Plants for Sandy Soils

Sandy soil is comprised of minuscule pieces of rock .05 to 2 mm in diameter and has a gritty texture to it. Sandy soils have poor water holding and nutrient retention. Traditional gardens grown on sandy soils require regular watering and fertilising which can be time consuming, expensive, and unsustainable.

It is far better to choose plants that grow naturally in sandy soils, as they generally have adaptations that allow them to grow sustainably in them. Adaptations include root nodules that create nutrients and make use of available water in the soil more efficiently. Many Australian Native trees and shrubs thrive in sandy soils. Species such as Grevilleas, Acacias, Banksias, and many others are good examples of this and are perfect for use in low fertility sandy soils.

When gardening in sandy soils it is best to use organic mulches in abundance to create healthy biologically active soils to minimise water usage and to kick start the nutrient cycle. Avoid using artificial fertilisers which can kill soil bacteria and interfere with the process.

Regular pruning can also be implemented to reduce water and nutrient use of the plants. Keeping them small reduces the water and nutrients required to maintain them.

Timely and strategically implemented watering programmes mimicking irregular rainfall patterns are far more beneficial to these specialised plants rather than regular waterings as they can interfere with soil microorganisms that contribute to the nutrient cycle.

The table below contains species that do well in sandy soils.

Botanical Name	Common Name	Form	Height
Acacia binervata	Two-veined Hickory	Tree or shrub	5.0m - 15.0m
Acacia decurrens	Early Black Wattle	Tree or shrub	2.0m - 10.0m
Acacia fimbriata	Fringed Wattle	Tree or Shrub	7.0m
Acacia floribunda	Gossamer Wattle	Tree or shrub	3.0m - 8.0m
Acacia implexa	Lightwood	Tree	5.0m - 12.0m
Acacia longifolia	Sydney Golden Wattle	Tree or shrub	8.0m
Acacia mearnsi	Black Wattle	Tree	6.0m - 15.0m
Acacia myrtifolia	Myrtle Wattle	Shrub	2.0m
Acacia parramattensis	Parramatta Wattle	Tree	15.0m
Acacia pravissima	Ovens Wattler	Tree or shrub	6.0m
Acacia rubida	Red Stemmed Wattle	Tree or shrub	5.0m
Acacia suaveolens	Sweet Wattle	Shrub	3.0m
Acacia terminalis	Sunshine Wattle	Tree or shrub	6.0m
Acacia vestita	Hairy Wattle	Shrub	3.0m
Actinotus helianthi	Flannel Flower	Herb	0.3m - 0.9m
Allocasuarina littoralis	Black She-oak	Tree	5.0m - 12.0m
Allocasuarina torulosa	Forest Sheoak	Tree	8.0m - 15.0m
Angophora costata	Smooth-Barked Apple	Tree	15.0m - 25.0m
Angophora floribunda	Rough-Barked Apple	Tree	30.0m
Anigozanthos spp	Kangaroo Paw	Tufting Plant	2.0m
Baeckea virgata	Tall Baekea	Shrub	3.0m
Banksia species	Banksia	Tree or Shrub	2.0m - 15.0m
Bauera rubioides	Dog Rose	Shrub	2.0m
Boronia species	Boronia	Shrub	2.0m
Brachychiton populneus	Kurrajong	Tree	20.0m
Bursaria spinosa	Sweet Bursaria	Shrub	2.0m - 6.0m
Callistemon species	Bottlebrush	Tree or shrub	1.0m - 15.0m
Casuarina cunninghamiana	River Sheoak	Tree	15.0m - 35.0m
Casuarina glauca	Swamp Sheoak	Tree	8.0m - 20.0m
Correa species	Native Fuschia	Shrub	0.3m - 1.5m
Corymbia maculata	Spotted Gum	Tree	45.0m
Dianella species	Flax Lily	Grass	0.1m - 1.0m
Eucalyptus agglomerata	Blue Leaved Stringbark	Tree	40.0m
Eucalyptus dealbata	Tumbledown Red Gum	Tree	15.0m
Eucalyptus globoidea	White Stringybark	Tree	30.0m
Eucalyptus gregsoniana	Dwarf Snow Gum	Tree	5.0m
Eucalyptus macarthurii	Paddys River Box	Tree	45.0m
Eucalyptus mannifera. s. maculosa	Red Spotted Gum	Tree	15.0m
Eucalyptus piperita	Sydney Peppermint	Tree	20.0m
Eucalyptus punctata	Grey Gum	Tree	30.0m
Eucalyptus rubida	Candle Bark Gum	Tree	40.0m
Eucalyptus schlerophylla	Scribbly Gum	Tree	20.0m
Eucalyptus sieberi	Silver Top Ash	Tree	30.0m
Grevillea species	Grevillea	Shrub	0.1m - 6.0m
Hakea dactyloides	Finger Hakea	Shrub	1.0m - 3.0m
Hakea salicifolia	Willow Leaf Hakea	Tree or shrub	5.0m - 8.0m
Hakea sericea	Silky Hakea	Shrub	1.0m - 3.0m
Hardenbergia violacea	Native Sarsaparilla	Shrub or climber	0.3m - 2.0m
Indigophera australis	Australian Indigo	Shrub	2.0m
Kunzea ambigua	White Kunzea	Shrub	3.0m
Leptospermum species	Tea-tree	Tree or shrub	1.0m - 4.0m
Melaleuca species	Paperbark	Tree or shrub	1.0m - 20.0m
Melia azedarach	White Cedar	Tree	7.0m - 12.0m
Philotheca myoporoides	Native Daphne	Shrub	2.0m
Thryptomene F.C. Payne	Payne's Thryptomene	Shrub	1.0m
Westringia species	Native Rosmary	Shrub	1.0m - 2.0m

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