Clay soils have very small particles that pack closely together. Sand grains of sandy soils are much larger and pack more loosely. Loam is a soil with a mixture of clay, sand and a significant proportion of humus. In gardens in very dry regions, the plants that grow most successfully are those that are adapted for survival during long periods without rain. Many such plants have fleshy leaves and stems that store water.
Examples are ice plant and cactus.
Grevilleas, hakeas, banksias, waratahs, bottlebrush, gum trees and wattle. Wattle is the country's national floral emblem and most of its species flower in late winter and spring creating a country that is ablaze with bright yellow and orange flowering shrubs. Green plants manufacture their own nourishment from carbon dioxide and water. Initially what they produce is sugar which is ultimately converted into more complex carbohydrates.