Allocasuarina verticillata – Drooping Sheoak is a rather dull grey-green tree but take a close look at the highly ornamental patterns on the branchlets of the male plant, right. The female plant produces red flowers along the trunks and branches. These flowers will turn into large seed cones, left, much favoured by cockatoos.
Atriplex cinerea – Coast Saltbush is another dioecious plant with males producing the red/purple flowers in globular clusters, left, and females have cream clusters along spikes. As the name suggests it is very salt tolerant and thrives in large areas of the Park along the Yarra bank.
Alyxia buxifolia – Sea Box has very dark green leathery leaves and sparkling white flowers with their twisted petals forming a kind of windmill shape. This bush is also tolerant of salt spray and is quite good in containers. The berries ‘or drupes’ will turn a bright red.
Callistemon sieberi – River Bottlebrush has silky new growth, a weeping habit and delicate pale pink or cream flowers. It does well alongside waterways.
Melaleuca lanceolata – Moonah is right now an explosion of creamy-white brushes, alive with bees, best seen along the path towards the river. The Coastal Moonah Woodland, of which Melaleuca lanceolata is part, is in a serious state of decline, covering less than 10% of its original extent on the Mornington Peninsula.
Rubus parvifolius – Native Raspberry produces small edible berries, November to April. Unlike its cousin, the European blackberry, it is thankfully not invasive. However, it does have hooked thorns.
There are many more plants in flower at Westgate Park – suggest you take a look. You might also like to record your observations on iNaturalist (you will need to sign in to do this) and go to Westgate Biodiversity Project.