Improving the condition of your soil before you plant will increase the range of plants you are able to grow, and give clay loving plants a better start in life. Add mulch as often as possible and add a little sandy loam or garden mixture into the holes when you plant.
Brachyscome (cut-leaf daisy) and Scaveola (fan flower) are perfect for a sunny location and feature masses of flowers spring and summer. For a shady spot try native violets.
Dianella (flax lily) are compact growing native grasses suited to shady locations, perfect for borders and under-planting. They shoot up long stems of delicate starry blue flowers which earn them a place in any garden border.
Lomandra – all will handle clay soils.
Melaleucas absolutely thrive in clay soil. Lower growing varieties include Little John, Rosy Morn, ‘Claret Tops’ and ‘Firebrand’. Plus Melaleuca hypericifolia ‘Ulladulla Beacon’ Westringia (coastal rosemary).
Leptospermum (tea trees) are shrubby natives, open in habit, with very fine slender leaves; their clusters of tiny flowers in shades of white to deep pink seem to completely cover the branches in season. Unlike many natives which need free draining sandy soils, they don’t seem to mind a heavier soil and enjoy the access to water. Such as Leptospermum petersonii.
Philotheca myoporoides (long-leaf wax flower)
Callistemon varieties like favourites King’s Park Special, Dawson River Weeper, Taree Pink, All Aglow and Candy Pink for dappled shade and bright flowering colour in red, white, and pink. Hymenosporum (native frangipani) are tall feature trees with scented golden yellow flowers and glossy dark leaves, suited to full sun and partly shaded locations.
Native Pandorea varieties perform really well in clay soil and once established will tolerate prolonged dry periods (although they’ll look and flower better with some watering).