Overview

Native plants are endemic (indigenous) to a given area in geologic time.  This includes plants that occur naturally or existed for many years in an area.  Indigenous plants have adapted to a very limited, unusual environment or harsh environment. 

The Ecolinc wetland features a wetland designed to intercept stormwater, surrounded by examples of indigenous western basalt plains plants.  Western basalt plains plants include:

• Grasses
  
  • Kangaroo Grass ,Themeda triandra
  • Wallaby Grass, Danthonia sp.
  • Tussock Grasses, Poa sp.
• Daisies
  
  • Daises, Brachyscome sp.
  • Lemon Beautyheads, Calocephalus citreus
  • Billy Buttons, Craspedia sp.
• Lillies
  
  • Bulbine Lily, Bulbine bulbosa
  • Flax Lily, Dianella sp.
  • Chocolate Lily, Arthropodium strictum
• Other ground plants
  
  • Blue Devil, Eryngium ovinum
  • Mat Rush, Lomandra sp.
  • Sedges, Carex sp.

These grassland plants are hardy and drought tolerant and suit this landscape, which typically has a lower rainfall. 

Planting out

The time to plant out natives depends on the climate and the type of plant.  For the northern part of Victoria, Wimmera and Mallee, autumn planting is necessary as the effort to keep frequent moisture to plants in the summer is time consuming.  For the slopes of the Great Divide and adjacent ranges, spring planting is recommended, as the winters can be very cold and only the hardiest of new plants will survive, and the summers are usually cooler.  For Melbourne, coastal areas, adjacent uplands and East Gippsland, the climate is usually milder throughout the year.  Therefore it is recommended to plant out in Autumn through to the end of spring.

Aim

How does weather affect plants?

Objectives

• To identify native plant requirements
• To link plant requirements to seasons