To inspire you with creating a garden here are some ‘habitat modules' for four different types of conditions that may occur in your garden.
By planting in clusters, and including trees, shrubs, climbers, ground covers, grasses, sedges and lillies, you will create a layered garden that provides food, shelter, and breeding sites for a diversity of species.
Modules can be modified to exclude large trees such as eucalypt species using only the taller shrubs and ground covers.
Rare native Tasmanian plants are not necessarily difficult to grow but if you are unsure of a plant's growing requirements carefully read the plant labels. These have the most critical factors for the best planting conditions written in sequence, e.g. well drained, moist. The drainage is a vital factor in the plants optimal growth and the plant should not be planted in a permanent wet situation.
Species selection criteria
The plant species used in each of the modules are found statewide and are most suited to cultivation.
They are beneficial in providing wildlife habitat with the majority of species being adaptable to most soil types. Flowering and fruiting times have also been taken into account so as to offer a wide selection of food sources for wildlife.
Where possible local (indigenous) species that have the most similar food sources have been selected as alternative native species to weed species. Care should be taken to ensure you have reliable seed and plant material that is sourced from Tasmania.
Coastal Gardens
For gardens that have a coastal exposure.
Coastal Trees
- Eucalyptus globulus, Tasmanian Bluegum
- Eucalyptus amygdalina, Black Peppermint
- Allocasuarina verticillata, Drooping Sheoak
- Banksia marginata, Silver Banksia
- Banksia serrata, Saw Banksia
- Acacia longifolia ssp. sophorae, Coast Wattle
- Allocasuarina crassa, Cape Pillar Sheoak
Coastal Shrubs
- Leucopogon parviflorus, Coastal Current
- Leptospermum grandiflorum, Autumn Teatree
- Leucophyta brownii, Cushionbush
- Solanum laciniatum, Kangaroo Apple
- Olearia phlogopappa, Dusty Daisy-bush
- Cyphanthera tasmanica, Tasmanian Rayflower
- Westringia sp, Westringia
- Atriplex cinerea, Grey Saltbush
- Rhagodia candolleana, Coastal Saltbush
Coastal Climbers
- Tetragonia implexicoma, Bower Spinach
- Billardiera longiflora, (red berry coastal form)
- Clematis microphylla, Small-leaf Clematis
- Pandorea pandorana, Wonga Vine
Coastal Ground Covers
- Correa alba X reflexa, Norma's Correa
- Correa backhouseana, Velvet Correa
- Boronia anemonifolia, Stinky Boronia
- Melaleuca gibbosa, Slender Honeymyrtle
- Stackhousia spathulata, Coast Candles
- Pelargonium littorale, Coast Storkbill
- Kunzea ambigua, Tickbush (prostrate form)
- Carpobrotus rossii, Native Pigface
- Selliera radicans, Shiny Swampmat
- Mimulus repens, Creeping Monkeyflower
- Disphyma crassifolium, Round Leaf Pigface
Coastal Grasses, Sedges and Lillies
- Xanthorrhoea australis, Southern Grasstree
- Xanthorrhoea bracteata, Shiny Grasstree
- Spinifex sericeus, Beach Spinifex
- Ficinia nodosa, Knobby Clubsedge
- Patersonia fragilis, Short Purple Flag
- Poa poiformis, Coastal Tussockgrass
- Dianella revoluta, Spreading Flax Lily
- Stylidium armeria, Coastal Triggerplant
Container Gardens
Plants that may be grown in containers for areas such as decks, verandas, courtyards or window boxes.
Large Tubs
- Lagarostrobus franklinii, Huon Pine
- Anopterus glandulosus, Tasmanian Laurel
- Eucryphia lucida, Leatherwood
- Telopea truncata, Tasmanian Waratah
- Elaeocarpus reticulatus, Flinders Blueberry Ash
- Tasmania lanceolata, Mountain Pepper
- Billardiera longiflora, Climbing Blueberry
Pots and Containers
- Prostanthera rotundifolia, Roundleaf Mintbush
- Thryptomene micrantha, Ribbed Heathmyrtle
- Boronia citriodora, Lemon Boronia
- Lomatia tinctoria, Guitarplant
- Epacris sp, Heaths
- Richea dracophylla, Claude's Candles
- Dichondra repens, Kidneyweed
- Kennedia prostrata, Running Postman
- Scleranthus biflorus, Cushion Plant
- Pultenaea pedunculata, Matted Bushpea
Grasses, Sedges and Lillies
- Stylidium sp, Trigger Plant
- Blandfordia punicea, Christmas Bells
- Baloskion tetraphyllum, Tassle Cordrush
Water Containers
- Triglochin procerum, Greater Waterribbons
- Villarsia reniformis, Running Marshflower
- Gymnoschoenus sphaerocephalus, Buttongrass
- Xyris marginata, Alpine Yelloweye
Dry Gardens
For dry gardens, or areas of your garden that may be dry in summer and moist in winter.
Dry Trees
- Eucalyptus risdonii, Risdon Peppermint
- Eucalyptus pulchella, White Peppermint
- Eucalyptus cordata,Tasmanian Silver Gum
- Banksia marginata, Silver Banksia
- Eucalyptus barberi, Barbers Mallee
- Elaeocarpus reticulatus, Flinders Blueberry Ash
- Notelaea ligustrina, Native Olive
Dry Shrubs
- Acacia muconata, Caterpillar Wattle
- Acacia derwentiana, Derwent Wattle
- Pomaderris elliptica, Yellow Dogwood
- Dodonaea viscosa, Broadleaf Hopbush
- Beyeria viscosa, Pink Wood
- Bursaria spinosa, Prickly Box
- Daviesia ulicifolia, Yellow Spiky Bitterpea
- Leptospermum scoparium var. eximium, Broadleaf Teatree
- Ricinocarpos pinifolius, Wedding Bush
- Westringia angustifolia, Narrow Leaf Westringia
- Phebalium daviesii, Davies Waxflower
Dry Climbers
- Pandorea pandorana, Flinders Wonga Vine
- Billardiera longiflora, Climbing Blueberry
Dry Groundcovers
- Acacia genisifolia, Spreading Wattle
- Boronia pilosa subsp. tasmanensis, Tasman Hairy Boronia
- Helichrysum scorpioides, Curling Everlasting
- Clematis gentianoides, Ground Clematis
- Correa reflexa (forms), Roundleaf
- Correa, Common Correa
- Epacris impressa, Common Heath
- Grevillea australis, Southern Grevillea
- Stackhousia monogynum, Candles
- Tetratheca species, Black-eyed Susans
- Velleia paradoxa, Spur Velleia
- Veronica formosa, Speedwell Bush
- Myoporum parvifolium, Flinders Creeping Boobialla
- Dichondra repens, Kidneyweed
- Viola hederacea, Pratia pedunculata, Matted Pratia
- Acaena novae-zelandiae, Common Buzzy
- Scleranthus biflorus, Cushion Plant
- Goodenia lanata, Trailing Native-Primrose
Dry Grasses, Sedges and Lillies
- Lomandra longifolia, Sagg
- Stylidium graminifolium, Narrowleaf Trigger Plant
- Bulbine glauca, Bulbine Lily
- Carex appressa, Tall Sedge
- Diplarrena moraea, Flag Iris
- Themeda triandra, Kangaroo Grass
- Austrodanthonia caespitosa, Common Wallaby Grass
Wet Gardens
For areas that surround a pond or water feature. Suggested plants will cope with seasonal variations in water availability.
Wet Trees
- Eucalyptus viminalis, White Gum
- Acacia melanoxylon, Blackwood
- Eucryphia lucida, Leatherwood
- Banksia marginata, Silver Banksia
- Callitris oblonga, South Esk Pine
- Allocasuarina duncanii, Conical Sheoak
Wet Shrubs
- Telopea truncata, Tasmanian Waratah
- Prostanthera lasianthos, Christmas Mintbush
- Tasmannia lanceolata, Mountain Pepper
- Leptospermum lanigerum, Woolly Teatree
- Hakea lissosperma, Mountain Needlebush
- Pomaderris apetala, Common Dogwood
- Pittosporum bicolor, Cheesewood
- Callistemon pallidus, Yellow Bottlebrush
- Olearia argophylla, Musk Daisybush
- Acacia riceana, Arching Wattle
- Acacia derwentiana, Derwent Wattle
- Correa lawrenceana, Mountain Correa
- Anopterus glandulosus, Tasmanian Laurel
- Richea dracophylla, Claude's Candles
- Croprosma quadrifida, Native Currant
- Lomatia tinctoria, Guitarplant
Wet Climbers
- Clematis aristata, Mountain Clematis
- Hibbertia empetrifolia, Scrambling Guineaflower
- Bauera rubioides, Wiry Bauera
- Billardiera longiflora, Climbing Blueberry
Wet Groundcovers
- Pimelea nivea, Bushmans Bootlace
- Podocarpus lawrencei, Mountain Plumpine
- Boronia citriodora, Lemon Boronia
- Leptospermum rupestre, Mountain Teatree
- Dicksonia antarctica, Soft Treefern
- Scaevola hookeri, Creeping Fanflower
- Viola hederacea, Native Violet
Wet Grasses, Sedges and Lillies
- Poa labillardierei, Silver Tussockgrass
- Dianella tasmanica, Native Flax
- Baloskion tetraphyllum, Tassle Cordrush
- Diplarrena latifolia, Western Flag Iris
- Libertia pulchella, Pygmy Grassflag
- Gahnia grandis, Cutting Grass
- Triglochin procerun, Greater Waterribbons
- Gymnoschoenus sphaerocephalus, Button Grass
Illustration by Kris Schaffer