Native plants

Eucalypts are the dominant tree throughout Mount Alexander Shire.

They are an integral part of the character of the Box-Ironbark region, with over 20 species recorded.

Across the drier forests of hills and ridges, typical species include Red Stringybark (Eucalyptus macrorhyncha), Red Box (Eucalyptus polyanthemos), Yellow Gum (Eucalyptus leucoxylon), Red Ironbark (Eucalyptus tricarpa), Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) and Silver Bundy (Eucalyptus nortonii).

On lower slopes and along gullies, where soils are more fertile, you’ll often find Yellow Box (Eucalyptus melliodora) and Candlebark (Eucalyptus rubida).

River Red Gum is found along creeks and rivers such as Campbells Creek, Forest Creek and the Loddon River, and in wetlands across the Moolort Plains in the west of the shire.

At higher elevations on the granite slopes of Mount Alexander (Leanganook), species such as Manna Gum (Eucalyptus viminalis) and Messmate Stringybark (Eucalyptus obliqua) are common.

Several eucalypts in the shire are extremely rare and of high conservation significance, including Goldfields Stringybark (Eucalyptus aurifodina), found in Muckleford, and the Fryers Range Scentbark (Eucalyptus conferta), found west of Taradale.

Many eucalypts develop extensive hollows as they age, providing vital habitat for native birds, mammals and reptiles. However, these old trees have been severely depleted through historic clearing.

Grey Box, Yellow Gum and Red Ironbark are among the highest nectar producers in Australia and attract a wide diversity of parrots, honeyeaters and lorikeets when flowering over the autumn-winter months.

Wattles (Acacia species) are among the most common and recognisable understorey plants across Mount Alexander Shire’s bushlands.

The region supports a diverse variety of wattles, ranging from small trees to shrubby forms, each contributing to the landscape’s seasonal colour and ecological value.

Along creeks and rivers, species such as Silver Wattle (Acacia dealbata) and Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) are commonly found.

In the drier forests and woodlands, a wider range of species flourish, including Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha), Gold-dust Wattle (Acacia acinacea), Spreading Wattle (Acacia genistifolia), Ploughshare Wattle (Acacia gunnii) and Mitchell’s Wattle (Acacia mitchellii).

Wattles flower at different times throughout the year, so there is almost always something in bloom.

However, late winter and early spring are particularly spectacular, with many species bursting into vivid golden-yellow displays that brighten the local bushland.

These flowers provide essential nectar and pollen for a wide range of insect pollinators, including many species of native bees.

The daisies (Asteraceae family) are among the most diverse plant families in the world, and the shire is home to hundreds of native daisy species.

These range from larger shrubs, such as Sifton Bush (Cassinia sifton) and Grey Everlasting (Ozothamnus obcordatus), to tiny ground-hugging plants like Pygmy Sunray (Triptilodiscus pygmaea) and Spoon Cudweed (Stuartina muelleri).

Many local daisies produce tough, long-lasting flowers, often referred to as ‘everlastings’, which can brighten the landscape for many months.

Notable examples include Sticky Everlasting (Xerochrysum viscosum), Common Everlasting (Chrysocephalum apiculatum) and Clustered Everlasting (Chrysocephalum semipapposum).

The shire is also fortunate to support one of the few remaining populations in central Victoria of the endangered Lanky Buttons daisy (Leptorhynchos elongatus), a delicate species found in herb-rich dry forest communities.

The shire is home to a wide variety of native pea species (family Fabaceae). These plants play an important ecological role by forming partnerships with soil bacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen, helping to enrich the soil for other plants.

Common local pea genera include the Bush-peas (Pultenaea), Bitter-peas (Daviesia), Parrot-peas (Dillwynia) and Globe-peas (Gompholobium).

Running Postman (Kennedia prostrata) is a low-growing creeper with striking red flowers that often germinates and flourishes after fire.

The Purple Coral-pea (Hardenbergia violacea) is a small climber known for its vibrant purple blooms.

Several species of Glycine also grow in the shire – small peas related to the cultivated soybean – including the nationally endangered Clover Glycine (Glycine latrobeana), which is found in grassy and open forest habitats.

Several native protea species (family Proteaceae) grow within the shire, each offering nectar-rich flowers that provide an important food source for birds, mammals and insects.

The tree form of Silver Banksia (Banksia marginata) was once widespread, forming low woodlands across the region. However, this species has become very rare due to historical land clearing, changes to fire regimes and grazing pressure.

Local revegetation projects are now helping to restore Silver Banksia to the landscape.

Rosemary Grevillea (Grevillea rosmarinifolia) has also become locally rare, while Downy Grevillea (Grevillea alpina) remains relatively common in areas such as the Fryers Range and Kalimna Park.

Another member of the Proteaceae family, the Dwarf Geebung (Persoonia chamaepeuce), is a small, ground-hugging species known from only a few locations within the shire.

The heaths (family Ericaceae) are typically found on relatively infertile, often sandy soils. Local species include the Beard-heaths (Leucopogon spp.) along with a range of other genera.

Daphne Heath (Brachyloma daphnoides) is locally common in drier foothill forests.

Honeypots (Acrotriche serrulata) is a small prostrate shrub that produces flowers with nectar that tastes like honey.

Cranberry Heath (Styphelia humifusum) is another low-growing species that produces edible berries.

Common Heath (Epacris impressa), the floral emblem of Victoria, displays a striking mix of pink and white flowers.

Several species of rice-flowers (Pimelea spp.) are found within the shire, including Common Rice-flower (Pimelea humilis), Slender Rice-flower (Pimelea linifolia) and Curved Rice-flower (Pimelea curviflora).

These attractive low-growing sub-shrubs produce small clusters of tubular white to pale yellow flowers, usually during spring.

They are most commonly seen in grasslands, woodlands and open forest areas, where they play an important role in supporting native pollinators, such as butterflies and native bees.

A particularly significant local species is the Spiny Rice-flower (Pimelea spinescens subsp. spinescens), which is listed as nationally threatened under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

This species has a highly restricted distribution and is only found at a few sites within the shire, in grasslands on volcanic soils.

Spiny Rice-flower is characterised by its spiny branches and small, creamy-white flowers.

Saltbushes are relatively uncommon in the shire. They are more typically found in the drier, semi-arid regions further north.

However, a few native species do occur locally, including Berry Saltbush (Atriplex semibaccata), Saloop (Einadia hastata), Ruby Saltbush (Enchylaena tomentosa) and Nodding Saltbush (Einadia nutans).

Most local saltbushes are small, hardy shrubs or trailing groundcovers.

Many species produce small, brightly coloured berries that are edible.

These berries are an important food source for native birds and other wildlife, which help disperse the seeds.

Mistletoes are fascinating semi-parasitic plants that grow on the branches of local eucalypts and wattles.

Rather than rooting in the ground, they attach to host trees and draw water and nutrients while still producing their own food through photosynthesis.

Local species include Narrow-leaf Mistletoe (Amyema preissii) and Grey Mistletoe (Amyema quandang), which typically grow on wattles, and Box Mistletoe (Amyema miquelii) and Drooping Mistletoe (Amyema pendula), which favour eucalypts.

Box Mistletoe is the most abundant species in the shire and is easily recognised by its dense, hanging clusters of foliage, especially on Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) and Yellow Box (Eucalyptus melliodora) trees.

Narrow-leaf Mistletoe, once rare locally, has expanded its range significantly, partly due to the widespread planting of wattles along waterways such as Forest Creek and Campbells Creek.

Creeping Mistletoe (Muellerina eucalyptoides) is more specialised, mostly found on River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and is common around Harcourt, though generally localised elsewhere.

Mistletoes are vital components of local ecosystems. Their flowers and berries provide food for many native birds, including honeyeaters and lorikeets, while their foliage supports a variety of butterfly species.

The threatened Painted Honeyeater (Grantiella picta) is a special visitor to the region, arriving in early summer to feed on the berries of Box Mistletoe.

Caterpillars of the Satin Azure (Ogyris amaryllis) feed on Narrow-leaf Mistletoe, and other butterflies such as the Broad-margined Azure (Ogyris olane) and Spotted Jezebel (Delias aganippe) rely on Box Mistletoe as a larval food plant.

Although mistletoes are sometimes blamed for tree decline, this is a misconception. Mistletoes rarely kill healthy trees. Instead, they tend to proliferate when trees are already stressed or weakened by other factors, such as drought, disease or environmental disturbance.

Lilies are native plants that grow from small underground tubers. They typically lie dormant during the hot, dry summer months, emerging after autumn rains and flowering in late winter or early spring.

In healthy areas of forest, woodland and grassland, lilies can form dense populations, creating spectacular wildflower displays when in bloom.

Local species include the well-known Chocolate Lily (Arthropodium strictum), which has delicate purple flowers with a distinctive chocolate-vanilla scent.

Milkmaids (Burchardia umbellata) produce clusters of elegant white flowers, while the Bulbine Lily (Bulbine bulbosa) stands out with its bright yellow blooms.

Smaller lilies add to the diversity, including the Early Nancy (Wurmbea dioica), named for its habit of flowering in early spring, and the dainty Tiny Star (Pauridia glabella). These lilies not only enhance the beauty of natural areas but also provide important nectar and pollen sources for native insects.

Orchids (family Orchidaceae) are one of the largest and most diverse groups of plants in the world. They are renowned for their intricate flowers and highly specialised life cycles, often forming complex relationships with specific fungi (mycorrhiza) and insects for germination and pollination. These delicate dependencies make orchids particularly vulnerable to environmental disturbance, habitat loss and soil degradation.

The Castlemaine Spider-orchid (Caladenia caudata) is a striking local species with vivid red flowers. It is endemic to central Victoria and known from only a small number of populations.

Other familiar orchids in the region include the delicate Pink Fingers (Caladenia carnea) and the pretty Blue Fairies (Cyanicula caerulea), both of which are smaller, ground-dwelling species that appear in spring. Greenhoods (Pterostylis species) are another common group, including the Nodding Greenhood (Pterostylis nutans), Emerald-lip Greenhood (Pterostylis smaragdyna) and Autumn Greenhood (Pterostylis ampliata).

The shire is home to many other fascinating orchid groups:

• Donkey Orchids (Diuris species): named for their two prominent, ear-like petals, these orchids are often found in grasslands and open woodland and forest.
• Sun-orchids (Thelymitra species): which bear flowers of blue, pink or yellow, which only open on warmer, sunny days when pollinator activity is highest.
• Beard-orchids (Calochilus species): notable for their unusual, hairy labellum (lip), which gives them a “bearded” appearance.

Midge-orchids (Corunastylis species): small and easily overlooked, these orchids have tiny flowers that are often pollinated by gnats or midges.

Sundews are small, carnivorous plants that have evolved to capture and digest insects, helping them obtain essential nutrients—particularly nitrogen—that are often scarce in the poor soils where they grow. Their leaves are covered with tiny, sticky glandular hairs that trap insects such as gnats, midges and small flies. Once caught, the insect is slowly digested to supplement the plant’s diet.

Several species of sundew are found within the Shire, each with its own unique growth habit:

• The Scented Sundew (Drosera aberrans) produces striking white flowers that are often as large as the entire plant.
• The Climbing Sundew (Drosera macrantha) has wiry stems that scramble through grasses and low shrubs, enabling it to reach for light in denser vegetation.
• The Tall Sundew (Drosera auriculata) and Scarlet Sundew (Drosera glanduligera) are upright species, with the latter known for its vivid red colouring and rapid trap movement, a rare feature among sundews.

Sundews are typically found in damp, sandy or peaty soils, especially in seasonally wet areas. 

Due to the region’s relatively dry climate, ferns are not particularly common within the shire, and those that do grow are generally well-adapted to dry conditions.

Several species of rock-fern (Cheilanthes species) are present, including Narrow Rock-fern (Cheilanthes sieberi) and Green Roch-fern (Cheilanthes austrotenuifolia).

These hardy ferns have finely divided fronds that can wither and dry out during hot weather, only to reshoot when moisture returns, making them well-suited to rocky, exposed environments.

Blanket Fern (Pleurosorus rutifolius) is another tough species, usually found clinging to crevices along rocky escarpments. Its hairy fronds help reduce moisture loss, allowing it to survive in challenging conditions.

Austral Bracken (Pteridium esculentum) can sometimes be found along gullies or in areas receiving groundwater seepage, spreading via an extensive underground rhizome network.

The shire is also home to several fern allies, which are plants that are closely related to true ferns but belong to different groups.

One of these is the Pacific Azolla (Azolla filiculoides), a tiny floating aquatic plant often seen covering the surface of ponds and wetlands.

Another species is Azolla, which forms a remarkable symbiotic relationship with a type of cyanobacteria (Anabaena azollae), which lives within its leaves and fixes atmospheric nitrogen, enriching the water with this essential nutrient.

Another notable species is Common Nardoo (Marsilea drummondii), an aquatic fern ally with clover-like leaves that can be found in and around seasonal wetlands.

Native grasses are a vital but often underappreciated part of our ecosystems. They provide food for grazing animals such as Eastern Grey Kangaroos and support thousands of insect species including moth and butterfly larvae.

Their seeds are also an important food source for birds like the Red-browed Finch and the endangered Diamond Firetail.

Most native grasses are deep-rooted perennials, helping to stabilise soil, reduce erosion and store carbon, making them especially valuable in a changing climate.

In contrast, many introduced grasses are shallow-rooted annuals that die off in spring, leaving soil exposed during the hot summer months.

Grasses fall into two broad groups based on their growth cycles:

• C3 grasses grow during the cooler months and include Spear Grass (Austrostipa), Weeping Grass (Microlaena stipoides), Wallaby-grass (Rytidosperma) and Tussock-grass (Poa).
• C4 grasses thrive in warmer conditions and grow over summer. Local examples include Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra) and Red-legged Grass (Bothriochloa macra).

While grasses can be tricky to identify, each species has distinctive seeds and growth habits.

A hand lens is a useful tool for closer inspection and modern microscopes can reveal incredible detail.

Whether in local bushland or home gardens, native grasses offer beauty, biodiversity and resilience.

Many species are easy to grow, require little water, and bring structure and movement to the landscape, making them an ideal choice for sustainable planting.

Rushes (Juncus species) are grass-like plants that typically grow in moist environments such as creek-lines, wetlands, floodplains and drainage-lines.

While they may appear unassuming, rushes play a vital role in local ecosystems – stabilising soil, filtering water and providing habitat for frogs, insects and small birds.

The shire supports a variety of native rushes, including several distinctive species:

• Hollow Rush (Juncus amabilis) is a delicate and attractive species with fine stems and a graceful form. It tends to grow in temporarily wet soils, and is often found along seasonal creeks and in damp grassy areas.
• Finger Rush (Juncus subsecundus) has slender, upright stems, and is commonly found in moist woodlands and drainage lines. It can tolerate periods of drying, making it well-suited to variable climates.
• Pale Rush (Juncus pallidus) is one of the tallest local rushes, forming robust clumps in wetter areas.
• Remote-flowered Rush (Juncus remotiflorus) is a finer species that prefers seasonally moist sites. Its small flowers are spaced further apart along the stem, giving it a distinctive appearance.
• Joint-leaf Rush (Juncus holoschoenus) is a robust species with cylindrical stems and distinct, jointed flowering parts. It is commonly found in wetter areas on the edges of creeks and wetlands.

Sedges are grass-like plants found in a wide range of moist and wet habitats, from damp forest edges and creek-lines to floodplains, wetlands and seasonal depressions. They play a vital role in wetland health by stabilising soil, filtering water and providing habitat for frogs, insects and small aquatic animals.

Mount Alexander Shire is home to a variety of native sedges, including:

• Common Bog-sedge (Schoenus apogon) is a small, tufted sedge often found in damp grasslands and woodland depressions. It is small and slender but can form dense mats in favourable conditions.
• Common Spike-sedge (Eleocharis acuta) has soft, upright green stems and grows in wet soils and shallow water around the edges of wetlands, creating habitat for frogs and aquatic invertebrates.
• Tall Sedge (Carex appressa) is a robust species that forms large clumps. It thrives in swampy areas, drainage lines and along creekbanks, providing excellent shelter for wildlife.
• Poong’ort (Carex tereticaulis) is a slender, upright sedge found in moist grasslands, wetlands and seasonally inundated sites.
• Swamp Club-sedge (Isolepis inundata) is a low-growing, spreading species found in seasonally wet areas and along creek-lines.

Flecked Flat-sedge (Cyperus gunnii) is a leafy, clump-forming sedge that is often found around the edges of creeks and wetlands.

Curly Pondweed (Potamogeton crispus) is afully submerged plant with distinctive wavy-edged leaves. It grows in still or slow-moving waters, providing shelter and food for aquatic invertebrates and small fish.

Water Ribbons (Cycnogeton procerum) are a floating or emergent species with long, strap-like leaves. It thrives in shallow wetlands and along waterway edges, producing small edible tubers.

Eel Grass (Vallisneria australis) grows entirely underwater and forms lush, ribbon-like meadows. It helps oxygenate the water and provides critical habitat for frogs, fish and aquatic insects.

Upright Water-milfoil (Myriophyllum crispatum) features finely divided, feathery leaves and reddish stems. It is an effective water oxygenator and an important food and shelter source for aquatic life.