"Nothing seems to rouse the passions of some Australians so much as disparaging roses, lawns, plane trees and the like. Yet I really do think that they are a blot on the landscape. I used to joke that I'd shout beer all round at my local pub the day someone brought me a plane tree leaf that an insect had actually taken a bite out of. The fact is, that as far as Australian wildlife goes, plane trees are so useless that they might as well be made of concrete. Australia is home to 25,000 species of plants, as opposed to Europe's 6,000 or 7,000. Surely amongst that lot we can find suitable species that will provide shade, and food for butterflies and native birds as well. To be honest, there is another reason I dislike many introduced plants. If gardens are a kind of window on the mind, I see in our public spaces a passion for the European environment that indicates that we are still, at heart, uncomfortable in our own land. If we can see no beauty in Australian natives, but instead need to be cosseted in pockets of European greenery, can we really count ourselves as having a truly sustainable, future adapted to Australian conditions?" ~ Tim Flannery, scientist, conservationist and author.
Why grow native?
Local species are adapted to the soils and climate of this region. They require less attention, are less likely to become environmental weeds and are less likely to fail than many introduced plants. Growing local plants helps preserve them and preserves the countryside's 'Australian' character and provides food for native birds and other animals.Growing native helps keep our environment in balance. Roger Oxley gives the example of boxthorn. "The white flowers of native blackthorn (Bursaria) attract certain parasitic wasps in late summer. These wasps lay their eggs in, and subsequently kill, the grubs of Christmas beetles that can cause terrible damage, and even death, to our gum trees This rather ordinary, straggly shrub also plays a vital role in the survival of Australia's rarest butterfly, the Bathurst copper butterfly, which relies on a small black ant for care for its caterpillars. The ant, in turn, depends on the boxthorn. Some birds use the boxthorn for protection from predators.
To grow local native plants successfully, fertilisers need NOT be added to the soil. Mulching with leaves and red gum chips will help deter weed growth. An occasional good watering is advisable in dry weather.
Tim Barden of Ko-warra transplants is propagating a variety of Weeping Grass (Microlaena stipioides) which has great potential for lawns, requiring only about half as much water as conventional lawns. He is also propagating an even hardier native grass, Redgrass (Bothriochloa macra).
Before choosing a plant for a site, consideration should be given to the width and height a mature plant will attain. It is not wise to plant trees close to your house or, in the case of town properties, close to the neighbour's fence. Trees such as Red Gums and Box are too large for the typical town block.
Indigenous plants
of
Northern Victoria and Southern NSW
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Topo
l aft: Ironbark, Box and Whirrakee Wattle near Bendigo. Above: Everlastings
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Plants:
the top 10
Hop Bush
(Dodonaea viscosa) 
Weeping Pittosporum (Pittosporum angustifolium) (formerly
called Pittosporum phyllarioides) 
Northern Victoria and Southern Riverina Conservation and Environment Site
| Section 1: Conservation News | Section 5: Photo Gallery |
| Section 2: Bushwalking | Section 6: National Parks & Reserves |
| Section 3: Birding | Section 7: Animals |
| Section 4: Indigenous Plants | Section 8: Conservation Links |
Small delicate plants such as this Blue Caladenia can sometimes be observed in local bushland during the Spring. Enjoy orchids and and other plants in the bush but leave them there! Transplanted natives are unlikely to survive in your garden: most plants can be purchased from specialist nurseries at low prices. It is suggested that tubestock is likely to develop better root systems and survive longer than older, larger plants. Let others waste their money on plants in pots ~ keep to tubes!
Farmers can encourage natural regeneration by fencing around existing trees to keep out stock and rabbits: it's much cheaper and easier than tree planting. Maintaining roadside and remnant native vegetation helps keep a seed bank for future revegetation projects. It also helps native fauna to survive.
Recent studies by Deakin University researchers suggest that at least 30% of indigenous plant cover needs to be retained and/or enhanced (e.g. in an area 10km by 10km) in order to meet the habitat requirements of the majority of native birds. Whilst 10% cover is the minimum threshold for the majority of native birds and mammals, many require at least 30% cover and large bushland blocks.
Farmers can obtain bulk supplies from McKindlay's Riverine Nursery, Perricoota Road Moama, Rochester Native Nursery, Ko-warra Transplants Echuca, Goldfields Revegetation (Tannery lane, Mandurang), Paul Haw's Yando Nursery (near Boort) and GV Centre Disability Service's Billabong Nursery, Neangar Nursery (McClelland Drive, Eaglehawk), Mildura Native Nursery and several other native indigenous nurseries. Not all native plants are suitable to our area: it may be best to stick to indigenous plants.
Other great local plants include:
Mallee Wattle (Acacia montana) ~ medium-large shrub;
Grey Mulga (Acacia brachybotra) ~ small tree;
Sweet Bursaria (Bursaria spinosa) ~ a prickly shrub which attracts butterflies and small birds ~ see Roger Oxley's comments above;
River Bottlebrush (Callistemon sieberi) ~ water in dry weather,
Flax Lily (Dianella revoluta) ~ suitable for a medium-large container and
Pink Velvet Bush (Lasiopetalum behrii).
Links
Australian National Botanic Gardens