SUPPORTING NATIVE PLANTS AND THEIR INSECT POLLINATORS

Gardeners, in cities and elsewhere, can help sustain locally native plants and insects. Gardens for Wildlife Victoria commissioned research (Mumaw & Mata, 2021) to better understand how wildlife gardening can contribute to the wellbeing of wildlife gardeners, indigenous plant species, and their insect pollinators.

Here we showcase information from that work that we hope will be of use to wildlife gardeners, indigenous plant nurseries, and anyone interested in indigenous plants and insect pollinators. The research included surveys across a calendar year of indigenous plant species provided by four indigenous plant nurseries supplying wildlife gardening programs in greater Melbourne. Many of these species are found across Victoria.

If you are interested in including these plants in your garden, many of these will be available at your local indigenous nursery. A list of indigenous plant nurseries that supply some Gardens for Wildlife programs in Victoria can be found below:
Indigenous Plant Nurseries

Insect pollinators found on indigenous plants in the research

The research tracked insects found on the reproductive organs of flowers of 37 indigenous plant species across a year. Most of the observed insects are recognised as pollinators. Native insect species (36) were more frequently seen than introduced species (7). Most of the plant species were seen with both indigenous and introduced insect pollinators, but a few were associated with only one or the other group. The European honeybee was the most frequently observed species, followed by native sweat bees and hoverflies. Native sweat bees and grass blue butterflies were found across the greatest diversity of studied plant species (seeMumaw & Mata, 2021, pp 42-48 for details)

To see an illustration of the number of native insect species found on each of the studied plant species, please click on the plant name in the Table Below. This will display a photo of a plant and one of the insect species, and a graphic of its flowering period.

TABLE A:
High Performing Indigenous plants for attracting native insect pollinators

Austral stork’s-bill
Common everlasting
Cut-leaf daisy
Hop goodenia
Sticky everlasting
Twiggy daisy-bush
Yarra burgan

TABLE B:
All indigenous plants included in this study – With links to plant labels:

Indigenous plant labels

Gardens for Wildlife Victoria have designed 35 indigenous plant labels based on observations from the research commissioned from Mumaw & Mata (2021).
The Plant labels can be downloaded at the links and printed in a format and size commonly used by many indigenous nurseries. The labels include marks for cutting.

Scientific Name:	Common Name:	Pollinators Attracted:	Printable Plant Label:
Banksia marginata	Silver banksia	2	Banksia marginata
Brachyscome multifida	Cut-leaf daisy	13	Brachyscome multifida
Brachyscome paludicola	Swamp daisy	5	Brachyscome paludicola
Brunonia australis	Blue pincushion	2	Brunonia australis
Bulbine bulbosa	Bulbine lily	3	Bulbine bulbosa
Bursaria spinosa	Kurwan	3	Bursaria spinosa
Cassinia sp.	Cassinias	7	Cassinia sp.
Chrysocephalum apiculatum	Common everlasting	10	Chrysocephalum apiculatum
Chrysocephalum semipapposum	Clustered everlasting	9	Chrysocephalum semipapposum
Clematis microphylla	Small leaved-clematis	2	Clematis microphylla
Coronidium scorpioides	Button everlasting	3	Coronidium scorpioides
Correa alba	White correa	6	Correa alba
Correa glabra	Rock correa	3	Correa glabra
Correa reflexa	Common correa	2	Correa reflexa
Dianella sp.	Flax-lilies	4	Dianella sp.
Epacris impressa	Common heath	3	Epacris impressa
Geranium sp.	Crane’s-bills	3	Geranium sp.
Glycine clandestina	Twining glycine	2	Glycine clandestina
Goodenia ovata	Hop goodenia	10	Goodenia ovata
Goodenia paradoxa	Spur goodenia	1	Goodenia paradoxa
Hakea nodosa	Yellow hakea	2	Hakea nodosa
Kunzea leptospermoides	Yarra burgan	11	Kunzea.sp
Leptospermum sp.	Teatrees	6	Leptospermum sp.
Leucochrysum albicans	Hoary sunray	2	Leucochrysum albicans
Linum marginale	Native flax	1	Linum marginale
Lythrum salicaria	Purple loosestrife	1	Lythrum salicaria
Microseris sp.	Murnongs	5	Microseris sp.
Olearia myrsinoides	Silky daisy-bush	2	Olearia myrsinoides
Olearia ramulosa	Twiggy daisy-bush	9	Olearia ramulosa
Pelargonium australe	Austral stork’s-bill	11	Pelargonium australe
Podolepis jaceoides	Showy podolepis	4	Podolepis jaceoides
Scaevola aemula	Fairy fan-flower	2	Scaevola aemula
Viola hederacea	Ivy-leaved violet	1	Viola hederacea
Wahlenbergia sp.	Bluebells	4	Wahlenbergia sp.
Xerochrysum viscosum	Sticky everlasting	19	Xerochrysum viscosum