Finding the right plants for your garden just got easier – thanks to the council’s new native plant selector tool.
This easy-to-use online resource – available at onkaparingacity.com/nativeplants – is designed to guide users in selecting plants that are not only beautiful and suited to local conditions, but also beneficial for the environment.
More than just a gardening aid, the native plant selector tool responds to a growing demand for practical, locally relevant information on plants that support urban greening and biodiversity, and contribute to broader efforts to restore habitats.
- The user-friendly tool enables users to:
- filter plants by height, colour, soil type, wildlife-attracting qualities, light requirements and flowering time
- learn about each plant’s growing conditions and ecological benefits
- browse freely or use filters to narrow down the perfect plants.
The tool also includes information about low-flammability species, based on information from the Country Fire Service and a fire-wise project by the Fleurieu Environment Centre’s Firewise Project.
City of Onkaparinga Nature Conservation Project Officer Nikola Manos said the council has long fielded questions from the community about which native plants are best suited to the region.
“Whether the goal is to improve biodiversity, attract wildlife, or simply create a beautiful, low-maintenance garden, the advice has always been to plant local natives,” she said.
“Local native plants are species that have evolved to suit local conditions including soil types, temperatures and rainfall. Some native mammals, birds or butterflies rely on specific native plants for food and shelter. They have evolved together.
“Australia is a large country with different climates and conditions, and some plants that are native to other parts of Australia can actually outcompete local plants, growing like a weed and threatening ecosystems.
“All of the plants on the native plant selector tool are native to Onkaparinga – they don’t need as much water or fertiliser, and they provide habitat for local wildlife such as birds, butterflies, frogs, lizards, echidnas and even bandicoots.”
In developing the tool, the council worked with local gardening clubs and a specialist native landscaping contractor to ensure the information was useful, practical and accurate. Photos were sourced from staff and community members.
There are 180 species listed including trees, shrubs, herbs, wildflowers, climbers, groundcovers, ferns and grasses.
Plans are underway to add more local species to the tool, especially those that add value to residential and commercial landscapes.
“The plant selector tool helps foster action at the local level – whether you’re a resident, developer, landscape designer or part of a school or community group,” Nikola said.
If you’re inspired to green your space with native species, the council is here to help. Residents may be eligible for a rebate of 50 per cent of the cost of plants, up to a maximum of $50, when purchasing from participating native nurseries.
More information on the sustainability rebates and subsides including how to apply, are available at onkaparingacity.com/sustainability-rebates