If you want a tree that gives back to both you and the birds, Forest Myrtle is a wonderful choice. Also known as Bosmirt, this shapely evergreen shrub or small tree has a dense crown of glossy, dark green, oblong-elliptic leaves that are leathery and dotted with tiny aromatic glands. New foliage often emerges with a soft, brownish-pink flush. From spring through summer (October to April), it produces an abundance of sweetly scented, white flowers with a conspicuous mass of protruding stamens. Then come the fruits: small, rounded berries that ripen to a beautiful reddish-purple, resembling miniature guavas and beloved by birds. They’re also edible for humans, with a sweet, tangy taste perfect for fresh eating or jams.

Watch it cling to a bare wall, and you’ll see how this climber transforms hard surfaces into living tapestries. Tickey-Creeper, also known as Creeping Fig or Climbing Fig, is a vigorous evergreen climber with tiny, round to heart-shaped, dark green leaves that overlap like shingles, adhering to walls and fences by means of adhesive aerial rootlets. As the plant matures, the foliage transforms, producing larger, thicker, oval leaves on woody stems, and may eventually bear small, fig-like fruits on old wood.

Some plants beg to be touched. This is one of them. Cottony Saltbush, also known as Cottony Goosefoot, is a small, spreading evergreen shrub with slender branches that curve gracefully downwards, reaching up to 1 metre in height and width. Its small, triangular to shovel-shaped leaves are densely covered in tiny, white, rounded hairs, giving the entire plant a soft, silvery-grey, cottony feel. In spring and summer, small, inconspicuous flower spikes droop delicately from the branches, followed by a hidden treasure: small, fleshy red berries that ripen to a bright, glistening orange—a surprising pop of colour that attracts birds.

Let those slender, wiry stems trail over the edge of a hanging basket, and you’ll see why Angel Vine is a favourite for adding airy, delicate charm. Also known as Maidenhair Vine or Wire Vine, this vigorous, evergreen climber is treasured for its fine, reddish-brown stems and its profusion of tiny, glossy, bright green leaves. Those heart-shaped to rounded leaves create a soft, lacy, cloud-like effect that brings lightness and movement to any planting. In summer, small, inconspicuous greenish-white to creamy-yellow flowers may appear, sometimes followed by small, fleshy, white to translucent fruits with a glossy black seed inside. But honestly, those elegant, cascading stems are the real show.

Step into any ancient herb garden, and you’ll likely find this plant growing proudly. Common Mugwort is a robust, rhizomatous perennial with upright, angular, reddish-brown stems that can tower up to 2 metres tall. Its distinctive, deeply lobed leaves are rich, deep green above and covered in dense, white, woolly felt beneath. Brush against them, and you’ll release a complex, spicy, slightly sage-like fragrance. In late summer to early autumn, dense panicles of small, creamy-yellow to reddish-brown flowers appear, adding subtle texture at the top of the plant.

Take the shimmering purple and green foliage of the Purple Vitex, put it on a single stem, and you get a “lollipop” tree that’s pure elegance. The Purple Vitex Standard Tree features a clean, upright stem topped with a rounded, lollipop-shaped canopy of slender, branching stems clothed in aromatic, trifoliate leaves. New leaves emerge in brilliant, eye-catching purple, maturing to soft grey-green above while retaining a beautiful, velvety lavender-purple underside—a shimmering, bicoloured effect that moves in the breeze. From summer through autumn, the rounded head produces an abundance of upright, cone-shaped panicles of small, tubular flowers in soft lavender to bluish-purple, highly fragrant and adding a gentle, cloud-like accent.

Run your fingers through this plant’s fine, coppery blades, and you’ll feel why it’s called Hair Sedge. Also known as Bronze Perfection or simply Bronze Sedge, this clump-forming evergreen perennial forms a dense, mounded clump of very fine, arching leaves in a rich, uniform bronze to coppery-brown hue. Those graceful, weeping leaves create a soft, flowing effect, swaying gently in the breeze and adding lightness and movement to any planting. In summer, small, inconspicuous, chocolate-brown flower spikes sit just above the foliage, adding subtle textural interest.

If you’re looking for a climber that offers lush beauty without taking over, Bower Vine is a top contender. Also known as Pandora Vine or Bower of Beauty, this fast-growing, evergreen, woody-stemmed climber is treasured for its glossy, lush foliage and its abundant, showy, trumpet-shaped flowers. It features handsome, compound, dark green leaves with a glossy sheen, covering the slender, twining stems from top to bottom. From this lush base, it produces generous clusters of stunning, tubular flowers in shades of white to soft pink, each with a striking throat of deep pink, crimson, or maroon. Some varieties also emit a subtle, sweet fragrance. The main flowering season runs from late winter through summer and into autumn.