15 October 2026
In October, we asked the Ruthven Street, Macleod community to provide feedback on the proposed landscaping plans for Rosanna Parklands, Ellesmere Parade and surrounding areas, including preferred plant species and opportunities to enhance local biodiversity.
We have worked with Banyule City Council's Urban Forestry team, along with the project's urban designers and landscape architects, to develop a proposed planting palette for Rosanna Parklands, Ellesmere Parade and surrounding areas.
The proposed planting prioritises indigenous and native species that are suited to the local environment, are drought tolerant and low maintenance, and will help create new habitat for local wildlife.
Indigenous plants are species that naturally occurred in the area before development, while native plants are Australian species from other parts of the country. Both contribute to greener, more resilient landscapes, with indigenous species playing an important role in supporting local biodiversity and reflecting the area's natural character.
A mix of trees, shrubs, flowering plants, grasses and groundcovers will create layered planting that supports wildlife habitat, improves visual amenity and helps to screen the rail corridor.
Here is a list of the preferred species we are considering including in the landscaping.
When planting areas we consider:
- how these spaces are used
- safe sightlines
- maintenance requirements
- suitability for the local environment.
Please note that while we have taken care to provide the most accurate information and ensured availability of plants, species are subject to change.
Preferred species list
Grasses and groundcovers
Botanical name | Common name | Size at maturity | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
Atriplex semibaccata | Berry Salt-bush | Height: 0.15m - 0.30m Spread: 1m-2m | Indigenous |
Carex tereticaulis | Basket Sedge | Height: 0.6m Spread: 0.6m | Indigenous |
Chrysocephalum apiculatum | Desert Flame | Height: 0.3m Spread: 0.5m | Indigenous |
Correa reflexa prostrate | Common Correa, prostrate form | Height: 0.6m Spread: 0.6m | Indigenous |
Dianella revoluta var. revoluta | Spreading Flax-lily | Height: 0.75m Spread: 0.6m | Indigenous |
Dichelachne crinita | Long Hair Plume Grass | Height: 0.5m Spread: 0.5m | Indigenous |
Ficinia nodosa | Knobby Club-rush | Height: 0.6m Spread: 0.6m | Indigenous |
Hardenbergia violacea prostrate | Purple Coral-pea | Height: 0.3-0.8m Spread: 0.6-1.0m | Indigenous |
Juncus subsecundus | Finger Rush | Height: 0.5m Spread: 0.5m | Indigenous |
Lolium perenne | Perennial rye grass | N/A | Exotic |
Lomandra longifolia “Tanika” | Mat Rush | Height: 0.6m Spread: 0.6m | Native cultivar |
Microlaena stipoides | Weeping grass | N/A | Indigenous |
Myoporum insulare prostrate | Boobialla | Height: 0.3m Spread: 1m-1.5m | Indigenous |
Poa labillardierei | Common Tussock Grass | Height: 0.6m Spread: 0.5m | Indigenous |
Rytidosperma caespitosum | Common Wallaby Grass | Height: 0.2m Spread: 0.3m | Indigenous |
Themeda triandra | Kangaroo Grass | Height: 0.3m Spread: 0.6m | Indigenous |
Shrubs
Botanical name | Common name | Approximate size at maturity | Origin |
Acacia acinacea | Gold Dust Wattle | Height: 1.5m Spread: 1.5m | Indigenous |
Bursaria spinosa ssp. spinosa | Sweet Bursaria | Height: 4m Spread: 2.5m | Indigenous |
Cassinia aculeata | Common Cassinia | Height: 2-4m Spread: 2-3m | Indigenous |
Correa reflexa | Common Correa | Height: 1.2m Spread: 1.2m | Indigenous |
Enchylaena tomentosa | Ruby Salt-bush | Height: 0.6m Spread: 0.6m | Indigenous |
Goodenia ovata | Hop Goodenia | Height: 0.5m Spread: 1.0m | Indigenous |
Melicytus dentatus | Tree Violet | Height: 3.5m Spread: 2m | Indigenous |
Olearia ramulosa var. ramulosa | Twiggy Daisy-bush | Height: 0.5m - 2m Spread: 1m | Indigenous |
Prostanthera lasianthos | Victorian Christmas Bush | Height: 4m Spread: 2m | Indigenous |
Pimelea nivea | Snowy Pimelea | Height: 0.5m - 1.5m Spread: 0.5m - 1m | Indigenous |
Indigofera australis | Austral indigo | Height: 1.2m Spread: 1.2m | Indigenous |
Trees
Botanical name | Common name | Approximate size at maturity | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
Acacia melanoxylon | Blackwood | Height: 15m Spread: 7m Height at installation: 2.2m | Indigenous |
Allocasuarina littoralis | Black She-oak | Height: 12m Spread: 7m Height at installation: 2.2m | Indigenous |
Callistemon citrinus x viminalis | Harkness Bottlebrush | Height: 4m Spread: 3m Height at installation: 1.8m | Native cultivar |
Eucalyptus leucoxylon ‘Euky Dwarf’ | Dwarf Yellow Gum | Height: 7m Spread: 4-5m Height at installation: 2.2m | Native cultivar |
Eucalyptus mannifera ‘Little Spotty’ | Dwarf Spotted Gum | Height: 5-7m Spread: 5m Height at installation: 2.2m | Native cultivar |
Eucalyptus ovata | Swamp Gum | Height: 10m Spread: 5m Height at installation: 2.2m | Indigenous |
Eucalyptus polyanthemos | Red Box | Height: 12m Spread: 5m Height at installation: 2.2m | Indigenous |
Geijera parviflora | Wilga | Height: 5-10m Spread: 6-9m Height at installation: 1.8m | Native |
Hakea laurina | Pincushion Hakea | Height: 5m Spread: 4m Height at installation: 1.8m | Indigenous |