Why use local native plants?
- Flora and habitat conservation – By planting local native plants we directly contribute to the conservation of the flora of the local area. As many species of birds, mammals, reptiles and other fauna are dependant on local vegetation we can also contribute to habitat conservation.
- Genetic conservation/ integrity – The use of seed collected from local native plants contributes to the maintenance of genetic variation and integrity within native species.
- Economic benefits – As local native plants have adapted over long periods of time to suit local conditions the use of plants grown from locally collected seed generally result in greater long term survival rates from plantings undertaken.
- Local landscape character – The character of our landscape is provided largely by the local indigenous vegetation.
- Education – The use of local native plants provides opportunities for learning about the local environment. (See Ralph, Seed Collection of Australian Native Plants:For Revegetation, Tree Planting, and Direct Seeding, pp. 1-3)
How local is local?
“This is an important question but a complex one to answer. The definition of ‘local’ provenance is widely debated and researched. Likewise, the importance of using ‘local’ provenance is either hotly debated or completely ignored.” (Carr, 2004)
We need to consider the following factors when deciding the importance of using ‘local’ provenance seed:
Species factors
- The species used
- The pollination and seed dispersal mechanisms of the species
- The density of the species in natural stands
- The species’ longevity
- Any known sub-specific variation (subspecies, morphological variation, clines, ‘ecological significant units’, etc.)
Site factors
- The location of the planting
- The proximity to other sites of conservation value
- The degree of change in the environment of the site
- The condition and quality of local vegetation where seed could be collected
- The purpose of the revegetation
Warren Mortlock and Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Trust (2000) recommend three classes for collection ranges. A summary of the three classes follows:
| Collection Range | Plant Categories |
|---|---|
| Narrow | forbs & herbs wattles peas orchids & lilies |
| Intermediate | ferns & allies heaths & understorey shrubs daises grasses fleshy fruit plants (not trees) banksias casuarinas & conifers |
| ?? | eucalypts, angophoras, callistemons |
| Regional | trees with fleshy fruit |
I would also place wetland species (which Mortlock does not mention) in the Regional class as there is a lot of bird movement between wetlands. David Carr (Greening Australia) also suggests two further classes:
- Non-provenanced (non-regional)/bulked seed due to reduced cost of collection
- Improved/selected seed specified for forestry, bush-food production, pasture grasses, fodder, firewood or oils
Windbreaks, screens & hedges
The selection of appropriate windbreak or screening plants would vary according to your soil conditions. This list is of local species which can be used in various situations.
- Acacia falcata Sickle Wattle
- Acacia fimbriata Fringed Wattle
- Acacia longifolia Sydney Golden Wattle
- Acmena smithii Creek Lillypilly
- Allocasuarina littoralis Black She-oak
- Allocasuarina torulosa Forest She-oak
- Babingtonia plurifolia (syn. Baeckea virgata) Heath Myrtle
- Breynia oblongifolia Coffee Bush
- Callistemon citrinus Red Bottlebrush, Crimson Bottlebrush
- Callistemon linearis Narrow-leaved Bottlebrush
- Callistemon salignus Willow Bottlebrush
- Casuarina cunninghamiana River She-oak
- Casuarina glauca Swamp She-oak
- Corymbia maculata Spotted Gum
- Cupaniopsis anacardioides Tuckeroo
- Dodonaea triquetra Common Hop Bush
- Eucalyptus microcorys Tallowwood
- Hakea salicifolia Willow-leaved Hakea
- Leptospermum polygalifolium Yellow Teatree
- Melaleuca nodosa Ball-flowered Paperbark
- Melaleuca styphelioides Prickly-leaved Paperbark
- Syzygium australe Brush Cherry
- Syzygium paniculatum Magenta Lillypilly
- Westringia fruticosa Coastal Rosemary
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
Coastal & salt tolerant
- Angophora costata Smooth-barked Apple
- Eucalyptus pilularis Blackbutt
- Corymbia gummifera Red Bloodwood
- Eucalyptus umbra Bastard Mahogany
- Acacia longifolia Sydney Golden Wattle
- Acacia myrtifolia Myrtle Wattle
- Acacia suaveolens Sweet-scented Wattle
- Acacia sophorae Coastal Wattle
- Acacia terminalis Sunshine wattle
- Acacia ulicifolia Prickly Moses
- Allocasuarina distyla Coastal Scrub She-oak
- Allocasuarina littoralis Black She-oak
- Banksia aemula Wallum Banksia
- Banksia integrifolia Coastal Banksia
- Banksia serrata Old Man Banksia
- Banksia spinulosa var. collina Hill Banksia
- Banksia oblongifolia Rock Banksia
- Correa reflexa var. reflexa Native Fuschia
- Callistemon linearis Narrow-leaved Bottlebrush
- Cupaniopsis anacardoides Tuckeroo
- Hakea teretifolia Dagger Hakea
- Isolepis nodosa Knobby Club Rush
- Isopogan anemonifolius Drum-sticks
- Leptospermum laevigatum Coastal Teatree
- Leptospermum polygalifolium Common Teatree
- Leptospermum trinervium Flaky-barked Teatree
- Melaleuca nodosa Ball-flowered Paperbark
- Dianella caerulea Blue Flax Lily
- Lomandra longifolia (coastal form) Mat-rush
- Kennedia rubicunda Dusky Coral Pea
- Themeda australis Kangaroo Grass
- Westringia fruticosa Coastal Rosemary
- Gonocarpus teucriodes Germander Raspwort
Fore Dune
- Carex pumila Coast Strand Sedge
- Carpobrotus glaucescens Pigface
- Scaveola calendulacea Coastal Fan Flower
- Spinifex sericeus Beach Spinifex
- Sporobolus virginicus Sand Couch
Foreshore/Estuarine
- MU 40 (Swamp Oak – Rushland Forest)
- MU 47/47a (Mangrove – Estuarine Complex/Saltmarsh)
- Casuarina glauca Swamp Sheoak
- Melaleuca ericifolia Swamp Paperbark
- Eucalyptus robusta Swamp Mahogany
- Melaleuca quinquenervia Broad-leaved Paperbark
- Eucalyptus tereticornis Forest Redgum
- Myoporum acuminatum Mangrove Boobialla
- Cladium procerum Leafy Twig Rush
- Baumea juncea Twig Rush
- Juncus kraussii Sea Rush
- Isolepis nodosa Knobby Club Rush
- Sporobolus virginicus Sand Couch
- Apium prostratum Sea Celery
- Mimulus repens Creeping Monkey-flower
- Sarcocornia quinqueflora Samphire
- Suaeda australis Austral Seablite
- Samolus repens Creeping Brookweed
- Crinum pedunculatum Swamp Lily
- Baumea rubiginosa Soft Twig Rush
Fire- retarders
The following list is by Carl Fulton (LMCC Landcare Resource Office). Basically they are rainforest species.
- Acmena smithii Creek Lillipilly
- Backhousia myrtifolia Grey Myrtle
- Cassine australis Red Olive Berry
- Clerodendrum tomentosum Hairy Clerodendrum
- Elaeocarpus obovatus Hard Quandong
- Elaeocarpus reticulatus Blueberry Ash
- Eupomatia laurina Bolwarra
- Guioa semiglauca Guioa
- Hymenosporum flavum Native Frangipani
- Pittosporum undulatum Sweet Pittosporum, Native Daphne
- Pittosporum revolutum Rough-fruited Pittosporum
- Rapanea howittiana Brush Muttonwood
- Rapanea variabilis Muttonwood
- Synoum glandulosum False Rosewood
- Syzygium paniculatum Magenta Lillipilly
I would also suggest some clumping creekline plants such as Lomandra longifolia and Dianella caerulea could be useful fire-retarders. However, given the right conditions it must be remembered that all plants will burn.
Cut flowers & floral art
I would think this feature of local native plants has not been fully explored yet. Nevertheless here is a list of more commonly used flowers, fruits or foliage.
- Actinotus helianthi Flannel Flower
- Babingtonia plurifolia (syn. Baeckea virgata) Heath Myrtle
- Banksia aemula Wallum Banksia
- Banksia ericifolia Heath-leaved Banksia, Lantern Banksia
- Banksia integrifolia Coastal Banksia
- Banksia oblongifolia Rock Banksia
- Banksia robur Swamp Banksia, Large-leaf Banksia
- Banksia serrata Old Man Banksia
- Banksia spinulosa var. collina Hair-pin Banksia
- Blandfordia grandiflora Northern Christmas Bells
- Boronia pinnata Pinnate Boronia
- Callistemon citrinus Red Bottlebrush
- Callistemon linearis Narrow-leaved Bottlebrush
- Callistemon pinifolius Pine-leaved Bottlebrush
- Callistemon rigidus Stiff Bottlebrush
- Callistemon salignus Willow Bottlebrush
- Calytrix tetragona –
- Ceratopetalum gummiferum New South Wales Christmas Bush
- Chrysocephalum apiculatum Yellow Buttons
- Correa alba White Correa
- Correa reflexa Native Fuschia
- Doryanthes excelsa Gymea Lily
- Epacris pulchella NSW Coral Heath
- Eriostemon australasius Pink Wax Flower
- Grevillea sericea Pink Spider Flower
- Hakea bakeriana –
- Isopogon anemonifolius Drumsticks
- Lambertia formosa Mountain Devil
- Lasiopetalum ferrugineum Rusty Petals
- Lasiopetalum macrophyllum Shrubby Rusty-Petals
- Prostanthera incana Velvet Mint-bush
- Baloskion tetraphyllum (syn. Restio tetraphyllus) Tassel Cord Rush
- Ricinocarpos pinifolius Wedding Bush
- Telopea speciosissima Waratah
- Typha orientalis Bulrush
- Westringia fruticosa Coastal Rosemary
- Xanthorrhoea latifolia Grass Tree
- Xanthorrhoea macronema Grass Tree
- Xanthorrhoea media Forest Grass Tree
Shade
Obviously most rainforest species grow in shady conditions. The following list is the basic rainforest and riparian species of the Lower Hunter.
- Syncarpia glomulifera Turpentine
- Eucalyptus saligna Sydney Blue Gum
- Acmena smithii Lilly Pilly
- Backhousia myrtifolia Grey Myrtle
- Cupaniopsis anarcardoides Tuckeroo
- Guioa semiglauca Guioa
- Ficus coronata Sandpaper Fig
- Ficus rubiginosa Rusty Fig
- Livistonia australis Cabbage Tree Palm
- Breynia oblongifolia Coffee Bush
- Citrobatus pauciflorus Orange Thorn
- Hymenosporum flavum Native Frangipani
- Notelaea longifolia Large Mock Olive
- Pittosporum revolutum Rough-fruit Pittosporum
- Rapanea variabilis Muttonwood
- Cissus antartica Native Grape
- Dianella caerulea Blue Flax Lily
- Gahnia clarkei Tall Saw sedge
- Gahnia melanocarpia Black Fruit Saw sedge
- Lomandra longifolia Mat-rush
- Oplismenus aemulus Basket Grass
- Pandorea pandorana Wonga Vine
- Dichondra repens Kidney Weed
- Eustrephus latifolius Wombat Berry
- Hibbertia scandens Snake Vine
- Poa affinis Coastal Tussock Grass
I would also add the following shade species:
- Adiantum aethiopicum Common Maidenhair Fern
- Alpinia caerulea Native Ginger
- Cordyline stricta Narrow-leaf Palm Lilly
- Cyathea australis Rough Tree Fern
- Doodia aspera Rasp Fern
- Hibiscus heterophyllus Native Hibiscus
- Lobelia alata Native Lobelia
- Plectranthus parviflorus Cockspur Flower
- Pratia purpurascens White Root
Courtyards & patios
Paul Urquhart in The New Native Garden: Designing with Australian Plants (1999) shows us how we can incorporate native plants into formal & naturalistic courtyard design. Rockery, understory, clumping, flowering & herbaceous plants can be used in small areas or in pots.