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Local native plants – our garden superheroes

tasland | 23 July 2025

Anna Povey, Land for Wildlife Coordinator & Emma McPhee, Gardens for Wildlife Coordinator

As the long-awaited winter rains return to Lutruwita/Tasmania, now is the perfect time to get planting. After a dry season, the cooler and (hopefully) wetter weather makes it easier for young plants to settle in with minimal watering or fuss.

For your next garden project why not add local native plants? These are species that are truly at home in your soil, climate and ecosystem.

Why local plants?

Native plants grown from locally collected seed come with real advantages. These plants are naturally adapted to your area’s unique conditions and have evolved alongside local insects, fungi and wildlife. Native pollinators know just how to help them reproduce. And they often need less maintenance to thrive.

When you grow local native plants, you’re doing more than gardening; you’re restoring a tiny piece of Tasmania’s ecological puzzle.

Habitat Plants

Where to find great plants

We’ve listed some of our favourite local nurseries below – places where you can buy with confidence, knowing the plants were likely propagated by hand. But even at larger nursery stores, you can still find great local native stock. The key is to ask the staff who order the plants. Labels don’t always reveal where or when a plant was propagated, so asking directly is the best way to ensure you’re choosing seedlings with local genetics. These are plants already adapted to your area’s growing conditions, unlike stock shipped from interstate that may be in for a rude shock when planted in your garden.

Habitat Plants

What to plant (and why)

Whether you’re aiming to stabilise a slope, create a drought-tolerant garden, attract pollinators, or grow bush foods, there are local native species to suit your needs. Not sure what to plant? Start with these resources:

When to plant

In Tasmania, the cooler, wetter months are perfect for native planting. The moist soil and gentler sun help young plants establish, and you’ll spend less time watering. If you needed an excuse to visit another nursery, this is it!

How to plant

Not sure how to get started? Brush up on best practices thanks to Landcare Tasmania’s bite-sized video series, covering:

  • weed control
  • soil preparation
  • autumn versus spring planting
  • planting for windbreaks
  • replacing losses from grazing animals.

Watch the series here.

Habitat Plants

Grow your own: DIY propagation

If you’d like to grow native plants from seed yourself, the Understorey Network has a wealth of resources. We recommend the third edition of their Guide to Growing Native Plants in Tasmania (available at Fullers Bookshop) and the comprehensive database, which has propagation notes on over 1,400 species.

Time to get planting

By choosing local, you’re not just growing a beautiful garden; you’re helping build resilience, biodiversity, and connection in your area. Support your local nursery and help native species thrive right where they belong.

Tasmania’s local native plant nurseries

Here’s our go-to list of native nurseries across the state:

Launceston, Central North & Surrounds

North-West Tasmania