Gardening with local native plants

Warmer months are just around the corner and the Department of Sustainability and Environment Native Vegetation Officer is urging gardeners planning their spring plantings to check out the vast range of native species.

There are also many benefits to including indigenous (our local plants) as much as possible and these include:

Adaptation to the local climate, soil type and tolerance of drought and frost
Attract native fauna to the garden by providing a source of food and shelter
Local plants do not 'escape' from gardens to become environmental weeds
They require less water and fertilizer than many exotic species and are generally less susceptible to pests and diseases. Reducing water and fertilizer application reduces salinity and limits the amount of nutrients entering natural waterways.
Contribute to wildlife corridors that enable wildlife to move from one forest area to another.
By planting native plants in your garden you will assist in the preservation of the natural landscape and enhance natural biodiversity.

There are many indigenous species very suited to a mass planting formation and which are used very successfully in cottage style gardens eg. Chocolate and bulbine lilies, lemon beauty heads, billy buttons, drumsticks, flax lilies, everlasting daisies, bluebells, local wallaby, kangaroo and stipa grasses, running postman; pink convolvulus; native flax; nodding, creeping and ruby saltbush; clematis—are some of the more popular and beautiful plants of the region and perform well in gardens.

Many of our native species, birds, butterflies etc. have quite specific host requirements for nesting, egg laying, feeding etc. A good example is the grey crown babbler with it's nesting height requirements; certain butterflies need native grasses for egg laying, others need the mistletoe or everlasting daisies, or gahnia, or silver wattle....and so the list goes on!

Local nurseries which stock indigenous plants: Handpicked Plants, Andie Guerin (03) 5798 1698; Nalinga Nursery, Andrew Sands (03) 5826 9213; Euroa Arboretum, Geoff or Sam 042 912 7399; Boho Valley Plants, Terry Frewin (03) 5790 8635.

For details/interview call the Editor on (03) 5798 1858