Words by Andrew Golden, Indoor plant enthusiast – we welcome Andrew to the FPL team as a guest blogger! We will bring Andrew in every now and again to educate us on the plants that work well indoors! Andrew runs an Instagram page in his spare time…”just a young bloke documenting his obsession with all things interior and green”. We love Andrew’s passion for plants and are excited to work with him to bring a different perspective to our service offering.
When I say the word ‘Australia’, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Sun? Sand? Surf? Alliteration aside, surely the great Aussie bush isn’t too far behind. The bush has been part of all of most our lives since we were young. It’s iconic, it’s mind-blowing, and it dominates the Australian landscape.
It’s no wonder that so many people want to recreate that vibe in their gardens and in their homes.
#JungleVibes and #Jungalow are going crazy on Instagram at the moment, and are used when people want to bring that jungle feeling indoors. Scroll through those hashtags and you’ll see some seriously envy-inducing imagery! But what about the good ol’ Aussie bush? How can we bring that sunburnt country feeling inside our homes? Find out how to get those #BushVibes flowing below.
Alpinia caerulea ‘Native ginger’
Native ginger is a staple in any Aussie backyard. It screams bush! But did you know you can also bring it indoors? It’s got these really awesome big broad leaves and in the wild it’s an “understorey” plant. This means it’s entirely capable of thriving in those lower light spots in your home, like a dark hallway or shadowed corner. Bonus!
Grevillea Robusta ‘Silky Oak’
If Grevilleas aren’t synonymous with the bush, then I don’t know what is! Its flowers are a little bit of gold, a little bit of brown, and a whole lot of stunning! Younger Silky Oaks do better indoors than older ones, because they can tolerate low light. However, as your Silky Oak grows, you’ll have to chuck it outside. But you do get some really solid #BushVibes in the meantime.
Schefflera Amate ‘Umbrella Tree’ / Schefflera arboricola ‘Miniature Umbrella Tree’
It’s pretty obvious by its common name, but Umbrella Trees resemble…yep, umbrellas! You get this really striking glossy foliage that looks just like a miniature tree. You also get a hardy plant, with a strong disease resistance. Better yet, Umbrella Trees are on-trend and popular at the moment, meaning you can find them in most nurseries or hardware stores! They do like a decent amount of sun though, so when you throw them inside, make sure they’re in a nice bright spot that gets plenty of sunlight.
Eucalyptus spp.
Leaving the best for last! When most people think of Eucalyptus trees, they think of these enormous, towering giants that line our parks, streets and bush reserves. Most people cannot fathom that they actually make really great indoor plants! When grown in a container, make sure it’s in a real sunny position and out of the shade; eucalyptus love to soak up the sun. Set it away from the dreaded indoor draught and you should be all set! If growing it in a container isn’t your thing (AKA: can’t seem to get it to work), head outside with a pair of secateurs and get rummaging. Cut eucalyptus leaves and foliage are bang on-trend at the moment in interiors. Whether you pop those iconic gum leaves into vintage containers and glasses, or into sleek modern vases, nothing screams Aussie bush more than eucalyptus!
So there you have it, four really cool and EASY plants that you can bring indoors to get those #BushVibes going (fingers crossed that hashtag starts trending!). Give it a go at home and let us know how you go. Happy gardening!
Make sure you follow Andrew’s Instagram HERE!
Luke can help with all your (outdoor!) planting and design requirements. Give him a call on 0434 355 066 to book your FREE initial consultation, chat about your design ideas and reinvent your outdoor experience today! See a list of our services HERE.
