Help us plant 65,000 seedlings in our local area over the next 6 years.

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Seedlings planted

Currently in its' fourth year, the 'One Tree for Me' campaign aims to get 65,000 seedlings planted in our local area over a period of 6 years. That is one seedling for every resident. This will be achieved through a mix of activities including:

  • Free seedling giveaways
  • Community tree planting activities on community land
  • Supporting schools through Planet Ark's Schools Tree Day campaign

The 'One Tree for Me' campaign is an action under Council's Biodiversity Strategy: Maldhangilanha 2020-2030. Biodiversity is the variety of all life forms; plants, animals, the genes they contain and the ecosystems in which they live. Species and ecosystems are interconnected and interdependent, and all people are reliant on ecosystem goods and services (food, water, health and recreation) delivered by the natural environment.

A key threat to biodiversity is the clearing of native vegetation. Replanting this vegetation across our area is an important step in repairing this damage and providing the habitat to restore populations of native fauna.

Let us know what you think about our seedling giveaways so we can plan better for the next one. Go to the survey to have your say.

Our seedling giveaways are back for 2024

Our seedling giveaway campaign continues at the next event as follows:

Where: The Estella Shopping Centre, Estella

When: Thursday 15 August from 2pm until 6pm (or until all seedlings are given away).

We have carefully selected plants that are native to the local area and are suited to thrive in the Wagga climate. They’re also perfect for attracting our locally native birds and other pollinators into your backyard.

We run our giveaways through the colder months because this is the best time to get them in the ground and we choose different locations each time to spread them around to provide the best opportunity for everyone.

In August, we will be handing out the following seedling species:

A spectacular ground cover with purple pea flowers in spring and summer. Although accepting of heat, it is less adaptable to frost. Perfect for a pot or gardens in urban homes.

Size: 1m tall and 3m wide

A hardy low-maintenance perennial groundcover with silver-grey foliage and a profusion of golden button shaped flowers. It’s adaptable to most garden conditions and will tolerate hot conditions with regular watering. Is also good for rockeries and pots.

Size: 30cm tall and 50cm wide

A small erect or spreading shrub that enjoys a well-drained position. It will flower from July to September. Prune after flowering to maintain shape.

Size: from 1m to 3m tall

A hardy shrub that grows in full sun to part shade. It has pink flowers from late winter to summer. Prune back hard after flowering to maintain shape.

Size: It will grow to approximately 2m high.

A dense mounding shrub with profuse flowering from autumn through winter and on to spring. A great shrubbery plant that will attract small native bird. It grows in moist but well drained soil, tolerates medium frost levels and dry spells, sun to half shade.

Size: Up to 1m high.

Thank you to everyone who attended our previous giveaways.

Now in its’ fourth year, we’ve provided a range of locally native species to the community through this campaign. To help you to continue to add these plants to your backyard, you can browse the full list below.

Billy Buttons (Pycnosaurus globosus)

A tufted perennial that is related to the Daisy. They like full sun and will grow well in a suburban garden, such as a rockery, or you can keep them in a pot on the veranda. Size: Up to 0.5 metre high.

Bulbine lily or native leek (Bulbine bulbosa)

A clumping perennial that blooms from Spring to Autumn with small yellow flowers, it prefers a sunny to part shade position and is tolerant to light frost. Will grow in a range of soil types. Size: Under 1m tall.

Chocolate lily (Dichopogon strictus)

A grassy tuft that has a spray of purple flowers in Spring. An excellent species for rockeries, that is suitable for full sun or part shade. They will tolerate drought and grow in a wide range of soil types. It’s common name of ‘Chocolate lily’ refers to the scent of the flowers. They will die back after flowering but pop again in the next spring. Size: Under 1m tall.

Pale vanilla lily (Arthropodium milleflorum)

A tuberous perennial herb that is low maintenance and frost tolerant. The flowers appear between November and February on spreading or branching stems. The plant will die back after flowering but pop again in the next spring. Size: Up to 1m tall.

Native Yam (Microseris lanceolata)

Once common and widespread in the grassy woodlands of western NSW, it is now very rare over most of its former range. Flowering from spring to autumn, it is suitable for a garden rockery and grows well in full sun to part shade, in all soil types with well-drained to dry conditions. It is drought and moderately frost tolerant. Size: Under 50cm tall

Sticky Everlasting Daisy (Xerochrysum viscosum)

Long flowering everlasting daisy with sticky foliage to trap small insects. A hardy plant for frost areas and best in full sun. Flowers from Spring through Summer. Size: Depending on conditions, can be between 20 to 80cm tall and 30 to 80cm wide

Yellow buttons (Chrysocephalum apiculatum)

A hardy low-maintenance perennial groundcover, with silver-grey foliage and a profusion of golden button shaped flowers. It’s adaptable to most garden conditions and will tolerate hot conditions with regular watering. This species goes well in rockeries and pots. Size: 30cm tall and 50cm wide

Tussock Grass (Poa labillarderi)

A perennial native Australian grass that will grow happily in any soil, especially wetter areas. It is a cool season grass which means it holds its’ colour in the cooler months. It is a popular landscaping choice and good for rockeries. Size: Approximately 1m tall and up to 2m wide.

Spreading Flax lily (Dianella revoluta)

Native to many parts of Australia, this is a very hardy plant with tolerance to both extreme heat and cold. It looks great in a container, as part of a rockery or as a border. Flowering from Spring to Summer, it's also known as Blueberry Lily due to the small blue berries that appear in late summer. Size: up to 1m and 1.5m around.

Mat Rush (Lomandra longifolia)

A hardy perennial with upright strappy foliage and a clumping habit make a good habitat in the garden. It tolerates most soil types and planting conditions. It has unusual yellow flower spikes with small golden heads and spines in Winter and Spring. It has many related species that are equally as tough. Size: Grows to about 1m around.

Kangaroo Grass (Themeda australis)

Nothing like the common lawn species we are used to seeing, this large tussock-forming native grass acts as a great ground cover. It responds well to occasional trimming but doesn’t like to be regularly mowed. It will grow in almost any soil and will attract a range of native birds to your garden. Size: Up to one metre high.

Happy Wanderer (Hardenbergia violacea)

A spectacular ground cover with purple pea flowers in spring and summer. Although accepting of heat, it is less adaptable to frost. Perfect for a pot or gardens in urban homes. Size: A spreading ground cover up to 1m tall

Boobialla (Myoporum)

Once established this species forms a dense groundcover that can be useful for suppressing weeds. It produces small white flowers during spring, with fruit following shortly after. A hardy and drought tolerant species. Size: A spreading ground cover up to 50cm tall

Berry Salt bush (Einadia hastata)

A low shrubby perennial that produces very small succulent, bright red fruit in spring or early summer. A salt tolerant plant that is able to grow in heavy soils and prefers full sun. Size: A spreading ground cover up to 0.5m high

Native Fuscia (Correa ‘Dusky bells’)

A dense mounding shrub with profuse flowering from autumn through winter and on to spring. A great shrubbery plant that is great for attracting small bird. It grows in moist but well drained soil, tolerates medium frost levels and dry spells. Needs sun to half shade. Size: Up to 1m high.

Native Rosemary (Westringia fruticosa)

This ground cover grows small dark green leaves along the many branches with white to pale mauve flowers that bloom for many months of the year. It is adaptable and tough, tolerating dry inland conditions of frost & drought. Ideal for hedging as it enjoys regular clipping to maintain compactness. Size: From 1 to 2m high.

Ruby Red Salt bush (Enchylaena tomentosa)

A hardy, low-growing shrub with fleshy green leaves. This species flowers and fruits all year round, producing red berries. It prefers full sun but will also grow in dappled shade. It handles most soil and weather conditions. Size: A spreading ground cover up to 0.5m high

Climbing or creeping Saltbush (Einadia nutans)

A low maintenance perennial that can be a scrambling groundcover or a soft, twining climber often seen growing on fences and stumps. Small usually spade-shaped leaves & small orange-red berries are the main features, extremely tough but dislikes ‘wet feet’. Size: A spreading ground cover up to 1m tall.

Pigface (Carpobrotus glaucescens)

Creeping plant with thick fleshy blue-green leaves & purplish-pink flowers. Edible red or purple fruits. Prefers an open sunny position & well-drained soil. Size: A spreading ground cover that will grow up to 0.5 high.

Sweet Bursaria (Bursaria spinosa)

A small tree or large shrub that has fragrant white flowers at any time of the year but especially in Summer. It prefers full sun to light shade, is drought resistant and grows in a range of soil types. Size: Expect to about 5m high in Wagga region

Lemon Bottle brush (Callistemon pallidus)

An upright hardy shrub that flowers from Spring through Summer with a profusion of vibrant yellow flowers. It’s useful as a screen or hedge and grows well in moist, well-drained soil. It’s frost hardy and enjoys full sun or part shade. Size: Up to 3m high.

Wee Jasper Grevillea (Grevillea iaspicula)

A small to medium shrub that will bloom from May to November with attractive clusters of flowers that are cream to green, with tinges of pink to red that last for several weeks. It will grow in half to full sun areas and once established is tolerant to dry periods. It is frost resistant and prefers well drained soils. Size: From 1 to 2m high.

Austral indigo (Indigofera australis)

A lovely ornamental shrub that produces spires of pea-like flowers ranging from white, pink and purple through out spring. It's a hardy and frost tolerant species that will support a wide range of pollinators. Size: 2m tall and 2m wide

Prickly Teatree (Leptospermum continentale)

An upright, hardy shrub with white or pink petals from Spring to Summer. It tolerates most soils, including poorly drained areas. Great on its own or can also be used for a hedge. Size: up to 2m tall.

Emu Bush (Eremophila sp.)

As a species this is an incredibly diverse group of plants with great variety in foliage colour, shape and size, and flower colour through yellow, pink, red, mauve, purple, and white. All members are united by tubular-type flowers, drought and frost tolerance, and ability to grow in hot, dry conditions in a wide variety of soils.

Emu Bush (Eremophila calorhabdos x denticulate)

A hardy shrub that grows in full sun to part shade. Has pink flowers from late Winter to Summer. Prune back hard after flowering to maintain shape. Size: approx. 2m high.

Silver Cassia (Senna artemisioides)

A drought tolerant plant with many sub-species, previously known as Cassia. Fine, soft grey-green paired foliage and yellow buttercup flowers make this a pretty and tough addition to the garden. At home in dry inland areas, it will grow in a variety of soils and conditions. Size: approx. 1.5m high.

Wedge-leaved Hop Bush (Dodonea viscosa cuneata)

The adaptable Hop Bush responds well to pruning and can be used as a hedging plant. It has small red flowers in spring and is both drought and frost tolerant. It likes a well-drained soil and prefers full sun. Size: from 1m to 3m tall.

Silver Banksia (Banksia marginata)

There are many different types of banksia, but  this one is endemic to the area and it’s also the floral emblem of Wagga Wagga. A hardy, fast-growing, long-lived species that is adaptable to a variety of environmental conditions. It has a dense growth of dark green leaves that have a white underside (that can appear silvery), with large, yellow cylinder-shaped flowers that bloom from Spring to Autumn. It likes well drained soil in a sunny position; tolerates frost and dryness and appreciates mulching. Size: Can vary but typically from 2m to 4m tall.

Gold Dust Wattle (Acacia acinacea)

A fast-growing hardy shrub that flowers in Spring with a mass of golden flowers. Will grow in range of soil types and thrives in full sun or part shade and is also tolerant to frost. Size: 2 - 3 metres high and 2 metres wide

Bent-leaf Wattle (Acacia flexifolia)

An attractive dense shrub with small, silvery leaves and bright yellow blossoms in winter. The Bent Leaf Wattle is a master of adaptation and will tolerate most conditions. Size: up to 1.5m tall and 2m wide.

Silver or Showy wattle (Acacia decora)

A small erect or spreading shrub that enjoys a well-drained position. Will flower from July to September. Prune after flowering to maintain shape. Size: from 1m to 3m tall

Ploughshare Wattle (Acacia gunnii)

A woody shrub that that produces quite prickly foliage that is ideal habitat for little birds. From June to October, it has cream to pale yellow flowers. It requires a well-drained position in full sun to grow at its best and will tolerate some shade. Size: Up to 1m tall

Graceful Wattle (Acacia gracilifolia)

This hardy species is common to local reserves such as Willans Hill and Silvalite. It will produce thick sprays of yellow blossoms from April to October. A hardy plant that is tolerant to drought and light frost. Size: 2 to 3m tall

Wooly Wattle (Acacia lanigera)

A small erect or spreading shrub that enjoys a well-drained position. Will flower from July to September. Prune after flowering to maintain shape. Size: from 1m to 3m tall.

Weeping Wattle (Acacia uncinata)

An open bush with spreading, drooping branches and unusual rounded, stem clasping foliage and bright yellow flower heads. Apart from requiring good drainage, will tolerate most conditions including prolonged dry. Size: up to 3m tall.

Backyard Biodiversity

Backyards are important spaces to support local biodiversity. Think of your backyard as a stepping stone or a land bridge that allows native animals to travel safely between larger areas of natural bushland. Your backyard can help feed, water and shelter animals.

Your backyard also supports millions of invertebrates such as bees, butterflies, worms and ants. Every creature working to keep the system in balance.

Top tips for creating backyard biodiversity:

  • Plant species that flower at different times of the year so your garden is a source of food all year round
  • Plant a variety of ground covers, shrubs and trees to provide shelter for the different kinds of animals that visit your garden
  • Provide a water source, especially in summer, and include a spot for birds and bees to perch and safely drink using rocks and sticks
  • Keep pet cats inside between dusk and dawn - the average roaming pet cat will kill 186 animals/year in Australia

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