Identifying germinated native vegetation

Telling native seedlings apart from weeds

Learning how to identify a recently germinated native seedling from a weed seedling can be tricky.

The first pair of leaves that appear on germination are the “seed leaves” or cotyledons. These will often be quite different in appearance to subsequent “true leaves”.

Below are examples of native plant families commonly used in direct seeding. Where possible, photos of young plants are included to help you identify newly germinated native vegetation.

This table shows how common native plant genera look at different stages of germination and early growth. Each row lists a genus, its growth rate, and risks to germination, alongside simple line drawings showing seedling development at 3 weeks, 4 to 8 weeks, 2 to 3 months, and 4 months after seeding.

Photos of common native species

• Acacia (Wattle): Fast-growing. Risks include grazing, trampling and insect damage such as red-legged earth mite. Seedling starts with two oval cotyledons, developing into a small plant with multiple branching leaves by 4 months.

  

• Senna (Cassia/punty bush): Fast-growing. Similar risks. Begins with two rounded seed leaves and forms paired true leaves by 2 months, with a bushy structure at 4 months.

• Dodonaea (Hopbush): Fast-growing. Single narrow seed leaves that elongate and branch by 4 months.

• Eucalyptus (Red gum, Mallee): Fast-growing. Shows tiny paired cotyledons close to the soil at 3 weeks, then upright stems and leaves forming by 4 months.
• Callitris (Native pine): Slow-growing. Y-shaped cotyledons at 3 weeks, thickening and forming a cone-like tip by 4 months.

• Allocasuarina (Sheoak): Slow-growing. Flat seed leaves at first, followed by upright growth with narrow needle-like leaves.
• Pittosporum (Butterbush, Native apricot): Slow-growing. Two slender cotyledons, becoming a leafy upright seedling.
• Atriplex (Old man saltbush): Fast-growing. Broad seed leaves leading to compact leafy growth by 4 months.
• Melaleuca (Moonah): Slow-growing. Tiny paired cotyledons and small upright leaves forming a short bushy seedling.

Germination time

Native seeds can germinate in just a few weeks, or it may take up to 3 months or longer. How quickly they sprout depends on soil moisture, temperature and light.

In some parts of the Murray region, seeds have stayed dormant for as long as 9 years. Once the right seasonal and soil conditions returned, they began to germinate.