NATIVE TREES & SHRUBS RECOMMENDED FOR CREEKBANK PLANTING

NOOSA & DISTRICT LANDCARE GROUP STATION STREET, POMONA PH: 5485 2468

Creek bank planting guidelines and hints

Vegetation along creeks has many important Different types of vegetation naturally establish functions. It BINDS and HOLDS THE BANKS and thrive on different parts of the creek bank. TOGETHER and REDUCES THE VELOCITY For instance, the that naturally grow on the of water which would otherwise eat away water’s edge (e.g. weeping lilly pillys, tea trees, unprotected banks. weeping bottle brushes and water gums) are Creek bank vegetation has other values too. adapted to cope with fluctuating water levels and Vegetation: in periods of high flow will in most cases bend over without damaging banks. In fact, by • helps to improve water quality, providing resistance against flowing water the • provides habitat and food for birds, fish and vegetation on the lower bank absorbs energy and other wildlife, protects the bank from scour. • provides shade and shelter and Other plants naturally belong further up the bank • is a source of recreational and scenic profile (e.g. gum trees) and act to bind the soil amenity. deeply while others grow all over the banks (e.g. mat rushes) and protect the bank soils with their

fibrous root systems.

These factors are important to consider when deciding ‘which where?’ in your revegetation efforts.

Structural diversity and plant positioning are important

UPPER BANK Large trees with deep root systems and shrubs bind the soil deeply, while groundcovers filter run-off from adjacent land uses. e.g. gum trees, hoop pine, crows ash, swamp box. MIDDLE BANK A good mix of trees, shrubs and ground- covers bind bank soils and reduce flow during floods, thus protecting against erosion. Shade and CREEK debris from these plants help to maintain creek health. e.g. wattles, figs, tea LOWER BANK trees, she-oaks. Trees, shrubs and groundcovers with matted root systems and flexible branches protect the bank from undercutting and scour. These plants are tolerant of periodic inundation and are very important for bank protection. e.g. bottlebrush, tea trees, mat rush, weeping lilly pilly, rushes, sedges

A guide to planting on creek banks Good planning increases your chances of achieving your goals. The following information will help you make your project a success and avoid some of the pitfalls associated with ad hoc planting. Choose appropriate species for the site and plan where on the bank they are to be planted. Plants can be obtained by: • collecting local seed and propagating on-farm, which may save on establishment costs, and/or, • obtaining local native plants from an accredited nursery. Plan when to plant. Aim to plant a few months before the wet season starts and irrigate OR plant towards the end of the wet season. If planting in the dry season then irrigation will be essential. Control all competitive factors at the site by: • spot spraying grasses with a knockdown herbicide (e.g. Roundup biactive ®). • stem-injecting woody weeds. • fencing the site and managing stock access. Choose planting method: • Direct transplant Seedlings of many species can be directly transplanted from the creek bed to the banks. Alternatively they can be grown on in pots for planting during optimal conditions when the plants are more advanced. • Direct seeding Some plants (e.g. wattles, bottlebrush, tea trees, rushes, lilly pillys, gums and she-oaks) can be sown directly onto the site where you want them to grow. This requires viable seed, a well prepared seed bed, and 3-5 days of moist, warm conditions. • Division Mature clumps of many tufted plants (e.g. mat rushes, sedges) can be dug up, divided and directly transplanted into moist soil or gravel. Alternatively they can be grown on in pots for planting during optimal conditions when the plants are more advanced. Choose planting layouts: • Belts Space plants 1-2m apart. High initial maintenance effort. • Rows Rows should be perpendicular to the direction of flow. Space rows to allow maintenance. • Clumps Most natural outcome. Relies on some natural regeneration. Plants 1m apart in dense clumps. Easiest maintenance.

Follow-up maintenance will be required to ensure longterm success. Keep seedlings above the height of weeds. Fertilize and irrigate as necessary. Fence repair and replacement planting may be required after flooding. Keep good planting records including photographs, plant survival rates, techniques used, and the effectiveness of these techniques in meeting the desired outcomes. This information will be invaluable for assisting other landholders involved in similar projects.

Plants Suitable for Creekbank Planting

UPPER BANK Psychotria daphnoides, Hymenosporum flavum – native Araucaria cunninghamii – hoop loniceroides – psychotria frangipani pine Rapanea variablis – muttonwood Jagera pseudorhus – foambark Argyrodendron triofolialatum – Rhodamnia rubescens – scrub Leptospermum species – tea trees brown tulip oak turpentine Mallotus claoxyloides – green Auranticarpa rhombifolia – Rhodosphaera rhodanthema – kamala diamond pittosporum deep yellowwood Melaleuca bracteata – black tea- Babingtonia similis – twiggy myrtle Sarcopteryx stipata – steelwood tree Canthium coprosmoides – coastal Sterculia quadrifida – peanut tree Melicope elleryana – pink euodia canthium Toona ciliata – red cedar Melicope micrococca – white Cassia brewsteri – Leichhardt euodia bean Misharytera species – native Corymbia intermedia – bloodwood tamarinds Cupaniopsis parvifolia – small- MIDDLE BANK Mishocarpus pyriformis – yellow leaved tuckeroo Acacia melanoxylon – blackwood pear fruit Cupaniopsis serrata – smooth Acmena smithii – creek lilly pilly Oplismenus aemulus – creeping tuckeroo Acronychia oblingifolia – common beard grass Dianella caerulea – blue flax lilly acronychia Pandorea pandorana – wonga vine Dodonea triquetra – hop bush Alphananthe philippinenis – rough- Pavetta australiensis – pavetta Elaeocarpus grandis – blue leaved elm Petalostigma trioculare – quinine quandong Alphitonia excelsa – soap tree bush Ellatostacyhys nervosa – green Alyxia ruscifolia – chain fruit Pilidiostigma rhytispermum – small- tamarind Archontophoenix cunninghamiana leaved plum myrtle Endriandra discolour – rose walnut – bangalow palm Polyalthia nitidissima – canary Eucalyptus fibrosa – broad-leaved Babingtonis similis – twiggy myrtle beech ironbark Backhousia myrtifolia – silky myrtle Pseudoweinmannia lachnocarpa – Eucalyptus grandis – flooded gum Baeckea virgata var. parvula rose marara Eucalyptus microcorys – tallow Canthium odoratum – shiny-leaved Rapanea variablis – muttonwood wood canthium psidiodes – native Eucalyptus propinqua – grey gum Carex appressa – tall sedge guava Eucalyptus resinifera – red Castanospermum australe – Schizomeria ovata – crabapple mahogany blackbean Sloanea australis – maiden’s blush – forest red Casuarina species – she-oaks Streblus brunonianus – whalebone gum Clerodendron floribundum – lolly tree Euroschinus falcata – pink poplar bush Syzygium francisii – giant water Ficus coronata, fraseri – Commersonia bartramia – brown gum sandpaper figs kurrajongs Tabernaemontana pandacqui – Ficus macrophylla – Moreton Bay Cordyline species – palm lilies banana bush fig Cryptocarya species – native Flindersia australis – crow’s ash laurels Gahnia aspera – sword grass Cupaniopsis parvifolia – small- LOWER BANK Grevillea robusta –silky oak leaved tuckeroo Callistemon salignus – white Guioa semiglauca – wild quince Dianella caerulea – blue flax lilly bottlebrush Hovea acutifolia – hovea Diospyros species – native ebonies Callistemon viminalis – weeping Litsea leefeana –brown bolly gum Dodonea triquetra – hop bush bottlebrush Lophostemon suaveolens – Dysoxylum guadichaudianum – Carex appressa – tall sedge swamp box ivory mahogany Casuarina cunninghamii – river Mallotus philipensis – red kamala Ehretia acuminata – koda she-oak Melia azederach – white cedar Elaeocarpus obovatus – hard Dianella caerulea – blue flax lilly Oplismenus aemulus – creeping quandong Ficus coronata,fraseri – sandpaper beard grass Ficus species – strangler figs; figs Parachidendron pruinosum – snow sandpaper figs Leptospermum liversidgei – swamp wood Flindersia schottiana – bumpy ash may Petalostigma trioculare – quinine Gahnia aspera – sword grass Lomandra species – matrushes bush ferdinandi – cheese tree Melaleuca linarifolia – snow in Pilidiostigma rhytispermum – Glochidion sumatranum – umbrella summer small-leaved plum myrtle cheese tree Sloanea australis – maiden’s blush Pittosporum revolutum – yellow Gmelina leichhardtii – white beech Syzygium australe – scrub cherry pittosporum Guoia semiglauca – wild quince Waterhousea floribunda – weeping Pittosporum undulatum – native Harpulia hillii – blunt-leaved tulip lilly-pilly daphne Harpulia pendula – tulipwood Planchonella australis – black Hibiscus heterophyllus – native plum rosella ______Podocarpus elatus – brown pine Hovea acutifolia – hovea Polyscias elegans – celerywood