It makes sense to grow locally native plants as they are perfectly adapted to the local soil and climate, they do not require large amounts of nutrients and, once established, little water. Whether you have a large property or a small urban block, your own garden can become an active part of an urban bush corridor that can support a host of native wildlife, and if you do it well, will also beautify the local region.
Below is a list of locally native plants that we have selected specifically for their suitability for your property. All of these plants are suited to thrive in the Wagga climate and everything flowers so they’re perfect for attracting birds and other pollinators into your backyard.
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.
Boobialla (Myoporum)
This species produces small white flowers during spring, with fruit following shortly after. A hardy and drought tolerant.
Size: 50cm tall and 2m wide.
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. Is tolerant to a range of soils. Size: Under 1m tall.
Chocolate lily (Dichopogon strictus)
An excellent species for rockeries, that is suitable for full sun or part shade. It will tolerate drought and a wide range of soils. It’s common name of ‘Chocolate lily’ refers to the scent of the flowers. 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. 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 and 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: 20 to 80cm tall and 30 to 80cm wide.
Yellow buttons (Chrysocephalum apiculatum)
A hardy low-maintenance perennial groundcover. Silver -grey foliage with a profusion of golden button shaped flowers. Good for rockeries and containers. Size: 30cm tall and 50cm wide.
Tussock Grass (Poa labillarderi)
A perennial native Australian grass, it 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: Approx 1m tall and up to 2m wide.
Spreading Flax lily (Dianella revoluta)
Also known as Blueberry Lily, it’s a very hardy plant with tolerance to both extreme heat and cold. Flowers from Spring to Summer. Size: up to 1m and 1.5m around.
Mat Rush (Lomandra longifolia)
A hardy perennial ground cover that tolerates most soil types and planting conditions. It has scented yellow flowers in Winter and Spring. Size: Grows to about 1m around.
Kangaroo Grass (Themeda australis)
This tussock-forming native grass acts as a great ground cover. It responds well to occasional trimming but doesn’t like to be regularly mowed. Will grow in almost any soil. 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 garden in urban homes. Size: 1m tall and 3m wide.
Boobialla (Myoporum) This ground cover forms a thick mat of dense foliage and produces small white flowers during spring, with fruit following shortly after. A hardy species that is tolerant to both frost and drought. Size: 50cm tall and 2m wide.
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: 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. Great shrubbery plant that is a great small bird attractor. Grows in moist but well drained soil, tolerates medium frost levels and dry spells, sun to half shade. Size: Up to 1m 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: Up to 0.5m high.
Climbing Saltbush (Einadia nutans)
A low maintenance climbing groundcover that grows in long, vine-like branches spreading out from the centre of the plant. A perennial that will tolerate dry conditions. Size: 1m tall and 3m wide.
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 is useful as a screen or hedge.It grows well in drained soil, is frost hardy and enjoys full sun or part shade.Size: Up to 3m high.
Austral indigo (Indigofera Australis) Through spring this shrub produces spires of pea-like flowers ranging from white, pink and purple. A hardy and frost tolerant species. 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. It can also be used for a hedge. Size: up to 2m tall.
Emu Bush (Eremophila calorhabdos x denticulate) A tough 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.
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. Size: from 1m to 3m 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 adaptable to most soils and often grows in gorges and on rocky hillsides. It's common to local reserves such as Willans Hill and Silvalite and where it will blossom from April to October. It prefers a sunny position and is both drought and frost resistant. Size: 1 to 2m tall
Wooly Wattle (Acacia lanigera)
A small erect or spreading shrub that enjoys a well-drained position. A low maintenance plant that is also frost resistant, and will flower from July to September. Prune after flowering to maintain shape. Size: from 1m to 2m tall
While this is not a comprehensive list, it is a good starting point for those who want to create a locally native garden for their backyard. If you really want to deep dive into local native species have a look at the Southwest Slopes Revegetation Guide
Also, the Wagga Flora website: https://waggaflora.com/