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Home , Calochlaena, Calochlaena dubia, Ficinia nodosa, Grevillea buxifolia, Grevillea linearifolia, Grevillea sericea

Live Local Local a guide to native in North Nurseries who supply local native plants for the North Sydney region

Ku-ring-gai Community Nursery Run through Ku-ring-gai Council. Ask for local plants for North Sydney area. 430 Mona Vale Road, St. Ives. Phone: (02) 9424 0376 / 0409 035 570

Tharwa Native Nursery Retail/Wholesale. Ask for local species for North Sydney area. 21 Myoora Road, Terry Hills. Phone: (02) 9450 1967 www.tubestocktharwanursery.com.au Wirreanda Nursery Indigenous species that Retail/Wholesale. Ask for local native species for North Sydney. make ideal garden plants 7 Wirreanda Road North, Ingleside. Phone: (02) 9450 1400 We can preserve and recreate some of North Sydney’s www.wirreandanursery.com.au unique native vegetation in our gardens by planting locally indigenous species. Many native species are Harvest Seeds & Native Plants becoming rare and our bushland is under threat from Retail/Wholesale. fragmentation, degradation, and the introduction of exotic Provenance is displayed. species. Planting locally not only benefits the environment 281 Mona Vale Road, Terry Hills. and native fauna, but is also beneficial to you, as these Phone: (02) 9450 2699 species require little watering, fertilising and maintenance. www.harvestseeds-nativeplants.com.au The selection of 30 indigenous species over the next few Indigo Native Nursery pages make ideal garden plants because they are hardy, Lot 57 Wattle Road, Ingleside. attractive, suitable for a variety of conditions and are easy Phone: (02) 9970 8709 to maintain. www.indigonursery.com.au Key for wildlife-attracting symbols

Possum Birds Lizard

Insect/Butterfly Frog

2 3 Ground Covers

Mat Rush Native Geranium • Lomandra longifolia • Strappy grass to 1m tall • Pelargonium australe • Spreading herb to 40cm tall • Flowers Sep-Nov • Full Sun/Semi Shade • Flowers Dec-Feb • Full Sun

Blue Flax Lily White Root • Dianella caerulea • Strappy flax-like plant to 80cm tall • Pratia purpurascens • Groundcover • Flowers Sep-Nov • Full Sun/Semi Shade/Shade • Flowers Sep-Jan • Semi Sun

Knobby Club Rush Native Violet • nodosa • Erect sedge to 70cm tall • Viola hederacea • Ground Cover • Oct-Feb • Full Sun/Semi Shade • Flowers all year • Moist, Shade

4 5 Native Grasses Climbers and Vines

Kangaroo Grass Golden Guinea Flower • Themeda australis • Clumping grass to 1m tall • Hibbertia scandens • Scrambling Vine • Spikelets Sep-Mar • Full Sun/Semi Shade • Flowers Sep-Jan • Full Sun/Semi Shade

Native Tussock Grass/Poa False Sarsaparilla/Hardenbergia • Poa affinis • Tussock-forming grass to 1m tall • Hardenbergia violacea • Scrambler or Twiner • Spikelets Oct-Feb • Full Sun/Semi Shade • Flowers Sep-Oct • Full Sun

Blady Grass Old Mans Beard/Travellers Joy • Imperata cylindrica • Spreading grass to 1m tall • Clematis aristata • Vigorous twiner • Spikelets Dec-Feb • Full Sun • Flowers Oct-Nov • Semi Shade NOTE: spreads easily, root barrier may be used to contain growth.

6 7 Small

Red Spider Flower Handsome Flat-pea • speciosa • To 2m tall • Platylobium formosum • To 1m tall • Flowers Aug-Nov • Full Sun • Flowers Sep-Nov • Semi Shade

White Spider Flower Prickly Moses • • To 2m tall • Acacia ulicifolia • To 1m tall • Flowers July-Oct • Semi Shade • Flowers Apr-Oct • Full Sun/Semi Shade

Narrow-leaved Bottlebrush Native Parsnip • Callistemon linearis • From 1.5 to 2m tall • Platysace lanceolata • From 1 to 1.5m tall • Flowers Sep-Nov • Full Sun • Flowers Sep-Mar • Semi Shade

8 9 Tall Shrubs

Grey Spider Flower Heath • • To 1.5m tall • • From 2 to 5m tall • Flowers Aug-Apr • Full Sun • Flowers Apr-Aug • Full Sun

Coastal Rosemary Large-leaf Bush-pea • Westringia fruticosa • Up to 2m tall • Pultenaea daphnoides • From 2 to 3m tall • Flowers most of the year • Full Sun • Flowers Aug-Nov • Semi Shade

Pink Crowea Bushy Needlebush • Crowea saligna • To 1m tall • sericea • From 2 to 3m tall • Flowers Jan-Jun • Semi Shade • Flowers Jun-Sep • Full Sun

10 11 Small Trees

Rusty Pomaderris Old Man Banksia • Pomaderris ferruginea • Up to 4m tall • • From 4 to 8m tall • Flowers Sep-Oct • Semi Shade • Flowers Dec-Mar • Full Sun

NSW Christmas Bush Dwarf Apple • Ceratopetalum gummiferum • From 2 to 4m tall • Angophora hispida • From 2 to 4m tall • Flowers Nov-Jan • Full Sun/Semi Shade • Flowers Nov-Jan • Full Sun

Everlasting, Paper Daisy Black Wattle • Ozothamnus diosmifolius • Up to 2m tall • Callicoma serratifolia • From 4 to 5m tall • Flowers Aug-Nov • Full Sun/Part Shade • Flowers Oct-Nov • Shade

12 13 Medium Trees Other suitable local species

This selection of native plants can also be found in the North Sydney region, please ask for locally sourced seed if possible. If you have any queries, please contact the Bushland Projects Officer on 9936 8100.

Tall trees – up to 20-30m Blackbutt pilularis Cabbage Palm Livistona australis Coachwood Ceratopetalum apetalum Coastal Banksia Grey Gum Eucalyptus punctata • • From 6 to 16m tall Red Bloodwood Corymbia gummifera • Flowers Jan-Jun • Full Sun Red Mahogony Eucalyptus resinifera Turpentine Syncarpia glomulifera

Medium sized trees – up to 15m Black She-Oak Allocasuarina littoralis Scribbly Gum Eucalyptus haemastoma Sydney Peppermint Eucalyptus piperita Sydney Red Gum Angophora costata

Small trees – up to 6m Sydney Green Wattle Acacia parramattensis Water Gum Tristaniopsis laurina Lilly Pilly • Acmena smithii • To 20m tall Shrubs – up to 2-4m • Flowers Nov-Feb • Semi Shade/Shade Broad-leafed Hakea Flax-leafed Wattle Acacia linifolia Hop Bush Dodonaea triquetra Kunzea Kunzea ambigua Paperbark Tea-tree Leptospermum trinervium Pine-leaf Geebung pinifolia Pink Spider Flower Pink Tea-tree Leptospermum squarrosum Scrub She-Oak Allocasuarina distyla Sydney Golden Wattle Yellow Pittosporum Pittosporum revolutum Scribbly Gum • Eucalyptus racemosa • To 15m tall • Flowers Apr-Oct • Full Sun

14 15 Small shrubs – up to 1.5m Bearded Heath Leucopogon juniperinus The Shaded Garden Burrawang, Cycad Macrozamia communis Eggs and Bacon Dillwynia retorta Grass Tree Xanthorrhoea arborea & media Many gardens and courtyards in North Sydney are Long-leafed Wax Flower Philotheca myoporoides shaded due to the surrounding buildings. The following Mountain Devil formosa native species have been selected as they tolerate shady Sandfly Zieria Ziera smithii conditions. Slender Rice Flower Pimelea linifolia Sweet-scented Wattle Acacia suaveolens Tall trees Ground covers Cabbage Palm Livistona australis Coachwood Ceratopetalum apetalum Centella Centella asiatica Lilly Pilly Acmena smithii Cockspur Flower Plectranthus parviflorus Turpentine Syncarpia glomulifera Cranesbill Geranium homeanum Flannel Flower Actinotus helianthi Small trees Germander Raspwort Gonocarpus teucrioides Black Wattle Callicoma serratifolia Hydrocotyle Hydrocotyle peduncularis NSW Christmas Bush Ceratopetalum gummiferum Sedge Juncus usitatus Blueberry Ash Elaeocarpus reticulatus Kidney Weed Dichondra repens Treefern Cyathea australis Sword-sedge Lepidosperma laterale Water Gum Tristaniopsis laurina Wattle Mat Rush Lomandra filiformis Magenta Lilly Pilly Syzygium paniculatum Grasses Shrubs Hedgehog Grass Echinopogon caespitosus Breynia Breynia oblongifolia Plume Grass Dichelachne micrantha & crinita Elderberry Panax Polyscias sambucifolia Right-angle Grass Entolasia marginata & stricta Sydney Golden Wattle Acacia longifolia Wallaby Grass Austrodanthonia tenuior Golden Spray Viminaria juncea Weeping Grass Microlaena stipoides Yellow Pittosporum Pittosporum revolutum Hickory Wattle Acacia implexa White Spider Flower Grevillea linearifolia Bat’s Wing Histiopteris incisa Maidenhair Fern Adiantum aethiopicum Low shrubs Rasp Fern Doodia aspera Blue Flax Lily Dianella caerulea Soft Fern dubia River Rose Bauera rubioides Vines and climbers Mat Rush Lomandra longifolia Apple Dumplings Billardiera scandens Ground covers Dusky Coral Pea Kennedia rubicunda Native Ferns Pteridium; Hypolepis; Native Sarsaparilla Smilax glyciphylla Calochlaena etc Wonga Wonga Vine Pandorea pandorana Kidney Weed Dichondra repens Wombat Berry Eustrephus latifolius Commelina Commelina cyanea Native Violet Viola hederacea Vines Wonga Wonga Vine Pandorea pandorana

16 17 Handy hints for creating a wildlife habitat garden

• Design your garden around the fully-grown heights and shapes of your selected plants. • Draw your garden design on paper. • All fauna species have four basic requirements for survival: food, shelter, fresh water and nesting sites. Water Dragon • Use rocks, logs, bird baths, frog ponds and nesting boxes as feature items in your garden. Wildlife Habitat Gardens • Build a bird bath (out of cats’ reach) or create a frog pond, contact the NSC Bushland Projects Officer on 9936 8100 for DIY factsheets. Gardens provide important habitat for native fauna • Mulching your garden helps to suppress weed growth such as birds, lizards, possums, frogs and butterflies and retains water in the soil, reducing your need to that continue to survive in the urban environment and water. Use either recycled woodchips (from lopped in neighbouring bushland. Gardens can provide food, trees, available from your local nursery or landscape shelter, nesting sites and wildlife corridors for native fauna. supply), or leaf litter. (Do not use pine or casuarina needles as they suppress other plant growth). There are several layers of vegetation found in natural bushland which consist of: • Minimise the use of pesticides. Birds and owls that eat poisoned insects build up toxicity in their system that • Canopy trees – habitat for birds, owls and possums. kills them when their fat reserves are utilised. Cats and • A close mid-storey of small trees and shrubs – dogs can also become seriously ill if they eat poisoned important for shelter and protection for small birds insects or mice. Snail baits can kill Blue-tongue Lizards. (such as wrens and robins) and Ringtail Possums. • Keep a part of your garden ‘messy’ as it provides great • An understorey of small flowering shrubs – habitat habitat, especially shelter. and food source for butterflies and small birds. • Identify what habitat • Ground covers of ferns, grasses, leaf litter, rocks, elements already exist in and logs – habitat for geckoes, lizards, skinks your garden, for example: (incl. Blue-tongue Lizards) and small native marsupials. rock walls, log piles, hollow A mulch layer of leaves and twigs provide habitat for logs, tree hollows, bricks, insects and lizards, which in turn provides food for dead trees, natural ponds, birds, and creates healthy soil. caves, old PVC/clay pipe pieces and natural sandstone crevices. All Design your own garden ECOSYSTEM using layers of of these places provide trees, shrubs, ground covers, rocks, logs and mulch. shelter, protection or food sources for a variety of native species. Powerful Owl, Photo P. Smith 18 19 Nesting Boxes

The urban environment is lacking in both hollows (some take up to 200 years to develop) and dense mid-storey (from degradation and lack of fire) for bird and fauna nests. Microbats and possums have adapted to being Blue-tongue Lizard Superb Fairy-wren able to live in roofs, which may be frustrating for some Photo: P. Smith people.

Use of indigenous plant species Possum boxes Native plants have evolved with native fauna. Specific Install a possum box in plant species will attract specific fauna, including: your garden. Brushtail • plants that produce pea flowers or pollen attract native Possums require hollows butterflies to dwell in, while Ringtail Possums can create • nectar rich blossoms (i.e. Eucalypts, , their own nest called a and Correas) attract honeyeaters and drey in dense mid-storey Rainbow Lorikeets vegetation. Having a • spikey mid-storey species (i.e. , Heaths, Prickly Brushtail Possum living in a Acacias) planted densely, attract small birds such as possum box in your garden Superb Fairy-wrens may deter other possums from living in your roof, as Brushtail Possum • low groundcovers, native grasses and rocks attract they are highly territorial. geckoes, lizards and skinks (e.g. Blue-tongue Lizards) Photo: Sydney Wildlife • Casuarinas and plants that produce seed attract Parrot nesting boxes parrots Install a nesting box for parrots and lorikeets to provide hollows to nest in and to rear their young. Weeds A weed is a plant out of place and a noxious weed is Microbat nesting boxes one that legally must be controlled. A weed is declared noxious if it poses a problem to human health or the Install a nesting box for Microbats, they are insectivorous environment. Not all exotic plants pose a threat to the and will help to manage insects in your garden. bush, but there are a number that alter the natural ecosystem, smothering indigenous plants and feeding off Native bee nests excess nutrient levels in disturbed soils. Stingless native bees are great pollinators and attract Remove any noxious weeds or invasive exotic plant foraging small birds. species from your garden to prevent them from entering Nesting boxes are available from the North Sydney bushland areas (some weeds can be spread by birds). Council Customer Service Centre at cost price. Contact the NSC Bushland Projects Officer for weed Alternatively, contact the NSC Bushland Projects Officer brochures on 9936 8100 or www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au on 9936 8100 for “build your own” nest box or drey for a full list of Noxious Weeds and Weed Profile Sheets. designs.

20 21 Fauna Nuisances

Possums and Brush Turkeys For problems with possums or Brush Turkeys please contact Council for details of licensed Wildlife Services. It is illegal to trap and relocate native wildlife. Possums are highly territorial animals and the vast majority die when relocated. Frequently if animals are removed from the area, they will simply be replaced by other individuals, contact the NSC Bushland Projects Officer on 9936 8100 for alternate options. Further information & Aggressive birds recommended reading A number of native birds such as Ravens, For an extensive list of local native plants Kookaburras, Noisy suitable for your garden, visit Miners and Currawongs www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/biodiversity. have adapted well to Adams, G. 1998. Birdscaping Your Garden: our urban environment How to Attract Native Birds to Your Garden. and are aggressive to Lansdowne Publishing, . other birds. Planting dense, spikey endemic shrubs such as hakeas, heaths and prickly acacias help to provide shelter Benson, D & Howell, J. 1990. Taken for Granted: and protection for smaller birds. The Bushland of Sydney and its Suburbs. Kangaroo Press, Australia. Noisy Miners Noisy Miners are especially problematic for smaller bird Robinson, Les. 1991. Field Guide to the Native species such as small honeyeaters and wrens. Avoid Plants of Sydney. Kangaroo Press, Australia. planting hybrid grevilleas (such as Robyn Gordon Grevilleas) Pizzey, G. 2000. The Australian Bird-Garden: that provide copious amounts of nectar for Noisy Miners. Creating Havens for Native Birds. Angus & Instead, plant Correa, Crowea and Native Fuschia, they are Robertson, Australia. more useful to small birds than to Noisy Miners. Urquhart, P. 1999. The New Native Garden: Currawongs Designing with Australian Plants. New Holland Currawongs eat the eggs and young of other bird Publishers, Australia. species. Avoid planting too many berry producing plants. Plants such as Privet, Celtis (noxious weeds) and Cotoneaster provide a year-round food source for Currawongs. These plants should be removed. Exotic animals Domestic pets and feral animals can have a devastating effect on wildlife in gardens as well as bushland. For more information on domestic or feral cats, foxes, rabbits or Indian Mynas, please contact the NSC Bushland Projects Officer on 9936 8100.

22 23 What can I do?

Join North Sydney Council’s Native Havens program Open to all North Sydney Council residents where participants are provided free of charge with: • advice from a qualified bushland regeneration trainer to develop a strategy for their garden • on-site training • FREE local native plants • suitable landscaping materials where available • on-going support and advice

Contact North Sydney Council’s Bushland Project Officer www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/nativehavens

North Sydney Council 200 Miller Street North Sydney 2060 PO Box 12 North Sydney NSW 2059

Telephone (02) 9936 8100 Facsimile (02) 9936 8177 Email [email protected] Website www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au