Bring a Little Australia Into Every Arrangement
There is something truly special about Australian native flowers and foliage. From their rich natural textures to their fresh, unmistakable scent, natives bring character, longevity, and a relaxed beauty to any bouquet. Whether mixed into classic arrangements, styled as a fully native display, or dried to enjoy year-round, these hardy favourites deserve a place in every home.
Here are three easy and beautiful ways to work native flowers and foliage into your bouquets.
1. Add Native Touches to Your Everyday Bouquets
You don’t have to commit to a fully native arrangement to enjoy the beauty of Australian foliage. One of the simplest ways to elevate a classic bouquet is by incorporating native elements alongside flowers you already love.
Try weaving gum leaves through bouquets of daisies, lilies, roses, or zinnias. The soft grey-green tones of eucalyptus add instant contrast and texture, creating a relaxed, garden-picked feel. Native foliage helps balance softer blooms and gives arrangements a modern, natural edge that suits both casual and elegant spaces.
This mix-and-match approach is perfect for experimenting with natives while still enjoying traditional flowers from your garden.
2. Create a Fully Native Bouquet Full of Scent and Texture
If you love bold textures and fresh fragrance, an all-native bouquet is a beautiful way to celebrate Australian plants. Native foliage is incredibly expressive and often just as striking as the flowers themselves.
Silver gum is a standout choice in fully native arrangements. Its soft, velvety leaves add a gentle, touchable texture, while freshly cut stems release a clean, uplifting scent that fills a room. Paired with classic gum leaves and sculptural gum nuts, silver gum creates an arrangement rich in depth, form, and natural movement.
The layered foliage, rounded seed pods, and fresh aroma come together effortlessly, resulting in bouquets that feel thoughtfully styled yet wonderfully relaxed. Fully native arrangements are long-lasting, low maintenance, and ideal for statement vases. They suit modern interiors, rustic homes, and everything in between, bringing the outdoors inside in a way that feels unmistakably Australian.
Our top native foliage choices include:
Red Flowering Gum
This species produces stunning, dainty red flowers during summer. For the rest of the year, its glossy, strappy foliage can be used in floral arrangements. Add it to wildflower bouquets or enjoy it on its own for a simple, minimalist display.
Illyarrie ‘Red Cap’ Gum
Similar to Red Flowering Gum, this variety produces red caps that open into delicate golden-yellow flowers in spring and summer. This small tree offers beautiful waxy foliage that is long lasting in bouquets.
Eucalyptus Silver Dollar
One of the most popular native species grown for foliage, this eucalyptus is loved by florists and gardeners alike. Its chalky green, rounded leaves provide stunning contrast in arrangements and are equally beautiful displayed on their own, fresh or dried.
3. Make the Most of Natives With Dried Flower Bouquets
Many Australian natives are ideal for drying, making them perfect if you want arrangements that last well beyond the growing season. Everlastings and other native blooms hold their colour and structure beautifully once dried.
To dry your flowers successfully:
- Harvest stems on a dry morning when flowers are just beginning to open
- Remove excess leaves from the stems
- Tie small bunches together and hang upside down in a cool, dry, dark space
- Allow two to three weeks for flowers to fully dry
Once dried, native flowers and foliage can be used in long-lasting bouquets, wreaths, or decorative arrangements that bring texture and warmth into your home all year round.
Some of our favourite natives for drying include:
Billy Buttons
These produce cute, dainty golden globes and are incredibly popular in dried floral arrangements.
Everlasting Daisies / Strawflowers
Available in a range of beautiful shades, their papery petals add unique texture to bouquets. They retain their colour and shape perfectly when dried.
Kangaroo Paw
A truly unique addition to floral displays, these tall spires are eye-catching and velvety soft, whether fresh or dried.
Heath Banksia
Perfect for adding structure and impact, these large, striking spires capture the true beauty of Australian native plants.
Let Your Garden Shape Your Style
Native flowers and foliage invite you to slow down, experiment, and let your garden guide your creativity. Whether you’re adding a few gum leaves to a classic bunch, styling a fully native arrangement, or drying blooms for future enjoyment, natives offer endless possibilities that feel natural, relaxed, and uniquely Australian.
