliage:
This plant has dense, evergreen foliage made up of small, glossy green leaves that create a lush backdrop throughout the year. The foliage provides a consistent, vibrant green that contrasts beautifully with the red blooms.
Fruit:
Not known for any notable fruiting characteristics.
Form and Size:
'Little Dugald' maintains a compact, bushy growth habit, typically reaching 1 to 2 meters in height and spreading up to 1 meter wide. Its tidy, rounded form makes it a good choice for formal and informal hedges or as a standalone specimen.
Growing Conditions:
Prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade. It is adaptable to a range of soil types as long as they are well-draining. This variety is drought-tolerant once established but will benefit from occasional watering during prolonged dry spells. It can also withstand light frosts, coastal winds, and salt spray, making it an excellent option for exposed or coastal locations.
Uses:
'Little Dugald' is versatile in landscaping, often used as a low to medium-sized hedge, border, or container plant. Its dense foliage and moderate size make it well-suited for hedging, while its vibrant flowers make it an attractive choice as a specimen plant. It also attracts wildlife, providing nectar for birds and acting as shelter for small animals.
Maintenance:
This variety is low-maintenance, requiring only light pruning after flowering to maintain shape and encourage dense growth. Apply a slow-release, balanced fertilizer in spring to promote healthy foliage and abundant flowering.
Notes:
With its vibrant red blooms and hardy nature, Metrosideros collina 'Little Dugald' adds both color and structure to garden landscapes. Its tolerance to coastal conditions and low water requirements make it ideal for Australian climates, especially in coastal areas.
Companion Plants:
Pairs well with other hardy coastal plants such as Westringia, Leucophyta brownii (Cushion Bush), and Grevillea varieties. It also complements grasses and other native shrubs, enhancing the diversity and texture of garden designs.
Common Name: Little Dugald
Botanical Name: Metrosideros collina 'Little Dugald'
Family: Myrtaceae
Origin: Pacific Islands
As we cannot guarantee stock all year around on Pots & Plants please hit us up via the chat button and we can get back to you with availability
Quantity:
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Delivery Options
- We Offer a local Sunshine Coast delivery service in our Truck.
- Orders placed before Tuesday 9.00am will be Delivered on Wednesday and or Friday of that week on the Sunshine Coast.
- For more information on Deliveries outside the Sunshine Coast please click here
Product Availability
Plants & Pots come and go all year around.
- Plants are seasonal and sometimes we run out but have more batches coming along.
- Some Plants are not always in-store however we can either order it in or deliver it to your door. pending availability
- Available numbers change every hour of the day in store and where we grow so please check in with us on how many you are looking for
- we have access to thousands of plants. if you are looking for a specific plant please let us know and we will see if its coming into store soon or if we can order it for you.
- we will sometimes keep plants on our website to show you the description of how it grows and its specific characteristics. they may not be in stock all the time however we will keep it up online so when it comes in we wont have to reload products
- the above information is exactly the same for Pots. they come and go all year around so please send us a message via the chat button and we will get back to you with availability
Where are our plants Grown and how do we grow them
- Plants are grown locally on the Sunshine Coast
- All outdoor plants are sun hardened and ready to grow
- Indoor plants are grown under 50% Shade and will transfer perfectly to indoor use
- Orchids are also grown under 50% Shade and are best brought indoors during flowering for show then returned back into a shaded area until the following flowering time
- we are Qualified horticulturists, greenkeeper as well as Qualified landscape Construction with over 35 years experience in the industry. We use Quality products and materials to grow all our plants.
- Visit us instore and get the right advice the first time to make your plants succeed
How to Look after your plants like we do
- When using any Garden Care products or Fertilisers we always recommend reading the label before use
- We recommend using Earthlife crushed rock mineral on all plants when planting in the ground or in Pots.
- When planting in Pots in Our garden centre we use Rocky Point potting mixes to plant all our plants
- If planting in the ground we also recommend that you use Rocky Point garden soil around your plants at the time of planting