Anything we can do to assist mother nature to do her thing we are on board with!

Planting trees and plants to support our native birds is more essential now than ever before. Even if you’re only planting to attract birds to your garden, you could still plant some specifically for native birds to eat from, live in or offer protection. Nectar-rich plants, fruit and seed-producing plants and plants that attract insects will offer valuable food sources for birds. These are the plants that have thick foliage, climbing plants and dense shrubs.

Examples of plants that will attract native birds: 

• Banksia
• Callistemon citrinus
• Grevillea
• Kangaroo paws
• Bottlebrush
• Acacia pycnantha
• Callistemon
• Camellia
• Hakea
• Mat rushes
• Melaleuca
• Bird of Paradise flower
• Ironwoods
• Correa
• Acacia (Wattle)
• Leptospermum
• Kunzea
• Tea-tree
• Callistemon

Here is a list of native plant nurseries in Queensland.

Birds Queensland has a great article on this, and the Australian Native Plant Society is an ideal resource if you’re looking for in-depth info on what to plant for your area and indigenous beasties. 

The Australian Native Plant Society is a fantastic resource to check out before you plant anything, as there are some native plants that have become weeds which can damage other native plants, birds and animals. You can find out what they are here.

While we’re on the topic of things to plant to help your native birds, don’t  about pollinators! Those buzzy little guys are one of the reasons humans are alive, so planting things for them is a great idea too. 

Bees want clusters of colourful nectar-producing flowers like Eucalyptus, Melaleuca, or Lavandula, Basil and Lavender work too.

Pro tip, bees also want dandelions which often grow when other food sources are limited so don’t pull them out!

Feel free to give our Ecological Tree Services office a call on 07 3520 8661 if you’d like advice on how to plant a garden for native species. 

-Alex the Arborist