Native plants of the Adelaide Plains Identification chart

Local native plants belong to unique ecosystems comprising different layers of trees, shrubs, climbers, grasses, reeds/sedges and ground covers.
This chart provides a selection of plants from these different habitat layers and is not intended as a complete list.
Habitat is the term used to describe where wildlife lives, with plants providing the necessary food, shelter and breeding areas. Our sense of place
and oneness with the planet are enhanced when we co-exist with the local native plants which have evolved in our landscape over millions of years.

River Red Gum Grey Box Mallee Box South Australian Blue Gum Southern Cypress-pine Drooping Sheoak Silver Banksia Quandong
Eucalyptus camaldulensis Eucalyptus microcarpa Eucalyptus porosa Eucalyptus leucoxylon ssp. leucoxylon Callitris gracilis Allocasuarina verticillata Banksia marginata Santalum acuminatum

CH JG JT RW JG CH CH JT

SA’s largest gum; habitat heaven for many birds, Tall tree; fibrous grey bark. Habitat heaven Mallee or single-trunked tree. Greyish-brown Tall tree, smooth bark. Rich wildlife habitat. Native pine, grows in a formal symmetrical Shady tree with segmented needle-like branchlets. Shrub/small tree, long leathery leaves. Birds Small tree with edible fruit; favoured by rare
possums, koalas, insects, bees. Tree hollows are for birds, possums, insects; koalas eat leaves. rough bark. Hollows are homes for wildlife. Wine glass-shaped gumnuts. Lerps on leaves shape. Australia’s Christmas tree. The dense Adelaide Rosellas and finches glean the tiny seek out the nectar in the large blossoms and Wood White Butterfly for breeding. Its roots
homes for wildlife. Hollows are homes for wildlife. provide food for insect-eating birds. foliage is favoured habitat for many bird species. winged seeds from the woody seed cones. Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos feed on the seed. need a host plant.

to 30m to 20m 4-10m to 25m, often less to 15m 5-8m 1-7m to 5m

Golden Wattle Gold-dust Wattle Native Apricot Dryland Tea-tree River Bottlebrush Sweet Bursaria, Christmas Bush Tea-trees Mount Lofty Grass-tree, Yacca
Acacia pycnantha Acacia acinacea Pittosporum angustifolium Melaleuca lanceolata Callistemon sieberi Bursaria spinosa Leptospermum species Xanthorrhoea quadrangulata

CH JG CH JT CH CH JG JG

Tall bush/small tree; mass of yellow flowers in Small/medium shrub; slender long branchlets, Distinctive small tree, weeping foliage. Long-lived, hardy tall shrub/tree; cream-white Shrub with creamy white flowers. Occurs Upright shrub, cream flowers Nov/Dec. Ideal Shrubs or small trees; most species need moist A bush ballerina with its leafy skirt and vertical
spring. Wattle Blue Butterfly caterpillars feed round yellow flowers in spring. Ants help Honeyeaters and wattlebirds seek out bright flowers. Host plant for Melaleuca Mistletoe which naturally on riverbanks and in riverbeds. habitat for insects such as butterflies, beetles areas. Flowers attract native wasps, bees and flower stem. Refuge for small mammals, lizards.
on young leaves. Australia’s floral emblem. spread seed by taking it underground. red sticky seeds. provides food for Satin Azure Butterfly larva. Nectar source for birds. and native wasps. flies which keep tea-trees healthy. Long-lived.

X 3-6m to 1.5m 3-7m 4-10m 2-4m 1-3m to 5m to 2m

Hakeas Sennas, Cassias, Punty Bushes Sticky Hop-bush Correas Lavender Grevillea Twiggy Daisy-bush Guinea Flowers Clasping Goodenia
Hakea species Senna artemisioides subspecies Dodonaea viscosa ssp. spatulata Correa species Grevillea lavandulacea Olearia ramulosa Hibbertia species Goodenia amplexans

JG CH JG JG JG JG JG JG

Dense shrubs, mainly with needle-like leaves. Hardy rounded shrubs, yellow flowers late Tall spreading shrub; shiny green leaves. Small shrubs; dark shiny leaves. Winter nectar Spreading shrub, pink to red flowers. Nectar Aromatic bushy shrub. Food plant for a range Small shrubs with small leaves and bright yellow Distinctive yellow flowers, strong-smelling
Provides shelter for many birds. Woody seeds are spring. Food plant for the Small Grass Yellow Black seeds sought after by parrots and native supply for honeyeaters e.g. Eastern Spinebill. provides food for birds and insects. of butterflies, larvae and moths e.g. Crested flowers. Seeds are spread by ants and other leaves. Attracts the native Blue-banded Bee
sought after by Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos. Butterfly. Three subspecies. pigeons. Prefers some shade. Tea-tree Moth caterpillars. insects. which pollinates this useful sprawling shrub.

1-3m to 2m to 4m to 1m to 1m to 1.5m to 50cm to 1m

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Native plants of the Adelaide Plains Identification chart

Nodding Saltbush Ruby Saltbush Fragrant Saltbush Native Lilac Small-leaved Clematis, Old Man’s Beard Running Postman Everlastings Harlequin Mistletoe
Einadia nutans Enchylaena tomentosa Rhagodia parabolica Hardenbergia violacea Clematis microphylla Kennedia prostrata Chrysocephalum species Lysiana exocarpi

JG TFL TFL JG CH JG JT JG

Delicate groundcover or scrambler. Tiny edible Vigorous small shrub, also occurs as Spreading shrub, pale grey-green foliage. Vigorous scrambly climber with purple or Delicate climber; naturally scrambles up other Prostrate runner; showy lipstick-red pea flowers. Perennial herb; silvery-grey leaves, distinctive Native parasite, grows on host plants such as
red, yellow or orange berries. Butterfly- groundcover. Silvereyes and White-plumed Superb Fairywrens eat the fleshy round red fruit. white flowers in winter/spring. Food plant for plants. Distinctive cream flowers and fluffy seed Food source for Long-tailed Pea-blue Butterfly yellow flowers. Food plant for the Australian sheoaks and Native Cherry but not eucalypts;
attracting! Prefers growing at base of a tree. Honeyeaters eat the red, yellow or green berries. Common Grass-blue Butterfly. clusters; great nesting material for birds! larva. Prefers well-drained sunny site. Painted Lady Butterfly. seed spread by Mistletoebirds.

1x1m 0.5-1.5m

Flat-sedges Knobby Club-rush Rushes Stiff Mat-rush Black-anther Flax-lily Notched Onion-orchid New Holland Daisies Tall Bluebell
Cyperus species Ficinia nodosa Juncus species Lomandra multiflora ssp. dura Dianella revoluta Microtis arenaria Vittadinia species Wahlenbergia stricta

JG CH CH JG JT CH JG

Large clumped sedges found in wet areas. Large clumped rush; distinctive brown knobby Clumped rushes, with clusters of seeds on Symmetrical rounded tussocks. Lizards eat Dense hardy clumps of long strappy leaves. Several tiny greenish flowers, with a fragrant Daisy; pink, purple or white flowers. Prolific Stunning delicate wildflower with blue flowers
Frog heaven! C. gymnocaulos is suitable for seed heads. Frogs such as the Spotted Marsh upright stalks. Habitat for water birds. Found in seeds; Phigalia Skipper Butterfly caterpillars eat Electric blue flowers on long stalks. Bluetongue perfume. Leaf is green, narrow and tubular like fluffy seedheads typically cover the plant. in spring; attracts a range of pollinating insects
weaving. Habitat for pond and river wildlife. Frog use rushes for shelter. wet areas. the leaves. Hardy. lizards eat ripe fruit. Good border plant. a chive or onion. such as Hoverflies.

to 1.5m 0.5-1.5m 0.6-2m to 50cm to 1m to 60cm to 30cm to 60cm

Wallaby-grass Spear-grass Kangaroo Grass

Legend Rytidosperma species Austrostipa species Themeda triandra

This chart is not intended as a planting guide. Specific site conditions should be taken
Trees into account prior to selecting plants. In order to access species lists for your suburb go
to: www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/adelaidemtloftyranges and search for ‘plant selector’
Larger shrubs
which you will find on the urban biodiversity page.
Understorey plants/smaller shrubs You might also be interested in our other charts showcasing plants of the Adelaide Hills,
Barossa, Fleurieu, and coastal regions.
Climbing plants
Many thanks to the following who kindly supplied photographs: Jeremy Gramp (JG),
Ground covers Chris Hall (CH), Jason Tyndall (JT), Rob Wallace (RW) and Trees For Life (TFL).
JG JG
Grasses Butterfly-attracting Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution
Many varieties of small/medium tussocky Many varieties of larger tussocky grasses, food Tussocky grass with tall seedstalk to 1m with 3.0 Australia License
Saltbush Bird-attracting grasses; food plant for several butterfly species. plant for many varieties of butterfly. Prefers copper-red to brown seedhead. Food plant for
Prefers semi-shade. semi-shade. butterflies. Prefers full sun. www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au
Reeds/sedges Traditional use Copyright Owner: Crown in right of the State of South Australia 2016

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