• Australia is home to unique plants, such as the gum tree, or Eucalyptus.gum tree, australian outback image by Horticulture from Fotolia.com
  
  Australia is home to a widely collections of landscapes, climates and wildlife. The varying conditions have given rise to a number of hardy plants. Some thrive in the warm coastal or forest regions of the country, while others have adapted to survive the dry heat of the Outback. Many of these plants are found nowhere else in the world.
  
  

Wattles

• Wattles produce bright yellow flowers in the spring.wattle trees 1. image by mdb from Fotolia.com
  
  The wattle is a drought-tolerant shrub that survives many climates, including the heat of the Outback. In the spring, it produces bright yellow, fragrant flower clusters. Aboriginals ground the seeds into food, and it is still a popular staple in the Australian diet. The Acacia pycnantha, or golden wattle, is Australia's official floral emblem. It grows in woodland areas along the southeast coast of Australia.
  
  

Mulga

• Acacia aneura thrives all over the Australian Outback. It is a shrub whose many branches give it the appearance of a small tree, especially as some grow 20 feet tall. Aboriginal Australians used the tough bark and branches to make spears and shields, which they called "mulgas." After bouts of rain, the mulga shrub produces spiky yellow flowers that attract birds.
  
  

Kangaroo Paws

• Kangaroo paw plants are shaped like a kangaroo's paw.kangaroo paw image by Gerd Reiber from Fotolia.com
  
  Kangaroo paws of the Anigozanthos genus are popular in home gardens, but they originated in Western Australia. They grow as a bush and produce flowers in the spring and summer, in a variety of colors. The shape of the flowers and anthers gives them the appearance of a kangaroo's paws -- hence the name -- and makes it easy for birds to pollinate the flowers. They typically survive for three to five years.
  
  

Sturt's Desert Pea

• Sturt's desert pea is the state flower of South Australia.Desert Pea image by Canon Fodder from Fotolia.com
  
  Sturt's desert pea (Swainsona formosa) is one of Australia's most striking flowers. It has deep red flowers with black bumps on them. Their long roots enable them to find water deep underground, even in the driest parts of the country, yet they are also frost tolerant. This allows it to grow in a variety of climates. It is South Australia's state flower.
  
  

Eucalyptus

• Perhaps the most famous of Australia's plants is the eucalyptus. It is one of the the most common trees in the country. They are hardy enough to survive dry Outback conditions and fires. Koalas lounge on the branches, munching on their leaves. The eucalyptus' leaves contain oils that give off a fresh fragrance, popular in perfumes and cold medications.