Trevallan Lifestyle Centre

Trevallan Lifestyle Centre Trevallan, a place where visitors find not just a garden centre but a sanctuary for growth and tranquillity.

We invite you to linger and discover more than just products. When was the last time you visited a nursery that made you forget about the outside world? That dazzled you with a vast array of plants, flowers and seedlings and whose furniture, homewares and aromatherapy products were all simply unique and stunning? Tucked away on a nondescript street corner in Brassall is this garden lover’s sanctua

ry and if you haven’t already visited Trevallan, best you be on your way to this piece of suburban paradise. With decades of botanical experience and know-how under their belts, owners Chelsea and Carol Allan, go out of their way to ensure that regardless of your expertise, your dreams and ideas for your garden, interiors and exteriors of your home, are met.

10/06/2026

This is why we love using, selling and recommending Perfect Potion, one of the best aromatherapy brands in Australia (and the world!)

Workshops, events have started back again at TrevallanNow that I can focus on Trevallan again for a few months I have st...
10/06/2026

Workshops, events have started back again at Trevallan

Now that I can focus on Trevallan again for a few months I have started to upload some workshops. More are coming so keep a watchful eye on our events page .. First up is Tarot Reading with Celtic Tarot and Basket Weaving

Stay tuned for compost and worms as well as a day with Spirit, Aura Readings, Crystals, Gardening in SE Queensland plus Spring Fling … all before November’s Ipswich Plant and Lifestyle Fair

Stay with me on the wild ride!

09/06/2026

Saturday was an amazing day that exceeded all my expectations

Thank you for making it what it is. The stall holders having amazing products and you the customers buying them!

Thank you

I can’t wait to see you all on Saturday 7th November or if you miss me, I’ll be at my normal station Trevallan Lifestyle Centre!

While everyone else was busy posting photos of their packed cars today, getting ready for the Ipswich Plant and Lifestyl...
05/06/2026

While everyone else was busy posting photos of their packed cars today, getting ready for the Ipswich Plant and Lifestyle Fair, I was running around like a headless chicken… so no packed car photo from me .. just a tired and nervous and excited person … questioning her life choices but also wondering if I’ll have enough time to find a plant to fill a pot that’s been empty for months and get some maple syrup and some new tools and my penguin and … my list is a little long!

Now Carol is coming to fair in morning so shop will be open late and Barista Babe is in nicholasstprecinct with me so no coffee at Trevallan

We all assume you will come in to see us..

Who’s excited?

03/06/2026

It’s been a week
But orchids make everything better
I am so lucky I am surrounded by amazing stall holders who trust me and friends that probably wish they don’t know me when I call on them for help!

We can only go up from here right?

If an orchid needs to come home with you before the Ipswich Plant and Lifestyle Fair message me or drop in. Believe me I am not moving them before Friday afternoon!!

Common names make gardening feel simple. No big Latin words to remember, and often the name tells us something about the...
01/06/2026

Common names make gardening feel simple. No big Latin words to remember, and often the name tells us something about the plant’s appearance, fragrance or use.

Sometimes this works

Most of the time it doesn’t.

Holy Basil.
Sacred Basil.
Tulsi.

Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it?

Except several different plants can be sold under those names, and depending on who you ask, they may not even be talking about the same species.

That is where botanical names become important.

When most people talk about Holy Basil or Sacred Basil, they are usually referring to Ocimum tenuiflorum. You may also see it labelled as Ocimum sanctum. They are the same plant. Ocimum sanctum is the older botanical name, while Ocimum tenuiflorum is now more widely accepted. Many herbal supplements, essential oils and older herb books still use the name sanctum, which adds another layer of confusion.

Then there is Ocimum gratissimum.

Like Ocimum tenuiflorum, it is connected to Indian traditions, used medicinally and is sometimes sold as Tulsi or Sacred Basil.

Yet the two plants are quite different.

Ocimum tenuiflorum is usually a smaller shrub with purple stems and darker foliage, especially in the Krishna form. The aroma is complex, spicy and slightly peppery, with hints of clove and anise. It is commonly used in Ayurveda and is traditionally valued as an adaptogen, often used to support the body during times of stress, support respiratory health and promote general wellbeing. It prefers warm conditions, full sun to light shade and well-drained soil. While it enjoys regular moisture, it does not like waterlogged conditions and grows best in frost-free climates.

Ocimum gratissimum is a much larger, woodier plant that can grow almost like a small tree in warm climates. The leaves are often larger, softer and slightly furry. The scent is stronger and more clove-like due to its higher eugenol content. Traditionally, it has been used for respiratory complaints, digestive support and as an aromatic medicinal herb. It is also a fantastic bee plant. Growing conditions are similar, but it generally prefers more heat and has a stronger tropical character. Given rich, well-drained soil, plenty of sun and protection from cold weather, it can become an impressive specimen plant.

There is also ongoing debate about exactly which plant should be called Vana Tulsi, and different nurseries, herbalists and suppliers may use that name differently. That is another perfect example of why botanical names matter.

When it comes to identifying plants, I try to use the botanical name first and the common name second. Common names are useful, but botanical names tell us exactly which plant we are talking about.

Ocimum tenuiflorum is in stock now at Trevallan

The other day I mentioned having Motherwort in stock and its name pretty much explained what it’s used are for and then ...
29/05/2026

The other day I mentioned having Motherwort in stock and its name pretty much explained what it’s used are for and then low and behold Instagram listened and gave me this

So if you’d like some, come in this weekend or see me at the Ipswich Plant and Lifestyle Fair

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYkyE0ptgYH/?igsh=NTBtOHJiMXhtMTUw

Thank you and .denim for helping set the scene for the … I can’t wait to show you the rest of the outfit! Barista Bab...
29/05/2026

Thank you and .denim for helping set the scene for the … I can’t wait to show you the rest of the outfit!

Barista Babe has been busy

Who’s excited?

PS in case my daughter sees this, yes my hair is messy, yes I will have it done better for fair!

Lemon Balm. The equivalent of shouting “my shout” in a bar full of bees.They come from everywhere.I was admiring our Lem...
29/05/2026

Lemon Balm. The equivalent of shouting “my shout” in a bar full of bees.

They come from everywhere.

I was admiring our Lemon Balm one day and gently brushed my hand through the foliage. That soft lemon scent lifted straight into the air, fresh and sweet but with a little bite to it.

Naturally, I had to do it again.

As I leant down, I noticed European bees and little native bees suddenly working their way through the leaves, even though the plant wasn’t in flower. It was as if the scent alone had sent out a calling card.

And this is where it gets even better.

Lemon Balm’s botanical name is Melissa officinalis, and Melissa is the Greek word for honey bee. Traditionally, beekeepers would rub crushed Lemon Balm leaves on hives to help encourage bees to return, and it was also believed to attract new bees.

I love when old plant knowledge suddenly makes perfect sense.

Lemon Balm is a lemon-scented perennial herb from Europe through to Central Asia. It grows beautifully in moist soil, in sun or part shade, and works well in pots, hanging baskets or gardens.

It can be used in teas, salads, soups, flavoured oils and sauces. The dried leaves are lovely in potpourri or herb pillows, and the fresh leaves have traditionally been rubbed onto the skin to help with insect bites.

Lemon Balm has long been associated with lifting the spirits, calming the heart and easing melancholy. Some old herbal writings called it a plant for the brain and the heart, which feels about right.

The name Melissa has another lovely layer to it as well. In Greek mythology, Melissa was a nymph, and in some stories a goddess-like figure, who cared for and nourished the infant Zeus with honey. Because of this, she became closely associated with bees, sweetness, abundance and the nurturing gifts of nature. Over time, bees themselves were sometimes called melissae, linking the plant, the pollinators and the myth together in a rather beautiful way.

I first loved this herb for its scent.

Now I think no bee-loving garden should be without it.

We have some beautiful Lemon Balm plants in stock at Trevallan now and of course I’ll be bringing some to the Ipswich Plant and Lifestyle Fair. A perfect little gift for your bee-loving friends, or for yourself if your garden needs a bit more lemony joy.

Address

77 Fernvale Road
Brassall, QLD
4305

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm
Saturday 9am - 4pm
Sunday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+61732018630

Website

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