PLEASE NOTE This document is an EXCERPT ONLY. Looking at the full contents list below, this excerpt only contains the COLOUR HIGHLIGHTED segments. While essential support information is included in every excerpt, additional information A planting guide vital to your planting may be in to promote biodiversity other sections. in Byron Shire Brunswick Valley Landcare highly recommends downloading the full brochure from: www.brunswickvalleylandcare. com.au Or pick up a printed booklet (by donation) from Byron Shire Council, Mullumbimby. HINTERLAND FOOTHILLS & FOOTHILLS & Introduction

WELCOME TO MY LOCAL NATIVE GARDEN – A PLANTING GUIDE TO PROMOTE BIODIVERSITY IN THE BYRON SHIRE.

his publication hopes to inspire My Local Native Garden is an entry local residents and new arrivals point to introduce you to just some Tto learn a little more about of the incredible variety of local our spectacular environment. Most native plants. Ideally we want you to importantly we want you to invite the ignore the exotic species and focus natural world into your own backyard on endemic species as these will - to share some space with ‘the have food value for native fauna and natives’. are less likely to become a bushland weed. Specifically this guide will assist you to design, plant and maintain For those who wish to explore your own garden with species that further there are a myriad of resources are local to your area. By following out there, many of which are listed in our basic planting guide, your garden the back of this publication. The rest is will not only be easier to grow and up to you to explore! maintain, but it will also integrate into the surrounds, linking with a range of natural habitats to help support the great diversity of local wildlife. Central to this idea is to work with nature, after all our native plant ‘communities’ have already proved their success to be here through millennia of evolution.

Tuckeroo Illustration: A Erskine

4 My Local Native Garden BIODIVERSITY IN THE When it comes to flora and fauna, BACKYARD – A NATURAL we often only think of an individual species being in danger of extinction, RESOURCE but the reality is each individual species depends on a range of other Have you ever stopped to think how species - a ‘community’ - for their we’ve ‘inherited’ clean water to drink, survival. This is the inter-dependence fresh air to breathe or how our soils of ecosystems and why it is important Macadamia continue to grow healthy food? The to protect not just one species, but all Illustration: H Bunkers answer is biodiversity – literally the species – biodiversity. variety of plants and animals, their genetics and the ecosystems they live in. These plants and animals, soils BY PLANTING A NATIVE GARDEN FILLED WITH and microorganisms all help to ‘filter’ LOCAL PLANTS YOU CAN CONNECT YOUR GARDEN our water, generate our oxygen and TO THE EXISTING WILDLIFE CORRIDORS AND provide the gift of healthy soils. We need to protect biodiversity for our ENHANCE THE SURVIVAL FOR MANY NATIVE own health as well as play our part in SPECIES AND THEIR ECOSYSTEMS looking after the planet. Increased population, poor land The Byron Shire is recognised as a management practice and pressure biodiversity ‘hotspot’ – one of the richest from land clearing and development and most diverse regions for flora and has fragmented the original fauna in Australia. Sadly there are over environment into small ‘islands’ or 70 plant species and 90 animal species remnants where species are most recognised as vulnerable or threatened, vulnerable to weeds, pests and including 12 Endangered Ecological predators. Communities in the Shire.

Wompoo Fruit-Dove Photo: D Taylor

Blue Banded Bee on Banksia aemula Photo: J Mayson

Green Tree Frog (juvenile) Leaf-tailed Gecko Photo: W Gibney Photo: R Hartlieb My Local Native Garden 5 Heath Banksia Illustration: A Erskine WHAT IS A ‘PLANT COMMUNITY’? MANY RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN A PLANT COMMUNITY ARE SYMBIOTIC – WHERE THERE IS A RELIANCE OR MUTUAL Plant communities are a unique BENEFIT DERIVED BETWEEN SPECIES – CREATING AN assemblage of flora that have evolved INTERCONNECTED ‘WEB’. ADDITIONALLY, OVERLAPPING as a result of interactions between a AREAS OF COMMUNITIES ARE KNOWN AS TRANSITION variety of factors such as: ZONES OR ‘ECOTONES’, WHICH SHOW A PARTICULARLY HIGH LEVEL OF SPECIES RICHNESS • Geology - underlying rock type and its effect on soils and nutrients • Soil type – whether the soils are Below is a list of just some of the many local ecological communities in free draining (sand based) or the Byron Shire – several of these are listed as threatened under State or swampy (heavy clay based); fertile Federal legislation. or low in organic matter • Elevation – increased altitude usually EXAMPLES OF NATURAL PLANT COMMUNITIES leads to cooler, wetter conditions, it can also affect temperature and Foredunes exposure, (all of which impacts on Themeda grasslands on seacliffs and coastal headlands soil types), and can determine if an Byron Bay dwarf graminoid clay heath area is prone to frost • Aspect – particularly on slopes Coastal cypress pine forests where one side has predominantly Littoral rainforests sun/shade and/or particular winds • Distance from the coast – exposure Mangroves to salt laden winds or in tidal zones Coastal saltmarshes where only those species that can handle brackish inundation can Swamp sclerophyll forests on coastal floodplains thrive Swamp oak floodplain forests • Temperature– the variation in Freshwater wetlands on coastal floodplains temperature range increases with distance from the moderating Subtropical coastal floodplain forests influence of the ocean Lowland rainforests • Humidity – closer to the coast, sea breezes can moderate the effect of Heath & shrublands humidity Open forests • Rainfall – across Byron Shire, the high rainfall favours certain species

Tree Fern Illustration: H Bunkers

6 My Local Native Garden Arrowhead vine Illustration: T Roberts

SOILS AND ELEVATION Soils of Byron Shire

Map courtesy Byron Shire Council

My Local Native Garden 7 Foothills and Hinterland

LOCATIONS: BANGALOW, BINNA BURRA, BOOYONG, CLUNES, COOPERS SHOOT, COORABELL, EUREKA, EWINGSDALE (HILL SLOPES), FEDERAL, GOONENGERRY, HUONBROOK, MONTECOLLUM, NASHUA, PALMWOODS, POSSUM CREEK, UPPER COOPERS CREEK, UPPER WILSON CREEK, WILSON CREEK

he ‘foothills and hinterland’ are Endangered Ecological Community. rainforest to wet sclerophyll forest. located primarily in the south The Big Scrub once covered the entire Sub-tropical rainforest forms a Twest of the Shire amongst the hinterland area but now exists as dense canopy of large trees above a rolling hills and valleys of the Wilson small isolated remnants that make up mid and under story layer of dense River catchment. The high rainfall less than 1% of its original area. lush foliage. The range of plants and rich soils of the area create the present is extremely diverse and perfect conditions for rainforest plants The elevation of the area ranges includes trees, shrubs, vines, palms, to thrive. The original vegetation from 40m along the river flats around epiphytes, fungi and groundcovers. of this area is lowland subtropical Bangalow and Nashua, which are This structure creates a cool, moist, rainforest, commonly referred to as prone to winter frosts, up to 300m in shady microclimate by reducing ‘The Big Scrub’ and remnants of this the north around Goonengerry where the light intensity, wind and vegetation are now protected as an the soil and vegetation changes from evaporation.

WILDLIFE: SUB-TROPICAL RAINFOREST IS A HAVEN FOR BIRDLIFE - WOMPOO PIGEON, ROSE- CROWNED FRUIT DOVE, BROWN CUCKOO DOVE, FIGBIRD, CURRAWONG, BAR-SHOULDER DOVE, EMERALD DOVE, FAIRY WREN, SILVER EYE, VARIOUS HONEYEATERS, GREEN TREE FROG, PERONS TREE FROG, ROCKET FROG, MICROBATS, SOOTY OWL, VARIETY OF LIZARDS AND INSECTS

Rose Crowned Fruit dove Sooty Owl Green Tree Snake Photo: D Taylor Photo: D Taylor Photo: R Hartlieb

24 My Local Native Garden Photo: J Britton

CREATING YOUR OWN RAINFOREST For those with more space on their property who wish to establish their own patch of rainforest, a site specific planting design and careful species selection is essential. A full description of this process is beyond the scope of this book but here is a brief overview. The first step is achieved by planting ‘pioneer’, fast growing trees, which can handle full sun and are generally short- lived in terms of a rainforest (10-30 years). Plant the pioneers 3-4m apart to form a canopy in 2-5 years depending on the site and conditions. Interspersed through these pioneer trees, ‘secondary’ and ‘mature phase’ trees are planted. These are slower to establish but can live for hundreds of years and in time will form the rainforest habitat. Once the canopy is established, the final staged planting will contain a diverse mix of trees, shrubs, vines and groundcovers. Where possible, try to source the species that grow naturally in your area – talk to your local native nursery and ensure you are also planting species with local population genetics. By planting in this manner, you will extend the existing habitat for local species encouraging them to move into the new areas that you have provided. Over time you will notice trees and other plants regenerating naturally. These are brought in by birds and the wind and germinate in the favourable conditions provided by the forest canopy. More information about planting a rainforest can be found in the book published by the Big Scrub Landcare Group Subtropical Rainforest Restoration. This book is essential for anyone looking at undertaking this process, providing a detailed overview of the many factors to consider, as well as a list of appropriate species to plant.

CREATING A Finger Lime and Midgen Berries to Mulch is an important component RAINFOREST GARDEN provide food and occasional colour. If of a rainforest garden and mimics the you need a hedge, Scrub Cherry can humus layer found on the forest floor. SOIL DESCRIPTION: be a good choice with dense foliage The decomposing organic matter forms Deep, well-structured red/brown that can be pruned and it also provides the basis of the garden ecosystem by krasnozems, high clay content, tasty pink berries. Lomandra can form adding nutrients to the soil, holding often acidic - may benefit from the a dense edge that helps keep your moisture and providing habitat for soil addition of gypsum or lime garden weed-free. Vines such as the microbes and invertebrates, which Bower Vine and Purple Coral Pea can in turn provide food for lizards and A rainforest garden in a moist grow in a sunny spot and both have a birds. Many rainforest plants have a sheltered part of your property can showy display of flowers. network of surface roots that rely on produce a cool, lush oasis full of the nutrients and moisture provided by verdant foliage. Create a multi-layered The Birdwing Butterfly Vine likes the mulch. rainforest structure by grouping partial shade and provides essential together a range of trees, shrubs, palms habitat for the amazing Birdwing EXAMPLES: Booyong Nature and groundcovers sheltered from full Butterfly. In the shade shrubs such Reserve, Minyon Falls and sun, frost and prevailing winds. as Narrow-Leaf Gardenia and Hairy Protesters Falls. Psychotria have distinct flowers and For a smaller garden, trees such as a can provide a shaded ground layer Macaranga or Native Frangipani and a where Native Violets will spread few large Bangalow Palms can provide rapidly and display small purple shade. If space is at a premium, flowers in summer. plant utilising the shade from your house or fence line. Within this Large feature trees include the shelter, dense, mass plantings of large Flame Tree, Coolamon and Firewheel, glossy-leaved species such as Native all of which have stunning flower Ginger, Cordyline and Cunjevoi look displays. Always ensure large trees are impressive, interspersed with Dianella, positioned well away from buildings.

Photo: R Hartlieb

My Local Native Garden 25 11 6 8 2 9 7 4 1 plant ispoisonousifingested fruit insummer. Warning: this flower spikeand showy red leaves withawhite/yellow Huge succulent,glossy Cunjevoi Lily arundelliana alsoavailable Small variety Alpinia summer.wildlife. Attracts berries. Flowers in spring/ large foliageandbrightblue Lush clumpingplantwith Native Ginger purple flowers green leaves andsmall scrambler withshiny Unique looking Ground Lilly on thenewgrowth fern witharedflush Attractive clumping WaterSoft fern position likes amoistshady delicate foliagethat Attractive fernwith fern Maiden Hair hystrix couldalsobeused more shade. The largerLomandra other Lomandra species preferring spring. Attracts wildlife.Smallerthan flowers andorange capsulesin Native clumpinggrass withcream Rainforest Lomandra autumn after hatching. Flowers summer/ leaves andlarvae eat theleaves Butterfly. They lay theireggsonthe Essential habitat forBirdwing Birdwing Butterfly Vine direct sunlight grown inmoistpositionreceiving Bushfood. Attracts wildlife.Best edible raspberries insummer. Spiky spreadingshrubproducing Native Raspberry GROUNDCOVERS EPIPHYTES GRASSES SHRUBS VINES/ PALMS TREES & 10 (p30) 12 (p30) 5 (p18) 3 (p18) Foothills &Hinterlands 22 24 23 21 19 18 17 16 15 13 11 20 14 9 8 7 6 4 2 1 Native Raspberry Ground Lilly Soft WaterFern Maiden HairFern Rainforest Lomandra Cunjevoi Lily Native Violet Dianella Flame Tree Native Ginger Birdnest Fern Basket grass Glossy Laurel Scrub Cherry Walking Stick Palm Hairy Psychotria Bolwara Tree Fern Broad-leaf Palm Lilly Finger Lime Bower Vine Vine Birdwing Butterfly Bangalow Palm Gardenia Narrow-leaved COMMON NAME 14 13 spring. Attracts wildlife spring. Attracts white flower inlatewinter/ Narrow leaves andfragrant Gardenia Narrow-leaved wildlife. Frost sensitive summer. Attracts flower inspring/ showy white/pink Great climberwith Bower Vine Rubus rosifolius Tripladenia cunninghammii Blechnum cartilagineum Adiantum aethiopicum Lomandra spicata Alocasia brisbanensis Viola hederacea Dianella caerulea Stenocarpus sinuartus Alpinia caerulea Asplenium australasicum Oplismenus aemulus Cryptocarya laevigata Syzygium australe Linospadix monostachya Psychotria loniceroides Eupomatia laurina Cyanthea sp Cordyline petiolaris Citrus australasica Pandorea jasmenoides Pararistolochia praevenosa cunninghamiana Archontophoenix Atractocarpus chartaceus SC NAME 26 My Local Native Garden pt m 1m Up to5m EGTWDHSUN WIDTH HEIGHT -m1m 2-3m 1.5 2-5m .mspreading spreading 0.4m spreading 0.5m spreading 0.2m 0.1m spreading 0.8m 5 4-10m 8m 25m 25m 4m 20m 4m 10m . spreading 0.2 0.8 0.5 m2-6m 6m 2m 2m 3m 3m 2m spreading 3m spreading 3m spreading 1m 3m spreading 1m 1.5m 1m 1m 2m ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ PARTIAL SHADE ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ SHADE TOLERATE WET SOIL ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ TOLERATE DRY SOIL ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ GROUNDCOVERS EPIPHYTES GRASSES SHRUBS VINES/ PALMS TREES & 10 (p30) 12 (p30) 5 (p18) 3 (p18) Foothills &Hinterlands 22 24 23 21 19 18 17 16 15 13 11 20 14 9 8 7 6 4 2 1 Native Violet Dianella Native Raspberry Ground Lilly Soft WaterFern Maiden HairFern Rainforest Lomandra Cunjevoi Lily Flame Tree Native Ginger Glossy Laurel Scrub Cherry Walking Stick Palm Hairy Psychotria Bolwara Tree Fern Broad-leaf Palm Lilly Finger Lime Bower Vine Birdnest Fern Basket grass Vine Birdwing Butterfly Bangalow Palm Gardenia Narrow-leaved COMMON NAME Viola hederacea Dianella caerulea Rubus rosifolius Tripladenia cunninghammii Blechnum cartilagineum Adiantum aethiopicum Lomandra spicata Alocasia brisbanensis Stenocarpus sinuartus Alpinia caerulea Cryptocarya laevigata Syzygium australe Linospadix monostachya Psychotria loniceroides Eupomatia laurina Cyanthea sp Cordyline petiolaris Citrus australasica Pandorea jasmenoides Asplenium australasicum Oplismenus aemulus Pararistolochia praevenosa cunninghamiana Archontophoenix Atractocarpus chartaceus SC NAME pt m 1m Up to5m EGTWDHSUN WIDTH HEIGHT -m1m 2-3m 1.5 2-5m .mspreading spreading 0.4m spreading 0.5m spreading 0.2m 0.1m spreading 0.8m 5 4-10m 8m 25m 25m 4m 20m 4m 10m . spreading 0.2 0.8 0.5 m2-6m 6m 2m 2m 3m 3m 2m spreading 3m spreading 3m spreading 1m 3m spreading 1m 1.5m 1m 1m 2m 27 My Local Native Garden Large lushleaves andbright red berryinsummer. Bird attracting fruit. Bushfood ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Edible citrus,greatin salads andwithfish. Finger Lime Broad-leaf PARTIAL SHADE Palm Lilly ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Bushfood SHADE 16 15 TOLERATE WET SOIL ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ TOLERATE DRY SOIL ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ and largewoody capsules sporadically throughyear. bright redfruitinautumn. Bird attractant andamust flowers inspring/summer palm withbrightredfruit for any rainforest garden Hairy PsychotriaHairy Semi-deciduous feature Classic localpalmwith Distinctive understorey Delicate white flowers edible fruitinautumn/ Bangalow Palm flower insummer and in spring.Bushfood. with delicate,shady be prunedtoshape. Edible pink/redfruit tree withshowy red as afeatureplantin Spectacular species Glossy Laurel Walking Stick Scrub Cherry glossy foliageand foliage oftenused Shrubby tree with Great hedge.Can winter. Bushfood. large redfruitin Heavily scented in summer. Bird Attracts wildlife Attracts wildlife Attracts wildlife Attracts wildlife Flame Tree spring/summer. attractant fruit Tree Fern landscaping Bolwara Palm 18 17 20 19 22 21 24 23 Invasive Species

INVASIVE SPECIES ARE WHAT IS AN INTRODUCED SPECIES THAT ENVIRONMENTAL WEED? HAVE NATURALISED AND Some of the most invasive Indian Myna HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT species with the biggest impact Photo: W Gibney ON NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS. on our native bushlands have MOST PEOPLE KNOW THAT escaped from gardens. These FOXES, RABBITS, CANE plants are environmental weeds space. Invasive vines such as TOADS AND INDIAN MYNAS and Australia’s 2006 State of the Morning Glory, Madeira Vine and ARE ALL INVASIVE SPECIES Environment Report identified Cats-claw Creeper are some of the BUT INVASIVE SPECIES ALSO weeds as ‘Australia’s second worst environmental weeds as they INCLUDES PARASITES, FUNGI, greatest threat to biodiversity after smother native plants, completely land-clearing.’ blocking photosynthesis and INSECTS AND WEEDS. can grow thick enough to break Environmental weeds are plants branches and bring down entire growing outside of their natural trees and shrubs. INVASIVE FAUNA distribution that have a negative Indian mynas and cane toads impact on the natural ecosystems HOW DO THE PLANTS ESCAPE are two of the most destructive and the plants and animals within FROM GARDENS? invasive species and may be found those ecosystems. These weeds Garden waste dumping is a serious in your garden. There are several are introduced into new areas by threat to native bushland as weeds things you can do to help limit the human activities. Sometime this is are directly spread into new areas. populations of toads and mynas. accidental such as via transport but But environmental weeds may also most often, plants are bought for be spread indirectly. Seeds can be 1.Grow your lawn longer because the home garden and then escape. dispersed by birds or bats, some toads and mynas love short In fact one hundred and twenty may be wind-blown or spread by manicured lawns four environmental weed species water and others still have sticky 2.Don’t feed these pests, this are still being sold in nurseries seeds that cling to clothing, pets or includes not leaving unattended across New South Wales! pet food outside even vehicles. Plants such as the 3.Toad proof your ponds and dams HOW CAN MY GARDEN Madeira vine spread vegetatively 4.Join the Indian Myna trapping PLANTS THREATEN and even a small leaf is enough program BIODIVERSITY? to start a new infestation. So 5.Join a Landcare toad buster group no matter how careful you are, Some introduced plants have a environmental weeds in your PETS direct impact on native animals. garden can still spread to natural For example the introduced It is important to remember that ecosystems. Best not to have them species Dutchman’s pipe has pets such as cats and dogs are in the first place. very similar leaves to the native introduced species and need to Richmond Birdwing Vine. When NOT ALL INTRODUCED be managed in a way that doesn’t the Richmond Birdwing butterfly SPECIES ARE A PROBLEM adversely affect our native fauna. accidentally lays its eggs on the Don’t let your pets roam freely and Many exotic species of plants from exotic plant the caterpillars are keep cats in the house, especially other parts of the world pose no poisoned. at night. threat at all. Roses, Gardenias and Most environmental weeds Azaleas are all exotic plants but simply out-compete native plants none of these have the potential to for light, water, nutrients and become invasive species.

34 My Local Native Garden Cane Toad Photo: W Gibney

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO STOP THE SPREAD OF ENVIRON- WEEDS – THE GOOD NEWS MENTAL WEEDS? Nature doesn’t like gaps. Wherever there is space to grow, something, (usually weeds) fills it. However in terms of looking 1.Learn which plants are after the environment, weeds can provide an important role in environmental weeds binding the soil together and providing habitat for native species. 2.Don’t plant environmental weeds There is nothing as bad as bare soil – this is an invitation for and gradually remove weeds erosion to take hold. Apart from losing precious topsoil, the runoff from your garden can lead to pollution of our waterways. It is imperative to have a 3.Plant local native species plan when attacking weeds – whether it’s for natural regeneration, 4.Buy plants from Bushland friendly (is there a native seedbank still active in your soil?) or a planting nurseries regime - consider what will take over when you remove the weeds. 5.Carefully dispose of environmental weeds and their seeds 6.Join your local Landcare or Dunecare group

Some of the exotic species introduced into Australian gardens that have escaped to become serious environmental weeds: , Elephant Ears, Small Leaved Privet, Buddleja, Glory Lily. Photos courtesy Byron Shire Council. My Local Native Garden 35 Other Points for Consideration

CULTIVARS genetic characteristics (resilience) to echidnas. Logs and rocks placed in survive over time; frost hardiness or protected areas around the garden When a naturally occurring plant drought tolerance may be reduced. will provide a home for frogs and has been ‘selected’ or changed by lizards while a rock placed in the the intentional actions of humans, Local nurseries that collect and morning sun will be appreciated by it is called a ‘cultivar’ (under the grow wild seed are performing a the local skinks. A birdbath placed International Code of Nomenclature valuable service in preserving the in an open sunny spot will attract for Cultivated Plants). Humans genetic resources of our native local birds, providing a reliable have been ‘improving” nature by bush. We ask you to please consider source of water and somewhere for cultivation for thousands of years; the importance of the natural them to cool off in summer. A shrub orange trees, tomatoes and wheat ecology and genetic integrity when located nearby will provide a safe are good examples. It is important designing your garden. retreat from predators. (For further to recognise that cultivated native information - see pond management plants are not the same as ‘local’ CREATING STRUCTURAL under the Aquatic Plants chapter.) natives or naturally occurring HABITAT FEATURES species. Be sure not to take rocks and To attract wildlife in your garden, it hollow logs from the bush where Cultivars often have fancy takes more than just plants. While they are already providing habitat names like ‘Callistemon Perth the flowers, fruit and protection for the wildlife. Pink’, which is a selected form provided by plants is important, of Callistemon salignus, a local features such as logs, rocks, leaf native plant. Cultivars can be litter and ponds create important identified where the abbreviation structural features that make your ‘cv’ is used. They are often bred to garden more inviting to a range flower more prolifically than ‘true’ of wildlife. Mulch, leaf litter, natives and if they are not sterile, sticks and bark forms the basis of may produce viable seed. For this the food pyramid in your garden reason, cultivars should never be ecosystem. These features provide reintroduced to bushland situations, habitat for worms and insects, or used in revegetation. If you live many of which are important in the near natural bush, be aware that the cycling of nutrients to the soil and cultivars and exotics in your garden in turn, provide a food source for may influence native vegetation lizards, birds, frogs, bandicoots and through the spread of seeds by birds or seedlings over time. Cultivars are very popular for gardens as they are seen as ‘improvements’ to the wild species. However they have potential to hybridise or cross with the native species, thus changing the genetics forever. The dangers in this are that the new species may not have the

Land Mullet (top) Coral Fungi (centre) Photos: R Hartlieb

36 My Local Native Garden Photo: J Mayson FUNGI IN THE GARDEN Artificial tree hollows, or ‘nest boxes’ can be used by a range of Fungi are a little known but vital animals as a replacement for natural component of all local ecosystems. hollows in the landscape. At least In any forest system, fungi rot down 10 mammals, 15 birds and 8 micro- wood and wood litter making bat species as well as some reptiles nutrients available for new growth. have been recorded using nest It is estimated 80-90% of all plants boxes in Australia. form mycorrhizal partnerships When deciding what sort of box with fungi – a mutually beneficial Davidson’s Plum, to install, identify what hollow- relationship where plants can Black Diamond Images acquire moisture and minerals using fauna occur in your area and use this to guide what type sooner from fungi than they could in one area for ease of harvesting. of box is appropriate to use. It is get themselves, whilst the fungi Please note the previous section not recommended to be providing find shelter in the tree roots - both on cultivars when choosing plants homes for some animals within a critical survival strategy during where there is a possibility their urban development or adjacent droughts. Excellent information seed may be spread into the bush. to busy roads. Consider the about Australian fungi can be found Our favourites include: Midgen consequences and potential risk to here: http://www.anbg.gov.au/fungi/ Berry, Macadamia Nut Tree, wildlife from road kill and attacks index.html You can also learn more Brush Cherry, Native Raspberry, by domestic pets. In busy urban about local fungi from the ongoing Davidson’s Plum, Native Tamarind areas nest boxes located high collection being blogged at http:// & Finger Lime. The Internet is a in trees targeting birds may be a calderafungi.blogspot.com. great resource for recipes – just preferred option. plug ‘Bushfood’ or the plant of NEST BOXES There are several nest box your choice into your web browser. Nest boxes in backyards are a manufacturers in Australia as Brunswick Valley Landcare has a great way to encourage many birds well as a number of publications download of species found in the around your house and can give that outline their design and local Yallakool reserve: http://www. your local possum an alternative construction – easily sourced from brunswickvalleylandcare.org.au/ home to your roof. Nest boxes the internet. The Bush Futures PLANT_LIST.pdf placed in rural areas can provide Project has an excellent brochure important habitat for a range of on nest boxes that can be found CLIMATE CHANGE species including birds, arboreal here: www.byron.nsw.gov.au/ A predicted increase in extreme (tree dwelling) mammals and environmental-resources. weather events in the form of more microbats. Many of these species severe droughts, more frequent BUSH FOOD play an important part in our fires and the possibility of greater ecosystem through pollination What could be more logical than variations in rainfall patterns, may of plants, dispersal of seeds and planting endemic species that lead to increased stress on plants regulating insect population. provide food for wildlife and and animals as they become people? Local plants are adapted progressively isolated in remnants to the conditions and rarely need of vegetation, (CSIRO 2007). All fertilisers, pesticides or additional the more reason why it is critically water once established. Some important to protect existing people like to dot their bushfood remnants and expand local wildlife plants around the garden so they corridors to offer some refuge and can have a nibble as they potter, provide our endemic plants and others prefer to create a ‘food forest’ animals a chance to adapt to these where all the edibles are clustered evolving conditions.

Photo: A Underwood

My Local Native Garden 37 LOCAL NURSERIES (Bush-Friendly)

Burringbar Rainforest Nursery Firewheel Rainforest Nursery Ph/fax (02) 6677 1088 http://www.firewheelnursery.com.au Upper Burringbar NSW 2483 Ph (02) 6689 5246 387 Dorroughby Road, Dorroughby NSW 2480 Eastern Forest Nursery (wholesale) www.easternforestnursery.com.au Ph (02) 6629 0353 Mullumbimby Creek Native Nursery 848 Bruxner Highway, Lismore, NSW 2480 www.mcnativenursery.com.au Ph (02) 6684 1703 Ragged Blossom Native Nursery (Bangalow) Lot 2 Yankee Creek Rd, via Wilson’s Creek Road, Ph: (02) 66871309 Mullumbimby NSW 2482

Brunswick Valley Landcare www.brunswickvalleylandcare.org.au