Plant selection
Why indigenous plant species?
In using local (indigenous) plants in our gardens, not only can we provide habitat for fauna species, we may also help preserve species that are part of some very threatened plant communities.
There are some wonderful wildflowers in our native grasslands that we may choose to use in our gardens. There is less than 1% remaining of Victorian Volcanic Plains grassland, so the more places we get those species growing - the better, to make sure we don't lose them.
Local plants may be added to existing gardens and mix well with other plants. You don't have to have a complete garden makeover. If you love roses and azaleas then look for native plants from the lists below, to see what you you could add into the mix.
As long as you have some flowers that produce nectar all year around, seeds for the seed eaters, daisies for the butterflies and native bees, clumps of native grass for butterflies to breed and skinks to shelter and some prickly plants for small birds to hide in then you are establishing a wonderful wildlife garden.
We are not totally focussed on indigenous plants because just having a few plants in your garden provides habitat for some wildlife. By selecting from a greater range of plants we can improve the local habitat for even more wildlife.
Listed below are some plant suggestions and tpwards the bottom of the page is a list of nurseries.
Small trees
Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon)
Lightwood (Acacia implexa)
Silver Banksia (Banksia marginata)
Bushy Needlewood (Hakea decurrens ssp. physocarpa)
Golden Spray (Viminaria juncea)
Shrubs
Austral Indigo (Indigofera australis)
Common Correa (Correa reflexa)
Common Flat-pea (Platylobium obtusangulum)
Common Heath (Epacris impressa)
Dusty Miller (Spyridium parvifolium)
Drooping Cassinia (Cassinia arcuata)
Golden Bush-pea (Pultenaea gunnii)
Hop Goodenia (Goodenia ovata)
Hop Dodonea (Dodonea viscosa)
Kangaroo Apple (Solanum aviculare)
Prickly Moses (Acacia verticillata)
Prickly Tea-tree (Leptospermum continentale)
River Bottlebrush (Callistemon sieberii)
Rock Correa (Correa glabra)
Snowy Daisy-bush (Olearia lirata)
Sweet Bursaria (Bursaria spinosa)
Tree Violet (Melicytus dentatus)
Herbs and wildflowers
Austral tobacco (Nicotiana suaveolens)
Blue devil (Eryngium ovinum)
Blue pincushion (Buronia australia)
Bluebells (Wahlenbergia stricta)
Blushing Bindweed (Convolvulus erubescens)
Bulbine Lily (Bulbine bulbosa)
Button Everlasting (Coronidium scorpioides)
Chocolate Lily (Arthropodium strictum)
Clustered Everlasting (Chrysocephalum semipapposum)
Common Billy buttons (Craspedia glauca)
Common everlasting (Chysocephalum apiculatum)
Common Rice-flower (Pimelea humilis)
Creeping Bossiaea (Bossiaea prostrata)
Cut-leaf Daisy (Brachyscome multifida)
Kidney Weed (Dichondra repens)
Native mint (Mentha australi)
Native Violet (Viola hederacea)
Running Postman (Kennedia prostrata)
Grasses and rushes
Black-anther Flax-lily (Dianella revoluta )
Common tussock-grass (Poa labillardierei)
Grey Tussock-grass (Poa sieberiana)
Kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra)
Knobby Club-rush (Ficinia nodosa)
Matted Flax-lily (Dianella amoena)
Red anther wallaby grass (Rytidosperma palladum)
Silky blue grass (Dichanthium sericeum)
Spear grass (Austrostipa spp.)
Spiny-headed Mat-rush (Lomandra longifolia)
Spreading Flax-lily (Dianella admixta)
Wallaby grass (Rytidosperma Spp.)
Weeping grass (Microlaena stipoides)
Ground-covers
Karkalla (Carpobrotus rossii)
Kidney-weed (Dichondra repens)
Native Violet (Viola hederacea)
Matted Bush Pea (Pultenaea pedunculata)
Nodding Saltbush (Einadia nutans)
Running Postman (Kennedia prostrata)
Climbers
Purple coral pea (Hardenbergia violacea)
Small-leaved Clematis (Clematis microphylla)
Daisies
Billy Buttons (Craspedia variabilis)
Button Everlasting (Coronidium scorpioides)
Clustered Everlasting (Chrysocephalum semipapposum)
Common Everlasting (Chrysocephalum apiculatum)
Cut-leaf Daisy (Brachyscome multifida)
Lemon Beautyheads (Calocephalus citreus)
Milky Beautyheads (Calocephalus lacteus)
Rough Burr-daisy (Calotis scabiosifolia)
Sticky Everlasting (Xerochrysum viscosum)
Strawflower (Xerochrysum bracteatum)
Where to buy plants?
Moorabool is a large municipality and some gardeners will be closer to Ballarat and others closer to Bacchus Marsh or Melton. The list of nurseries below is not extensive and if you have a favourite nursery to add to the list let us know by email. Many nurseries will not have local indigenous plants but may have a range of suitable native plants.
Avalon Nursery 41 Kopkes Road Haddon 53424519 https://www.facebook.com/AvalonNurseryBallarat/
Ballarat Wild Plants (Indigenous plants only) 435 Joseph Street Canadian by appointment 0409388014
Birdsong Nursery & Gardens 9 Baglin Street Smythesdale https://www.facebook.com/BirdsongNursery/
Bunnings Ballarat, Delacombe & Melton
Formosa Gardens 104 Leith Street Ballarat 53356454 https://www.facebook.com/FormosaGardensNursery/
Melton Botanic Gardens Friends Nursery 21 William Street Melton 97433819 The nursery is open with some limitations - 10am to 1pm - Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2nd and 4th Sundays https://www.fmbg.org.au/
Rockbank Nursery 2341 Western Highway Rockbank 97471860 https://rockbanknursery.com.au/range/native/
Rowsley Landcare Nursery (wholesale only by appointment) https://www.mln.org.au/rowsley-nursery
Spot on Pots and Nursery 13-15 Wallis Street Delacombe 53355368 https://www.facebook.com/SpotonNursery
True Green Nursery 137 Highett Road Melton 97435932
Wombat Native Plants at Bullarto open by appointment email landmanagement@me.com
What pot size to choose?
Be careful on what sized pots you purchase. Bigger is not necessarily better but will they will be more expensive. Always check the root systems to make sure the pots are not root bound. Choose the smaller plants or ones in tubes. Leave any weeds in the nursery. Only experienced gardeners should buy plants form the 'specials' table.
Smaller plants planted in early spring will grow faster and end up better plants in the future. The longer the plants are in a pot or the more often they are re-potted into a bigger size the more chance there is a problem with their root system down the track.
The exception to this is advanced trees from specialist growers. Make sure you soak the pots in water until the bubbles stop before planting, tickle the roots before planting and water in well. Plants may need followup regualr watering until established.
Grow your own plants
There is nothing quite as satisfying as being able to grow your own plants. Many plants are easy to grow and do not require expensive equipment.There are many advantages in learning how to grow your own plants from seeds or cuttings. Local indigenous seed may be purchased from Seeding Victoria or you could collect your own or swap seed with friends.
Joining a local landcare or friends group is an enjoyable way to learn more about local plants and how to grow them Garden Clubs, landcare groups and community houses sometimes run workshops on propagation of native plants. Gardening Australia has a range of fact sheets and videos https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/factsheets/
Choosing fire retardant species
Moorabool is a fire-prone landscape. We encourage you to consider the possible impacts of fire when designing your home and garden. You may like to refer to this CFA website for Landscaping for Bushfire
Some species of plant are more flammable than others, and planting them close to houses and other assets poses a risk. Avoid planting close to windows and choose gravel as a mulch rather than woodchips close to the house. Your vegetation – what you need to know, learn about landscaping and how the selection and placement of vegetation can make a difference Watch the recording. If you would like videos about fire prevention have a look at Bushfire Resilence Inc
Below is some information about selecting native plants that are both resistant to low-intensity fire and still attract wildlife. Some of the plants in this list below may become weedy so ask before you buy them if they have a tendency to self seed and spread.