Australian native garden plants with high wildlife value
Home gardens can provide remarkably high value to wildlife. In many parts of Australia, suburban and rural gardens now make up a significant portion of the remaining green space, meaning the choices made within them genuinely matter.
Certain native plants offer far more than visual appeal. Their growth habit, structure, leaf density, bark, seed and flowering patterns create food sources, shelter and stable microclimates that wildlife relies on. Some provide refuge from predators, others moderate temperature at ground level and many support repeated use rather than occasional visits.
When we choose these plants intentionally in our gardens, they can function as valuable habitat rather than just ornamental space.
1. Sweet bursaria (Bursaria spinosa)
Climate: Temperate, subtropical, inland
Difficulty: Medium
Why wildlife are attracted to it
Sweet bursaria’s fine, tangled branches create refuge from predators that small birds such as fairy-wrens and scrubwrens choose for nesting and escape cover. Leaf litter accumulates beneath the shrub, trapping warmth overnight and creating stable conditions used by reptiles. Small mammals also shelter beneath its dense base, particularly in less intensively managed gardens. Gardens that include bursaria often support a wider range of small birds, because safety is a strong driver.
How to plant and long-term care
Plant in full sun to light shade with well-drained soil, digging deeply with a sharp spade to encourage strong root development. Water during establishment and mulch lightly, allowing leaf litter to build naturally beneath the plant. Prune sparingly with hand pruners and avoid formal shaping, as density is essential to its habitat value.
2. Hop bush (Dodonaea viscosa)
Climate: Arid, semi-arid, inland, coastal
Difficulty: Easy
Why wildlife are attracted to it
Hop bush creates a year-round shelter zone that animals return to repeatedly. Thornbills, fairy-wrens and other small birds shelter within the canopy, while small mammals and reptiles use the shaded interior and warm edges to regulate body temperature. In arid regions, reptiles often treat a single hop bush as a daily refuge, moving between sun and shade as conditions change.
How to plant and long-term care
Plant in full sun using a spade or sharp gardening knife. Water during establishment, then leave largely unmanaged. Mulch initially to suppress weeds, then allow natural ground cover to form. Light pruning with secateurs can control size, but avoid thinning the centre.
3. Flax lily (Dianella species)
Climate: All regions with local species
Difficulty: Easy
Why wildlife are attracted to it
Dianella forms dense, moisture-holding clumps that stabilise soil temperature and humidity at ground level. Birds such as silvereyes shelter within the foliage and feed on the berries, while fairy-wrens use the plant for cover and safe movement. Reptiles and small mammals rely on the base of the plant for thermal shelter. Individual clumps are often reused by the same animals, making Dianella a long-term habitat anchor.
How to plant and long-term care
Plant in sun or part shade using a hand trowel or sharp spade. Water with a hose until established, then leave mostly unmanaged. Mulch lightly or allow leaf litter to accumulate. Cut back older clumps with loppers only if needed, as intact plants provide the greatest habitat value.
4. Native rosemary (Westringia)
Climate: Coastal, temperate, dry inland margins
Difficulty: Easy
Why wildlife are attracted to it
Westringia provides dense, woody shelter that remains stable year round. Small birds such as thornbills and wrens use it for refuge during heat, wind and storms, while reptiles shelter beneath the lower branches. Its structure allows animals to remain protected while staying close to basking and foraging areas, making it particularly valuable in exposed gardens.
How to plant and long-term care
Plant in full sun with free-draining soil using a tough hand trowel. Water during establishment only and mulch lightly. Prune gently to maintain density without hollowing out the shrub.
5. Kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra)
Climate: Temperate, subtropical, semi-arid
Difficulty: Medium
Why wildlife are attracted to it
Kangaroo grass forms tussocks that warm quickly in the morning and retain heat into the evening, creating ideal microclimates. Seed-eating birds such as finches feed on the seed heads, while small mammals and reptiles shelter at the base of the grass. Tussock grasses are among the most thermally stable habitats in open landscapes.
How to plant and long-term care
Plant in full sun and low nutrient soil using a hand trowel, grouping plants together. Water during establishment only and avoid heavy mulch. Allow seed heads to mature and cut back with secateurs annually if required.
6. Small paperbark (compact Melaleuca species)
Climate: Subtropical, tropical, coastal
Difficulty: Easy to Medium
Why wildlife are attracted to it
Paperbarks provide layered habitat in a single plant. Honeyeaters feed on the flowers, while possums (particularly brushtail and ringtail possums) shelter in hollows, dense foliage or constructed dreys within the canopy. Reptiles use the shaded ground beneath during hot conditions and the peeling bark is widely used by birds as nesting material and by smaller animals as temporary shelter.
Geoff Derrin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How to plant and long-term care
Select a compact species suited to local moisture conditions. Plant in full sun using a sharp spade and mulch to retain moisture. Water as needed during establishment. Pruning is rarely required and it's best to leave bark and leaf litter in place to maintain habitat.
Tools for Australian Gardeners
7. Native fan flower (Scaevola species)
Climate: Tropical, coastal, warm inland
Difficulty: Easy
Why wildlife are attracted to it
Scaevola spreads horizontally, shading soil and reducing temperature extremes at ground level. This makes it particularly valuable for reptiles, while small birds use it as safe movement cover between shrubs and grasses. Groundcovers like scaevola moderate soil temperatures more effectively than mulch alone.
How to plant and long-term care
Plant in sun using a hand trowel and provide it space to spread. Water during establishment with a watering can. Trim lightly with florist shears if required, but sprawling growth increases habitat value.
8. Bat's wing coral tree (Erythrina vespertilio)
Climate: Tropical and arid
Difficulty: Medium
Why wildlife are attracted to it
This small deciduous tree provides nectar-rich flowers for birds such as lorikeets and honeyeaters, along with seasonal shade. Leaf drop allows winter sun to reach the ground, helping to maintain year-round thermal balance that benefits reptiles and other ground-dwelling animals. Deciduous natives are rare in Australia and play a unique role in regulating seasonal conditions.
Mark Marathon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How to plant and long-term care
Plant in full sun with good drainage using a spade. Water during establishment only. Mulch lightly and prune minimally to maintain structure. This is a tree best suited to larger gardens.
9. Silver cassia (Senna artemisioides)
Climate: Arid and semi-arid
Difficulty: Easy
Why wildlife are attracted to it
Silver cassia reflects heat while casting light shade, reducing soil surface temperatures in harsh climates. Birds shelter beneath its canopy and reptiles use the cooler soil during extreme heat. Its pale foliage can lower ground temperatures by several degrees compared to bare soil.
How to plant and long-term care
Plant in full sun using a spade in free-draining soil. Water until established, then leave largely unmanaged. Pruning is optional and usually unnecessary, making this a low-maintenance option.
10. Native apricot (Pittosporum angustifolium)
Climate: Arid, semi-arid, subtropical
Difficulty: Easy to Medium
Why wildlife are attracted to it
Native apricot is an important refuge shrub. Dense branching provides deep protection, fruit feeds birds and the shaded base creates stable ground temperatures used by reptiles and small mammals during heat events. In inland regions, multiple species often shelter under the same plant at once.
How to plant and long-term care
Plant in full sun using a spade and allow space for its natural upright form. Water during the first growing season only. Mulch lightly or allow leaf litter to accumulate. Prune sparingly to manage height, avoiding heavy thinning.
11. Callistemon (compact shrub varieties)
Climate: Temperate, subtropical, coastal
Difficulty: Easy
Why wildlife are attracted to it
Callistemon provides one of the most reliable nectar sources for birds in home gardens. Honeyeaters, lorikeets and wattlebirds are strongly drawn to the dense flower spikes. The branching structure also offers shelter for small birds, particularly during wind and heat. As shrubs mature, the shaded ground beneath can be used by reptiles during hot conditions. Callistemon flowers are specifically adapted for bird pollination, with stamens positioned to brush against feeding birds.
How to plant and long-term care
Plant in full sun using a spade or sharp gardening knife, allowing space for lateral root growth. Water regularly during establishment, then only during extended dry periods. Prune with secateurs immediately after flowering to encourage dense growth and repeat blooms. Avoid thinning the lower branches, as a compact form provides greater habitat value.
12. Banksia (compact shrub varieties)
Climate: Temperate, coastal, Mediterranean climates, parts of subtropical Australia
Difficulty: Medium
Why wildlife are attracted to it
Banksias provide energy-dense nectar that birds seek out and return to over extended flowering periods. Honeyeaters, wattlebirds and New Holland honeyeaters are frequent visitors, often defending a flowering plant as a reliable food source. At ground level, fallen leaves and spent flower cones create warm, textured litter that is used by reptiles for shelter and temperature regulation. Unlike short-lived flowering plants, banksias offer repeated and predictable wildlife use year after year.
How to plant and long-term care
Plant in full sun with excellent drainage, using a fork to loosen soil deeply rather than enriching it. Water gently during establishment, mulch lightly, keeping mulch away from the trunk and allow natural leaf litter to accumulate beneath the plant. Pruning is minimal and usually limited to removing spent flower spikes or damaged growth.
Why high-wildlife-value plants matter
The value of these plants cannot be underestimated. A single well-chosen shrub or groundcover can offer refuge during extreme heat, protection from predators or a reliable food source at key times of year.
When we include plants in our garden with strong structural and ecological roles, they begin to function as living systems rather than just decorative spaces.
And for many gardeners, noticing who starts to use the space is part of the reward.
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