Plant species selection for revegetation

Advice on choosing native plants for a revegetation project.

Why plant selection is important

When planning revegetation, it is important to:

• mimic the original vegetation type where possible
• use trees, shrubs and groundcovers that are indigenous (locally native) to your area
• choose species that are suited to your local soils, climate and landscape position.

Using locally occurring species helps to:

• create self-sustaining ecosystems
• support local wildlife that depend on specific plants for food or shelter
• build resilience to pests, diseases and changing environmental conditions.

On highly degraded sites, you may need to plant more pioneer species at first. These hardy species help create shade, shelter and better soil conditions for later plantings.

Endemic native plant species

Endemic (locally native) plant species are well suited to your region. They typically:

• have a proven track record for your landscape, soil types and climate
• show natural tolerance to local pests and diseases
• provide food and habitat for local wildlife.

Where possible, prioritise endemic species in your plant list.

Identifying local plant species

There are many ways you can learn about plants that grow on your property, and which ones are locally endemic and which ones are weeds. 

When selecting the best local plant species for native vegetation, you can:

• consult reference books and native vegetation guides
• get expert advice, including Local Land Services staff, to provide vegetation maps and species lists
• search intact remnant areas to see what grows in your area
• take pressings and label species or keep an album of plants and identify them as you go
• volunteer with Landcare groups or community nurseries near you
• use online tools, social groups, or plant apps
• search ecological communities online for specific species lists.

Vegetation types

To select suitable species, you first need to understand what vegetation type occurs on your property.

On many properties there is more than one vegetation type, sometimes referred to in NSW as Plant Community Types (PCTs). For example, you may have:

• riparian vegetation along creeks or rivers
• woodland or forest on hills and slopes
• different communities on gullies, flats or ridgelines.

Soil type, rainfall, altitude and temperature all influence which plants will grow where.

Some vegetation types are common. Others are rare and may be listed for protection under legislation because they have been heavily cleared in the past.

Using Trees Near Me

You can use the Trees Near Me app to get information on current and pre-clearing vegetation communities in your area. 

The app assigns a unique 3 or 4-digit number to each PCT. Once you identify which plant community is present on your property, you can get more information on this vegetation type. For example, species lists for trees, shrubs, ground cover and other species like vines and scramblers.

Check out Trees Near Me.

Ecological communities

Ecological communities are complex groups of plants and animals that occur together in a particular area.

Many threatened ecological community types are listed as:

• vulnerable
• endangered
• critically endangered (at risk of extinction).

Many threatened ecological communities have been cleared or degraded. In some cases, less than 10% remains and only a small amount of this area resembles or functions in its natural state.

It is important to conserve and rehabilitate these degraded areas, even if only single paddock trees or small patches remain. They may provide habitat that is critical to the survival of native plants and animals, including threatened species.

Many small fragments of threatened ecological communities occur on:

• Private land
• Road reserves
• Travelling stock reserves
• Public reserves

Being able to recognise these communities helps you protect them and choose appropriate species for revegetation.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has resources on identifying threatened ecological communities.

Benefits of wattles for revegetation species

For most revegetation projects, including a minimum of 50% shrub cover is recommended. Wattles are an excellent choice.

Wattles are diverse genus of plants that vary in appearance and growth habit.  They can be low spreading shrubs like the Hairy Wattle (Acacia vestita) or large trees such as the Blackwood Wattle (Acacia melanoxylon). Known scientifically as acacias, they have nearly 1,000 species nationally. This makes them the largest group of flowering plants in Australia.

Wattles are referred to as a pioneer species. They are the first to germinate after a disturbance event. This is useful as they provide cover and protection for other species and can create a microclimate that allows other species to survive.

The rapid growth of wattles protects bare soil, often preventing erosion. 

Wattles fix nitrogen that provides nutrients for other plants restoring fertility of the soil.   Being short lived they provide this service while other slower growing species can establish themselves. Kurrajong are a species that benefits from wattles. The extra nutrients provided and the need for them to grow to the light can often speed what is normally a very slow growing species.

In a revegetation project it is important to provide structural diversity.  This provides habitat for the smaller birds that can assist in managing insect pests and maintain the health of the vegetation. Increasing numbers of Noisy Minors can be reduced with an intact mid storey layer while providing shelter and habitat for a wider range of bird species.

Harvesting wattle seed

If you already have wattles on your property, you can collect seed and use it in your revegetation project.

To prepare wattle seed:

• Collect seed from healthy, local plants.
• Pour boiling water over the seed and allow it to soak overnight to break the hard seed coat.
• Sow treated seed in nursery trays for later transplanting, or sow directly at your project site.

Always collect seed from a range of individual plants to maintain genetic diversity.

Ordering native seedlings

When ordering plants from nurseries or seed suppliers, consider:

• Local provenance: Ask whether the seed was collected locally. Local provenance plants are better adapted to your conditions. They also help maintain local genetic diversity.
• Lead time: Contact nurseries early, at least 9 months before planting, to ensure they can grow the species you need and allow time for hardening off.
• Large orders: If you need large numbers of specific native species, allow up to 12 months so seed can be collected and plants grown to order.

Working with local nurseries and community groups can also help you source suitable species and support local seed networks.

Collecting and using native seed

If you plan to collect and propagate your own seed:

• Only collect from local, naturally occurring native vegetation.
• Collect from many plants across a site to maintain genetic diversity.
• Avoid over-collecting from any single plant or population.

Seed collection from listed threatened or endangered communities may require permits. Best practice guidelines, such as the Florabank National Guidelines for Best Practice Seed Collection and Use, outline:

• how much seed can be collected from each plant
• record keeping requirements
• seed cleaning, storage and handling standards.

Following these guidelines helps protect native plant populations and ensures your revegetation project supports long-term ecosystem health.

Landholders in the Murray and Riverina areas can purchase seed and get advice from Murray Native Seed Services. 

Your next steps

Get advice on:

• planning your on-ground revegetation works
• methods for planting seedlings
• direct seeding for native revegetation
• identifying newly germinated seedlings.