Design a Beautiful Backyard That Gives Back to Nature
More than just outdoor spaces, our home gardens are a reflection of how we connect with the natural world and enjoy time with loved ones. But with just a few thoughtful changes, your garden can become a thriving, environmentally supportive space that enhances your well-being while also providing vital habitat for some of Australia’s most vulnerable native species.
The bigger picture: Your garden as part of a broader Urban Bush Corridor
Whether you have a sprawling backyard or a compact city block, your garden can play a vital role in a larger network of green spaces known as an urban bush corridor. These corridors connect patches of habitat across suburbs and towns, helping native wildlife move, feed, and shelter safely.
By planting locally native species, you’re choosing plants that are naturally suited to our soils and climate. They thrive with minimal water, require little maintenance once established, and create habitat that supports the birds, insects, and animals that call this region home.
This guide will show you what to plant, where to start, and how to build a beautiful garden that not only looks good but also helps protect and restore our local environment.
Native Species Backyard Plant Guide
This native species planting guide is not intended to be a comprehensive list of every locally native plant found in the Wagga region. Instead, we’ve carefully selected a range of species that are well-suited to the typical Wagga backyard.
By this, we mean plants that:
- nothing too large – we’ve deliberately excluded large eucalypts and avoided any species likely to interfere with overhead powerlines
- are hardy, low-maintenance, and easy to grow
- are generally available at local nurseries (you may have to shop around for some species!)
- offer strong biodiversity benefits, such as supporting native pollinators during flowering and providing food and shelter for small birds
Our aim is to help you create a garden that’s beautiful, resilient, and ecologically valuable – using species that thrive in our region.
Billy Buttons (Pycnosaurus globosus)
A tufted perennial that is related to the daisy and endemic to south-eastern Australia. They are known for bright, spherical yellow flower heads held on tall, leafless stems above a base of grey-green foliage. They like full sun and will grow well in a suburban garden or a rockery. Good drainage is essential as they do not tolerate waterlogged soils and are prone to root rot if the soil remains too wet. They will go dormant over summer. Size: up to 0.5 metre high.
Drumsticks (Craspedia variabilis)
Easily confused with Billy Buttons (Pycnosaurus globosus, above) it’s a hardy tufted perennial herb that produces round, yellow flower heads on tall stalks. Unlike Pycnosorus globosus, its natural range is more widespread throughout most of Australia as it is more tolerant of varied conditions. They will thrive in sunny positions with well-drained soils and are great in low-maintenance native gardens, borders, and habitat planting. They will go dormant over summer. 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. Is also tolerant to a range of soils but moderate to good drainage is ideal. Unlike some other natives, they can tolerate seasonally moist or damp soils, especially in cooler months, but shouldn't sit in waterlogged conditions long term.
Size: up to 1 metre high.
Chocolate Lily (Dichopogon strictus)
A beautiful grass-like native that has a spray of purple flowers in spring. The common name of ‘Chocolate Lily’ refers to the scent of the flowers. An excellent species for rockeries, that is suitable for full sun or part shade. They are drought resistant and grow in a wide range of soils but require good drainage and will not tolerate prolonged waterlogging. Size: up to 1 metre high.
Club-moss Daisy (Oleria lepidophylla)
A compact, hardy native shrub known for its dense, fine foliage and daisy-like flowers that will bloom from March to June. Great for low-maintenance gardens, providing texture and habitat for small birds and insects. Require full sun and well-drained soil and is drought-tolerant once established. Size: up to 1.5 metre high.
Clustered Everlasting Daisy (Chrysocephalum Semipapposum)
A hardy Australian native perennial with bright yellow flower clusters and silvery foliage. It thrives in sunny, well-drained areas and attracts pollinators. It is both drought and frost tolerant, and is ideal for native gardens. It is long-blooming and supports local biodiversity. Size: up to 1m high.
Common Fringe Myrtle (Calytrix Tetragona)
A bushy shrub that is easy to grow and produces a profusion of white or pink flower clustered along arching branches in the spring. It needs well drained soil in full sun or some shade. It will tolerate light frost and is drought resistant. Size up to 2.5m high.
Cut Leaf Daisy (Arthropodium milleflorum)
A hardy, low-growing Australian native daisy that's popular in cottage-style and native gardens. It has soft, finely divided foliage and masses of small daisy-like flowers in purple, mauve, or white that attract pollinators. It will grow in semi shade but when planted in full sun can flower all year. It will grow in a range of soils but good drainage is essential. Size: up to 1m high.
Pale Vanilla Lily (Brachyscome multifida)
A graceful, clumping native lily with slender, grass-like leaves and delicate pale mauve to white star-shaped flowers that have a sweet vanilla scent. It’s a lesser-known cousin of the more common Chocolate Lily. While it can handle seasonally moist conditions, it will not tolerate long-term waterlogging as poor drainage can lead to tuber rot. Size: up to 30cm high.
Native Yam (Microseris lanceolata)
Also known as the Yam Daisy, it was once widespread in the grassy woodlands of western NSW but it is now very rare. It has bright yellow dandelion-like flowers and soft, toothed leaves, and is making a comeback in bush food gardens and native revegetation projects. It requires a well-drained position and prefers loam, sandy loam, or gravelly soils. Size: under 50cm high.
Small-leaved Mallee-pea (Eutaxia microphylla)
A lovely, small native shrub featuring delicate yellow and red pea flowers and fine, small leaves. It’s well-suited to dry, open woodlands and mallee habitats, making it a great choice for low-maintenance native gardens in regions like Wagga. It prefers well drained soil and full sun, although will tolerate some shade and adapts to most soils. It also responds well to pruning and does well in pots and is useful for rockeries. Size: up to 40cm high.
Sticky Everlasting Daisy (Xerochrysum viscosum)
Also known as a Paper Daisy, these plants mature with small yellow flowers that form clusters of at the end of long stems. Common to Willans Hill, they are a hardy plant for frost areas and best in full sun. Flowers from spring through summer. Requires well-drained soil and will not tolerate waterlogging. Size: up to 1 m tall.
Yellow buttons (Chrysocephalum apiculatum)
A hardy low-maintenance perennial ground cover with silver-grey foliage with a profusion of golden button shaped flowers. It’s adaptable to most garden conditions and will tolerate hot conditions with regular watering but will not tolerate waterlogged or poorly drained soil. Is also good for rockeries and pots. Size: up to 30cm high and 50cm wide.
Blue Tussock Grass (Poa sieberiana)
A very good native grass for gardens and revegetation projects in the Wagga Wagga region as it grows naturally in local woodlands and grasslands, so it's well suited to local conditions. It has a fine, tufted appearance that is great for ornamental use or native meadow-style gardens. It handles hot summers, light frosts, and low rainfall. It requires a well-drained area and responds well to trimming now and then. Size: up to 1m high and 2m wide.
Common Wallaby Grass (Danthonia caerulea)
A native Australian perennial grass highly valued for it’s ecological role and garden appeal. It tolerates a range of soil types commonly found around Wagga, including sandy loams and lighter clays. It’s drought-tolerant once established and will thrive well in full sun to part shade. Size: up to 60cm high.
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. It tolerates a wide range of drainage conditions, from well-drained to moderately heavy soils and can handle periodic wetness but does not like permanent waterlogging. Size: up to 1m high.
Mat Rush (Lomandra longifolia)
A hardy perennial with upright strappy foliage and a clumping habit makes a good contrast 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. Size: up to 1m high.
Red-leg or Red Grass (Bothriochloa macra)
A native Australian perennial grass valued for its reddish flower heads and ability to provide good ground cover. It prefers well-drained soils but will tolerate moderate drainage conditions but does not do well in long-term waterlogged soils. Size: up to 1m high.
Spreading Flax lily (Dianella revoluta)
Not really a grass, but a versatile and hardy Australian native plant known for its attractive strappy leaves, blue-purple flowers, and edible blue berries. It’s a popular choice for gardens due to its low maintenance and ability to thrive in various conditions. It prefers well-drained to moderately drained soils but can tolerate occasional wetness, however it does not like long-term waterlogged conditions. Size: up to 1m high and 1.5m around.
Tall Sedge (Carex appressa)
A tall tussock-forming native grass that, once established, will need almost no maintenance, making it ideal for wild garden spaces and difficult to access spots but best placed away from paths or seating if you're concerned about scratchy foliage. It’s a robust, clumping native sedge commonly found in creek banks and damp areas across southeastern Australia, so is excellent for gardens aiming to replicate natural wetland habitats or to provide erosion control. Will grow in damp soil and areas of poor drainage. Size: up to 1m high and 2m 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: up to 1m high and 2m wide.
Weeping Grass (Microleana stipoides)
If you want a native grass that’s both functional and attractive for your Wagga backyard, Weeping Grass is definitely worth considering. Easily recognised by its lime-green leaves and weeping seed heads. It naturally occurs in southeastern Australia, including temperate regions like Wagga, so it’s well adapted to local conditions. Once established, it handles dry periods well and grows in a variety of soils, as long as drainage is reasonable. It can be used as a native lawn alternative due to its fine texture, moderate growth rate, and tolerance of mowing. Size: up to 1m high 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. It will tolerate moderate drainage, however, does not like long-term waterlogged conditions. Size: up to 50cm high.
Boobialla (Myoporum spp)
Boobialla refers to a group of hardy, salt and drought-tolerant shrubs or groundcovers native to various parts of Australia. Species vary in form, from low-growing groundcovers to medium shrubs. They have glossy green leaves, small white to pale lilac flowers, and often produce purple berries. Some good varieties for the Wagga region include:
- Myoporum parvifolium is a prostrate groundcover. It is fast-spreading and ideal for rockeries – up to 15 cm tall
- Myoporum montanum is an upright shrub. It is an inland species and suited to drier regions - up to 3m tall
Climbing Saltbush (Einadia nutans)
A low maintenance perennial that can be a scrambling ground cover or a soft, twining climber often seen growing on fences and stumps. It has small spade-shaped leaves & small orange-red berries as its main features. They are extremely tough but will not tolerate water-logging. Size: up to 1m high and 3m wide.
Daphne Heath (Brachyloma daphnoides)
A compact and attractive Australian native shrub known for its small, leathery leaves and tubular white to pink flowers. It’s drought tolerant once established. Good drainage is essential, as it’s intolerant of water-logging, especially in winter. Its less readily available in general nurseries but can be found at native plant sales or specialist growers. Size: up to 1.5m high.
Happy Wanderer (Hardenbergia violacea ‘Happy Wanderer’)
A vigorous climbing or trailing cultivar of the native Sarsparilla. It produces masses of deep purple pea-like flowers from late winter into spring. Ideal for growing over fences, trellises, or spilling from raised beds. Frost-tolerant once established and well suited to sunny spots in urban gardens. Note: The name ‘Happy Wanderer’ applies specifically to this clonal cultivars. Size: up to 1.5m high.
Native Sarsparilla (Hardenbergia violacea)
A spectacular native ground cover with purple pea-like flowers in spring and summer. It thrives in sunny spots and handles hot summers, though it’s less tolerant of heavy frost. Perfect for pots, garden beds, or spilling over retaining walls. This is the natural species form, not a cultivar — so plants grown from seed may show slight variations in flower colour or growth habit. Still, it remains a hardy and beautiful choice for gardens across the region. Size: up to 1.5m 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 will attract great small birds. Grows in moist but well drained soil, tolerates medium frost levels and dry spells and prefers full sun to half shade. Size: up to 1m high.
Pink Waxflower (Crowea exalata ‘Pink starlet’)
A low-maintenance, dense shrub, with star-shaped pink waxy flowers from late summer through mid-winter. It thrives in full sun to part shade, although flowers best in cooler, sheltered spots. Is frost-tolerant and will handle dry conditions once established. Size: Up to 0.5m 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.
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: up to 2m tall.
Wooly Grevillea (Grevillea lanigera)
A hardy shrub that is easy to care for as long as it’s situated in a well-drained area. It’s an attractive groundcover that mainly blooms in winter through to spring with showy pink flowers. It grows in full sun to semi shade and is quite drought tolerant, and great for rockeries. Size: 1 to 2m tall.
Austral Indigo (Indigofera australis)
A hardy, native Australian shrub with delicate, pinnate leaves and striking pea-like pink to purple flowers in spring and summer. It will attracts native bees and butterflies. Thrives in well-drained soils with full sun to part shade. Drought-tolerant and suitable for native gardens, hedges, and revegetation projects. Size: up to 3m high.
Emu Bush (Eremophila spp.)
A diverse genus of around 200 Australian native shrubs and small trees, Eremophila species are renowned for their drought tolerance and attractive tubular flowers in shades of purple, pink, red, or yellow. They thrive in well-drained soils, often in arid to semi-arid regions. Emu Bushes provide excellent habitat and food for native birds and pollinators. Some good varieties for the Wagga region include:
Emu Bush (Eremophila longifolia)
A hardy shrub or small tree native to inland NSW including Wagga Wagga. Features narrow, silvery leaves and pale purple tubular flowers. Highly drought-tolerant and thrives in well-drained soils and full sun. Supports local wildlife and is ideal for dry native gardens and revegetation projects. Size: up to 4 m high
Emu Bush (Eremophila ‘Fairy floss’)
A compact, fast-growing shrub with soft, silvery-grey foliage and abundant delicate pink tubular flowers that attract native birds and pollinators. Drought-tolerant and adaptable to well-drained soils in full sun or part shade. Ideal for low-maintenance native gardens and wildlife habitat. Size: up to 1.5 m high.
Emu Bush (Eremophila calorhabdos x denticulate)
A striking, fast-growing shrub with upright, broom-like branches. It produces vibrant pink to magenta tubular flowers attracting nectar-feeding birds. Drought and frost tolerant, thriving in well-drained soils with full sun. Excellent for native gardens seeking bold, colorful features and wildlife habitat. Size: up to 2m high.
Native Rosemary (Westringia fruticosa)
A hardy, coastal Australian shrub with soft grey-green foliage and pale mauve to white flowers year-round. Drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, it thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Responds well to pruning so is ideal for a formal hedging or can be left in its natural form for wildlife habitat. Size: up to 1.5m high.
Lemon Bottlebrush (Callistemon pallidus)
An upright hardy shrub that is useful as a screen or hedge. It blooms late spring and early summer with abundant creamy-yellow flowers. An adaptable and hardy plant that prefers moist, well drained soil, is frost hardy and enjoys full sun or part shade. Size: up to 3m high.
River Bottlebrush (Callistemon sieberi)
A fast-growing shrub/small tree with fine soft foliage that flowers in spring with multiple yellow blooms. It’s easy to grow and works well as a screen or informal hedge, or as part of a mixed border. It enjoys full sun to part shade and prefers moist soil but is very hardy and will tolerate dry periods, acidic soils and hard frosts. Can vary from a medium sized shrub around 2m to a small 7m tree.
Prickly Teatree (Leptospermum continentale)
A dense, prickly shrub native to southeastern Australia’s woodlands and coastal areas. It has small, aromatic leaves and white to pale pink flowers in spring and summer. Thrives in well-drained soils, full sun to part shade. Ideal for formal garden as a hedge or in a bush garden for wildlife habitat. Size: up to 2m tall.
Silver Banksia (Banksia marginata)
There are many different types of banksia, but not only is this one is endemic to the area, 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 high.
Showy Parrot Pea (Dillwynia sericea)
An upright shrub with conspicuous yellow and red flowers that appear from late October to late February. An important understorey species that goes well beneath established trees. Prune regularly after flowering. It performs best in raised beds or sandy positions where water drains freely as it requires good drainage and does not tolerate water-logging. Size: up to 1m high.
Silver Cassia (Senna artemisioides)
A woody shrub with silvery foliage, it’s a drought tolerant plant with many sub-species, previously known as Cassia. In spring it has brilliant yellow buttercup flowers. While very pretty, it is also an easy-care plant that will grow in a variety of soils and conditions. Size: up to 2m 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. But please be aware that while this is a beautiful shrub, it’s very prickly – this is great for bird habitat but not for yards with small children! Size: up to about 5m high in Wagga region.
Wedge-leaved Hop Bush (Dodonea viscosa cuneata)
A tough, evergreen shrub native to the Wagga region. It has wedge-shaped, glossy green leaves and produces small, yellow-red flowers followed by distinctive winged seed capsules. It is adaptable to various soils, drought-tolerant, and excellent for erosion control and native gardens. It also responds well to pruning and can be used as a hedging plant. Size: up to about 3m high.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
Spreading wattle (Acacia Genistifolia)
An attractive ornamental that is very hardy and fast growing but is also quite prickly which makes it excellent habitat for small birds. From July to October, it has almost white to pale yellow flowers. It requires a well-drained position in full sun or some shade but will withstand extended wet or dry periods and frost. Size: 1-3m 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.
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 of every locally native plant species, it is a good starting point for those who want to craft a garden for their backyard that will support native wildlife and pollinators.
If you really want to deep dive into local native species have a look at the Revegetation Guide for the Riverina.
Also, the Wagga Flora website: https://waggaflora.com/