About Boom Natives: Growing a Native Garden Revolution
It started with a dead grevillea. Well, three of them, actually — planted with the best intentions on a hot January weekend, watered religiously, and then slowly mourned as they turned brown one by one. When we went looking for straight answers about what had gone wrong, we found plenty of glossy coffee-table books and not much else: no practical, no-nonsense advice written for people gardening in real Australian conditions. So we started Boom Natives — a place where Australian gardeners could get honest, tested guidance without the jargon or the green-thumb guilt.
Our Mission: Making Native Gardening Simple and Rewarding
Our editorial team exists to help Australians grow thriving native gardens, whether that’s a windswept coastal patch of grevillea or a sunbaked arid-zone block full of wattles. We believe gardening should be rewarding, not intimidating — and that native plants, given the right advice, are among the most generous plants you can grow. We’re committed to drought-tolerant plants, water-wise design, and sustainable practices that work with the Australian climate instead of fighting it.
Why we focus on Australian native plants
Australian native plants evolved here. They handle our soils, our heat, and our unpredictable rainfall better than almost anything imported — and they feed our birds, bees, and butterflies while they do it. That doesn’t mean they’re foolproof, though. Many natives are sensitive to phosphorus, which is why we always recommend low phosphorus fertilisers, and why you’ll never catch us suggesting a general-purpose rose food for your banksia.
Our promise to readers: honest, tested advice
We don’t recommend plants we haven’t grown, and we don’t repeat nursery marketing as fact. If a plant is difficult, we’ll say so. If a technique failed in our gardens, we’ll tell you that too.
What We Write About: From Bush Tucker to Backyard Grevilleas
Our editorial focus is practical: growing guides, seasonal tips, and deep dives into the species Australian gardeners actually want to grow. Grevillea alone is a diverse genus with over 360 species, many of them drought-tolerant, so there’s no shortage of ground to cover.
Plant profiles and growing guides
Every profile covers the essentials — soil, sun, water, pruning, and common problems — plus our own observations from growing the plant ourselves.
Bush tucker and edible natives
Bush tucker includes native foods like lemon myrtle, wattleseed, and finger lime, and we love showing readers how to grow and use them. From lemon myrtle tea to finger lime marmalade, edible natives deserve a spot in every backyard.
Drought-tolerant garden design
We cover water-wise layouts, mulching, and plant combinations that look good in a dry year — not just a wet one. Our go-to principles include:
- Choose species suited to your local rainfall and soil
- Group plants by water needs, not by colour
- Use low phosphorus fertilisers only when needed
- Mulch deeply to conserve moisture and suppress weeds
How We Work: Hands-On, Opinionated, and Always Curious
We’re based in Australia and written for Australian gardeners. Our editorial team tests plants in our own gardens across the country, from Sydney to Perth, and shares what works — and what absolutely doesn’t.
Our testing and review process
Before we recommend a plant, a tool, or a technique, someone on our team has tried it. We also work with local nurseries to check our advice against what’s actually thriving in their stock.
Learning from Country and community
Indigenous knowledge is central to understanding and using native plants sustainably. We’re grateful to learn from Indigenous knowledge holders and to share that respect for Country in everything we publish.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Boom Natives actually cover?
We write practical guides on Australian native plants, native garden design, bush tucker, and drought-tolerant gardening — all written for Australian conditions.
Do native plants need fertiliser?
Often very little. Most Australian native plants prefer low phosphorus fertilisers, and many thrive without any feeding at all once established.
Is bush tucker hard to grow at home?
Not at all. Lemon myrtle, wattleseed, and finger lime all grow well in home gardens with the right position and drainage.
Can I grow grevillea in a small garden?
Yes — with over 360 species in the genus, there’s a grevillea for almost every space, including compact and prostrate forms suited to pots and courtyards.
Boom Natives is more than a blog. It’s a community for anyone ready to embrace the beauty and resilience of Australian native plants — one grevillea at a time.