Providing the basic needs for fauna is the key to attracting wildlife into your garden.
Look at the need for:
- Food such as nectar, seed and other sources which is usually smaller fauna
- Water
- Shelter
- Protection from predation
- Proximity to other like areas/linkages (Flora for Fauna, Guide 1.2)
I also think we need to provide all layers of vegetation – trees, shrubs, grasses and groundcovers. Large trees do not mix very well with urban development but nevertheless we should provide some small trees and larger shrubs were possible.
Creating a garden for butterflies & insects
There are two ways to attract butterflies and insects to your garden. The first is to provide foodplants for insects and young caterpillars. This may mean acceptance of some chewed leaves and other damage to your plants. The second is brightly coloured
flowers containing nectar.
Some Australian native plants known to attract butterflies include Acacia spp., Acmena smithii, Actinotus helianthi, Aristolochia spp., Banksia spp., Bracycomb multifida, Bursaria spinosa, Callicoma serratifolia, Chrysocephalum apiculatum, Dodonaea spp., Elaeocarpus spp., Corymbia/Eucalyptus spp., Dianella caerulea, Ficus spp., Gahnia spp., Scaevola spp. and Themeda australis.
(Urquhart, 1999 & Flora for Fauna, Guide 1.2; See also Grant, pp. 58-65)
Creating a garden for reptiles
Lizards, in particular blue-tongued lizards, eat insects and pest like snails so they more than pay their way if provision is made for them to live in your garden. They need basking points such as paving, rocky outcrops or walls. They also need safe hiding places which would be provided by a thick covering of plant material, leaf litter and a well placed log or rocks to hide under.
(Urquhart, 1999 & Flora for Fauna, Guide 1.2; See also Grant, pp. 69-70)
Creating a garden for mammals
Providing food for mammals such as possums and sugar gliders would include native fruits, leaves, buds, grass, nectar and insects. Good linkage of trees and shrubs to existing bushland would also protect them from predators such as foxes and domestic pets. (Urquhart, 1999 & Flora for Fauna, Guide 1.2; See also Grant, pp. 51-57)
People may not wish to convert their gardens completely to a native plant wildlife haven but instead simply be happy to provide a corner dedicated to wildlife and native plants. Below is a list of low growing rockeries and groundcovers which would fit in the corner of any garden (with well-drained soil) and provide habitat for birds, insects and lizards.
Rockeries & groundcovers
- Actinotus helianthi Flannel Flower
- Aotus ericoides Aotus
- Astroloma pinifolium Pine Heath
- Blandfordia grandiflora Northern Christmas Bells
- Bossiaea heterophylla Variable Bossiaea
- Bossiaea rhombifolia –
- Brachycome multifida Cut-leaf Daisy
- Brachycome multifida var. dilatata Coastal Cut-leaf Daisy
- Caesia parviflora Pale Grass-Lily
- Correa alba White Correa
- Correa reflexa Native Fuschia
- Dampiera stricta Blue Dampiera
- Dianella caerulea Blue Flax Lily
- Dianella revoluta Black-anther Flax Lily
- Dichelachne crinata Longhair Plume Grass
- Dichelachne micrantha Shorthair Plume Grass
- Epacris pulchella NSW Coral Heath
- Eragrostis brownii Brown’s Love Grass
- Goodenia heterophylla Variable-leaved Goodenia
- Hibbertia aspera –
- Hibbertia riparia Erect Guinea Flower
- Hovea linearis Narrow-leaf Hovea
- Isopogon anemonifolius Drumsticks, Broad-leaf Drumstick
- Lagenifera stipitata –
- Laxmannia gracilis Slender Wire Lily
- Linum marginale Native Flax
- Lomandra filiformis Wattle mat-rush
- Lomandra glauca Pale Mat Rush
- Patersonia glabrata Leafy Purple Flag
- Patersonia sericea Silky Purple Flag, Native Iris
- Pennisetum alopecuroides Swamp Foxtail Grass
- Pimelea linifolia Rice Flower
- Platylobium formosum Handsome Flat Pea
- Poa labillardieri Tussock Grass
- Podolepis jaceoides Showy Podolepis
- Prostanthera incana Velvet Mint-bush
- Pultenaea villosa Hairy Bush Pea
- Scaevola albida Pale Fan Flower
- Stylidium graminifolium Grass Leaf Trigger Plant
- Tetratheca ericifolia Black-eyed Susan
- Trachymene incisa –
- Vernonia cinera –
- Veronica plebeia Common Speedwell
- Viola hederacea Native Violet
- Wahlenbergia communis Tufted Bluebell