Puriri Lane @ Addenbrooke
16 Inspiring Plants from the
Australian Landscaping Conference 2025
The Australian Landscaping Conference 2025 was an eye-opening experience—brimming with inspiration, creative vision, and a wealth of new ideas. Among the standout moments were the planting palettes shared by some of the world’s leading designers.
Claire and Naomi were especially captivated by the incredible diversity on display—from bold, architectural feature plants to delicate native gems that quietly support biodiversity. Each plant had a story and a purpose, and all left a lasting impression.
At Sculpt, we believe gardens are stepping stones to support life—both our own, and that of the birds, bees, and wild pollinators that surround us. We design using diversity and complexity, weaving together plantings that connect people more deeply to nature. A broader palette brings year-round interest, combining the permanence of structure with the fleeting beauty of momentary blooms.
In this blog, we’re excited to share 16 inspiring plants we discovered at the conference—each with the potential to elevate your garden design, bring texture and richness to your planting, and help your garden thrive as a vibrant living system.
If you’re looking to infuse your landscape with fresh, forward-thinking planting ideas—these are the ones to watch.
Amsonia tabernaemontana
'Blue Star'
Thrives in well-drained soil, adaptable to both full sun and partial shade, and becomes relatively drought-tolerant once established.
Forms upright, clumping stems adorned with clusters of delicate, pale blue, star-shaped flowers from late spring to early summer. Its bright green, willow-like foliage transitions to a striking golden-yellow in autumn.
Reaches a mature size of 60-90 cm in height and width and is tolerant of clay soils.
Baptisia australis
'Caspian Blue'
Baptisia australis thrives in full sun, where it produces its most abundant blooms, though it can tolerate some shade. In shadier conditions, flowering may be reduced, and the plant may require staking for support.
It prefers average, well-drained, slightly acidic soil and becomes drought-tolerant once established.
This large, bush-like perennial features dense clusters of striking blue-purple, pea-like flowers on tall, upright spikes, followed by ornamental black seed pods. Over time, it develops a shrub-like form, reaching 1 to 1.5 meters in height and 0.6 to 1 meter in width.
Berkheya Purpurea
This hardy sun-loving perennial grows up to 75 cm tall, forming striking rosettes of spiny leaves, each reaching up to 45 cm long and 10 cm wide, with a distinctive downy-white underside.
Blooms in summer, producing daisy-like flowers with an outer ring of white, pale mauve, or purple ray florets, encircling a rich, dark purple center.
Bluebells
Perfect for moist, shady spaces, this low-maintenance and easy-to-grow plant bursts into bloom in late spring, reaching 30 cm in height.
An ocean of blue, it puts on a spectacular display of vibrant blue flower spikes rising above slender green leaves. Best planted in bold clumps or beneath taller trees, these bulbs require minimal care and will naturalize beautifully, returning year after year with even more blooms.
Corydalis flexuosa
'Porcelain Blue'
A shade-loving perennial, this stunning flowering species thrives in partially shaded areas, making it an excellent filler between trees and shrubs in moist, well-drained soil.
In spring, it bursts into masses of bright blue, tubular flowers with delicate white throats, creating a breathtaking sky-blue display that can last all the way through to autumn.
Compact yet impactful, it grows to around 30 cm high and 20 cm wide, bringing vibrant colour and texture to shaded garden spaces.
Eryngium planum
'Sea Holly'
Sea holly is a striking summer-flowering perennial, known for its unique combination of heart-shaped basal leaves and steel-blue, spiky stems and flowers that add bold texture to the garden.
Reaching up to 100 cm in height when in bloom, it thrives in full sun, where its distinctive blooms can truly shine.
Lobelia tupa
'Devil's tobacco'
Lobelia tupa is a striking woody-based perennial, growing up to 2.5 meters tall with upright stems adorned with narrow, grey-green, hairy leaves.
From late summer to autumn, it produces dramatic bold, tubular red flowers, each up to 6 cm long, creating a stunning visual display.
This deciduous perennial thrives in full sun, reaching its ultimate height of 1.5–2.5 meters and spreading 0.5–1 meter over 2–5 years. A standout plant for adding height, texture, and seasonal colour to the garden.
Mertensia maritima
'Oyster Plant'
A standout plant, prized for its stunning silvery blue-green foliage, adding a touch of elegance to any garden.
In early summer, it bursts into branched clusters of bright blue, bell-shaped flowers, which emerge from soft pink buds, creating a beautiful contrast against the foliage.
A compact grower, reaching up to 10 cm in height with a spread of 10–50 cm. Thrives in full sun to partial shade, making it a versatile choice for rock gardens, borders, or ground cover.
Omphalodes nitida
A compact, clump-forming evergreen perennial, valued for its glossy, lance-shaped olive-green leaves and graceful, arching stems.
From spring through summer, it produces delicate blue flowers on branching stems, adding a soft yet vibrant touch to the garden.
Reaching an ultimate height and spread of 10–50 cm, it thrives in full sun to partial shade, making it a versatile choice for borders, rock gardens, or underplanting.
Pachyphragma macrophyllum
A charming herbaceous perennial reaching up to 40 cm in height, featuring rounded, scalloped green basal leaves that form rosettes up to 10 cm across.
In spring, it produces flat clusters of delicate white flowers, followed by unique green fruits shaped like upside-down hearts in the autumn.
Reaching an ultimate height of 10–50 cm and spread of 50–100 cm over 2–5 years, this plant thrives in full sun to partial shade, making it a versatile and lovely addition to any garden.
Patrinia villosa
A clump-forming herbaceous perennial, it produces feathery foliage and erect, branching stems topped with dense umbels of white, star-shaped flowers in late summer and autumn. The seed heads that follow are equally striking and graphic, adding year-round interest.
Patrinia thrives in moist, well-drained soil, growing up to 1 meter tall in either full sun or partial shade.
Phlomis russeliana
'Jerusalem Sage'
Phlomis russeliana, commonly known as Jerusalem Sage, is a standout perennial celebrated for its striking architectural form. This plant features sturdy, upright stems adorned with yellow flowers.
Reaching an impressive height of 90-100 cm and spreading to 50-60 cm, it makes a bold statement in the garden. It grows best in full sun or partial shade.
Phlomis russeliana is incredibly versatile, seamlessly fitting into a variety of garden styles. Its strong structure and striking blooms are perfect for Mediterranean gardens, cottage-style landscapes, or contemporary urban settings.
Polygonatum multiflorum
'Solomon's Seal'
This perennial is admired for its graceful, arching stems with pendulous white tubular flowers, each tipped with a hint of green at the base, elegantly hanging beneath the stems.
Hardy and deciduous, it thrives in partial to full shade, making it an ideal choice for woodland-style plantings, where it can truly shine in the dappled light.
Sedum Spathulifolium 'Green Blob'
Sedum 'Green Blob' is a fast-growing, evergreen groundcover succulent with vibrant, rounded green foliage that forms a lush carpet. In autumn, delicate clusters of pink flowers dress the foliage in soft colour.
This low-maintenance beauty thrives in small, narrow spaces and poor soil conditions, requiring minimal care and very little water.
With its creeping, trailing habit, it reaches a height of just 6 cm and spreads to 40 cm wide. Full sun is ideal for its best performance.
Strobilanthes gossypinus
'Persian Shield'
This evergreen shrub is prized for its lush, velvety foliage, featuring grey-green leaves delicately covered in fine hairs, giving it a soft, textured appearance.
Thriving in both full sun and full shade, it offers versatility for various garden settings.
Reaching a mature size of 1.2 meters in height and 1.5 meters in width, it makes a beautiful, low-maintenance addition to any landscape.
Verbena hastata
'Pink Spires'
A unique variety of Verbena, this plant produces clusters of delicate pink flowers arranged around long, branching stems.
It blooms profusely throughout the summer, providing vibrant colour for an extended period.
With a mature size of 70-100 cm tall and 30 cm wide, it thrives in full sun to partial shade and is incredibly low-maintenance, making it a perfect choice for effortless beauty in the garden.
Feeling Inspired?
Attending the Australian Landscaping Conference has reignited our passion for thoughtful, biodiversity-rich garden design. Exploring such a wide range of interesting plants reminded us how powerful it is to work with nature, not against it, embracing variety, resilience, and beauty all at once. If you're feeling inspired, too, and want to create a garden that celebrates these principles, we’d love to help. Book a consultation and let’s design something truly special together.
35 Walter Street
Hauraki, Auckland
hello@sculptgardens.co.nz
Phone 021 549 161