Sow seeds in full sun direct where they are to grow and cover lightly with some seed-raising mix and keep moist.

Thin the seedlings after they emerge and transplant excess plants to other parts of the garden.

Alyssums with their moulding or trailing habit are ideal as edging, groundcovers or as fillers in cracks and crevices in stone paths and retaining walls.

The honey-scented, dainty flowers attract butterflies and come in colours of white, pink, lavender, purple and apricot.

These members of the mustard family seed freely providing colour for long periods of time.

Prostanthera rotundifolia, the native thyme, is a fast-growing shrub with masses of pretty purple or pink aromatic flowers in spring.

This understorey plant prefers a position in shrubberies where it can get some shade especially from the hot afternoon sun.

The leaves can be used either fresh or dried to add flavour to dishes.

Another native plant that can be used as a herb is Prostanthera incisa.

A low-growing perennial it has attractive lilac flowers in spring and small, aromatic leaves that can be used as a sage flavouring.

The ideal fertiliser for Tasmanian native plants is blood and bone meal.

This has useful amounts of nitrogen and is slower in action and thus is not likely to burn the roots of the plants.

Do not fertilise any plants unless the soil is damp. Most established native plants don't require fertiliser and then only in small applications.

Some of the loveliest succulent plants are native to Mexico and include among them the Pachyphytums which derive their name from 'pachy' meaning thick and 'phytum' meaning leaf.

Pachyphytums need to be grown in full sun to bring out the beautiful colouring in the leaves.

Do not over-water, wait till the lower leaves show signs of drying out or wilting, then water.

They can be grown from stem cuttings or leaves that have been left to dry out for a day or two.

Lagerstroemia is a lovely shrub that flowers in late summer and early autumn.

There are several species and quite a few cultivars suitable for growing in Tasmania.

With their large trusses of crepe-like flowers they present a lovely sight when in full bloom.

Many have beautiful coloured trunks and branches which makes a feature in the winter garden.