13 May Mediterranean vs. Australian Bush: Choosing Your Perth Garden Style
Perth gardens are different. Maybe it’s the hot summer sun. Maybe it’s those sandy soils that seem to reject anything you try planting in them!
Regardless of the situation, selecting a garden style for your Perth property shouldn’t be a hasty decision or done carelessly.
You know those stunning Mediterranean gardens with the terracotta pots and a border of lavender? You’ve seen them.
And yes, you have also noticed modern native gardens that somehow remain green throughout the summer without any apparent effort. But which one suits your block?
Why Your Garden Style Actually Matters
Here’s the thing – your garden isn’t just about kerb appeal (though that’s nice). It’s about creating an outdoor space that actually works with Perth’s climate instead of fighting against it.
Perth cops some of the hottest, driest summers in Australia. We’re talking months without decent rain. Add in our sandy, nutrient-poor soil, and you’ve got yourself a challenge that many homeowners seriously underestimate.
Pick the wrong style and you’re looking at endless watering, constant replanting, and a garden that always looks half-dead come February. Not exactly the relaxing outdoor space you had in mind.
The Mediterranean Garden Appeal
The Mediterranean garden designs showcased in Perth properties tend to win people over quickly.
The design features whitewashed walls, both old and new terracotta, and a soft purple haze of lavender that catches the late afternoon light. These gardens feel romantic. European. Like you’re on holiday somewhere in the Greek islands instead of suburban Perth.
What Works Well
The herb gardens in Mediterranean-style spaces are genuinely practical. Here’s what makes them appealing:
- Rosemary grows like a weed and is one and a half metres tall in just a couple of years.
- A mature lemon tree can supply between two hundred and three hundred lemons per year. A mature lemon tree can produce more lemons annually than most households would be able to consume.
- Perth shares around sixty-five percent of its climatic characteristics with the Mediterranean, so these plants handle our heat reasonably well.
- Mediterranean-style gardens can boost your property’s kerb appeal by an estimated ten to fifteen percent.
- Herbs like thyme, sage, and rosemary give you plants that look great and smell wonderful.
The whole aesthetic works brilliantly if you’ve got a limestone house or rendered brick. Each of the styles works well with the others.
The Reality Check
Mediterranean plants need regular watering in Perth. According to Water Corporation WA, “the average garden in Perth and the South West requires approximately 10 mm (1 litre per square metre) of water twice a week during the summer to remain healthy.” That’s about 20–30 litres per square metre weekly through the summer. They’re drought-tolerant compared to English roses, but they’re not actually drought-proof.
There’s also the maintenance factor. Lavender needs pruning. Herbs need trimming. Terracotta pots dry out fast and need constant attention. If you’re time-poor, it might not be the style for you.
Herbs and weeds grow in between the stones at a consistent rate with regular upkeep of Mediterranean plantings; however, natural and cost-effective weed removal methods can make it much easier.
The Australian Native Option.
People often associate Australian native gardens with unorganised bushland, but Perth landscaping has made significant progress. Modern bushland garden designs are stunning. That is another big reason for their popularity!
The fact that they work with the climate instead of trying to impose some foreign doctrine on it should also be remembered and emphasised. The plants have evolved to adapt to Perth conditions; they know what to do in our soils, how hot it becomes here, and about dry summers.
The Practical Benefits
Water savings are significant. Once established, most natives need minimal supplementary watering. Some need none at all during the summer. Australian government research confirms that Australian natives are classified as low water-use plants, requiring significantly less irrigation than exotic species.
The bird life you’ll attract is incredible. Honeyeaters, wattlebirds and wrens – all come for the nectar and insects in your native garden. If you prefer to wake up to bird calls rather than neighbour noise, this is a big plus.
Maintenance drops dramatically after establishment. Natives are tough. They don’t need constant feeding, fussing or replacing. They just get on with it.
The Aesthetic Side
This is the point at which most people get stuck. They imagine brown sticks and scraggly bushes. That is old thinking.
New Perth Australian native gardens are created from plants that are truly beautiful. The kangaroo’s paw comes in a variety of colours, including red, yellow, and pink. Grevilleas, which bloom in soft pink to strong orange hues, flower for months on end. Native grasses give movement and texture.
If you are in Perth’s western suburbs, the right natives for areas like Cottesloe or Nedlands make all the difference to your garden’s success.
The foliage variety is greater than most people will ever realise. Silver leaves, blue-grey tones, and deep greens—you can get really dramatic colour palettes with natives.
And the textures? Spinifex grass, bottlebrush flowers, and the smooth bark of jarrah or marri provide an abundance of visual interest.
The Considerations
The establishment period requires patience. They can be slow to start. It is quite apparent that their energy goes into a strong root system first, which makes total sense from their perspective but does not always impress in its first year.
Some of them are also choosy about location. Getting the right plant in the right spot matters more with natives than with many exotic species. Stick a grevillea in a spot that’s too wet and it’ll sulk (or die).
The informal look does not suit every house style. If you’ve got a formal, symmetrical home design, then a bushland garden might clash aesthetically.
What Actually Works in Perth?
Right, let’s get practical. What actions would be most effective for managing your Perth garden? Here are the key factors you need to weigh up before making your decision:
- Size matters: small courtyards suit Mediterranean style better. Bigger blocks? Go native for less maintenance.
- Your house style: Modern minimalist homes look fantastic with native plantings. Traditional limestone cottages suit Mediterranean gardens.
- Be honest about time: if you have no time for gardening, choose natives. If you enjoy weekend sessions in the garden, the Mediterranean gives you more to do.
- Water restrictions are real: Perth’s limitations will probably get stricter. Choose a style that survives without constant watering.
These considerations will save you from making costly mistakes. Think through each one carefully before committing to a style.
The Hybrid Approach (Actually Worth Considering)
Here’s something that doesn’t get discussed enough – you don’t have to pick one or the other exclusively. Some of the best Perth garden styles are a blend between the two.
We have successfully designed hybrid gardens using native backbone structural planting and water-wise plantings with Mediterranean herbs and citrus in easy-to-water zones near the house. You get the best out of both approaches.
Plant natives through most of your garden. They’ll deal with the Perth conditions. Then develop a specific Mediterranean zone right outside your kitchen or entertaining area where you can justify the extra water use because you’re actually getting practical use from the herbs and produce.
This hybrid approach gives you visual interest and practical benefits and won’t send your water bill through the roof.
Making Your Decision
So which Perth garden style is right for you? While there’s no universal solution, determining your true desires for your outdoor space can simplify the process.
Choose the Mediterranean garden designs Perth landscapers offer if you:
- Have a smaller, manageable space
- Love the European aesthetic and it suits your home
- Actually enjoy regular garden maintenance
- Want productive plants (herbs, citrous) close to your kitchen
- Can commit to regular watering
Choose an Australian native garden, Perth style, if you:
- Want seriously low maintenance once established.
- Care about water conservation.
- Have a larger block to fill.
- Love attracting native birds and wildlife.
Want a garden that looks after itself through Perth summers?
Or consider that hybrid approach if you want the best of both without the downsides of either. Use native backbone plants with Mediterranean herbs and citrus in high-use zones near the house.
You get water-wise planting where it matters most, plus productive elements where you can justify the extra water.
Getting Started
Whichever style you go for, getting some professional advice on plant selection and placement will save you dollars and frustration in the long run. Perth’s microclimates can be weird – what works in Nedlands might not work in Baldivis. Contact us to get real expert advice specific to your property.
Begin with a good plan. Map the sun and shade. Do a real test on your soil, check out water access and any restrictions, and pick the plants that will thrive in those conditions.
Perth gardens can be beautiful. They just need to be designed for Perth, not some idealised vision that belongs in Surrey or Tuscany.
Get the style right for your specific situation, and you’ll have an outdoor space that looks great, functions well, and doesn’t drain your weekends or your bank accounts.
The choice between Mediterranean and Australian bush styles has nothing to do with which is better.
It has everything to do with what suits your lifestyle, the property and how much you are honestly willing to maintain. Be real about that, and you will end up with a garden you actually love living with.
