Tasmanian Native Plants & Wildflowers
Butterfly Gardens
Butterflies have been called “flying flowers”, and their appearance in gardens brings enormous pleasure. Butterflies are not only beautiful but also help to pollinate flowers.
Most butterflies can be seen in the warmer days of spring, summer and autumn.
What Do Butterflies Need
To entice butterflies grow plants with nectar rich flowers and as every butterfly results from a caterpillar include some food plants eaten by caterpillars.
How to Make a Butterfly Garden
Butterflies prefer warm, sunny spots sheltered from the cold winds. The warmer and more sheltered your butterfly garden, the longer the butterflies will breed and linger for your enjoyment.
Put plants in groups using preferably one colour and include a variety of butterfly attracting plants.
Silver Wattle
Attracts Tasmanian Hairstreak Butterfly
A tall tree with a smooth trunk, often decorated with silvery, mottled patches and grayish-green bipinnate leaves. In spring, clusters of golden-yellow, fluffy ball like flowers almost cover this Australian native tree.
Black Wattle
Attracts Tasmanian Hairstreak Butterfly
Fast growing tree to 10m Excellent tree for dry sites or rocky outcrops. Yellow flowers in late spring.
Blackwood
Attracts Tasmanian Hairstreak Butterfly
An attractive wattle with flat phyllodes (leaves). Produces one of Australia’s most sought after woods for cabinet making. Light yellow flowers occur in winter and early spring. A useful tree for a windbreak or screen as it is dense growing. It is also tolerant of a wind range of positions, but its height and width will be greatest if the soil is moist and fertile.
Showy Bossiaea
Attracts Fringed Blue
Shrub to 1, tall X 1.5mqq large yellow and brown peas in early spring. Full or part sun in well drained soils. Preferres poor nutrient soils like coastal sands.
Blue Pincushion
Clump x 15cm sunny dry position, stunning blue pincushion flowers on slender stems in summer, moist well drained. Moist, well-drained soil. Tolerates dryness.
Prickly Box
Attracts Shouldered Brown Butterfly
Hardy shrub 3-5 m, with profuse scented creamy flowers in summer. Suitable for dry difficult sites. Prickly stems make it a useful habitat plant.
Tall Sedge, Tussock Sedge
Attracts Bright-eyed Brown
An herbaceous perennial to 1.8m high. Stems acutely 3 angled and leaves 306mm broard. Occurs on the swan coastal plain in winter wet depressions. Flowers in spring.
Curley Sedge
Attracts Bright-eyed Brown
An upright sedge to 30cm. Attractive tight curls on tips of leaves. Wet sites but will tolerate long dry spells.
Cauliflower Bush, Dolly Bush
Tall shrub, with small creamy to pink flowers formed into dense heads in spring and summer. Blue-green needle shape leaves. Tolerates wet and dry situations, full sun and part shade.
Billy Buttons, Billy Buttons Syn, Helichrysum Apiculatum
Syn. Helichrysum Apiculatum
An evergreen, spreading perennial, producing clusters of golden yellow button flowers for most of the year. Prefers a sunny position in moist well drained to sandy soil, and tolerates short periods of dryness. Trim back after flowering to encourage new growth. Perfect for rockeries, containers and native gardens.
Clustered Everlasting
Drought tolerant low spreading plant with grey or green narrow leaves. Yellow flowers in small clusters late spring to summer. Prune hard after flowering. Full or part sun.
Billy Buttons, Swamp Billy Buttons
Low growing daisy with spectacular yellow pom-pom flowers borne on long single stems. Suitable for a sunny position. Tolerates wet soils for extended periods.
Wallaby Grass
Attracts Browns Heteronympha Butterfly
Small tufted grass with lovely seed heads. Suitable for very dry sites.
Bitter Leaf, Bitter Pea, Hop Bitter Pea
Quick growing shrub to 2m. Yellow and orange pea flowers in spring with attractive new bronze foliage. Likes a well drained position.
Bitter Pea, Spiky Bitter Pea
This shrub is very spiky and is an excellent habitat plant. Tolerates very dry difficult sites. Yellow and orange pea flowers in Spring
Silky Flax-lily
An evergreen perennial plant forming clumps of arching, strap-like leaves. During spring and summer this plant bears clusters of nodding, star-shaped, blue floers which are followed by glossy deep blue to purple berries. The flowers are borne on tall stems held well above the foliage. Thrives in a sunny partly shaded position in humus rich, well drained soil. Ideal for rockeries, poolside plantings and containers. Protect from rabbits.
Black Anther Flax Lily, Blue Flax Lily, Flax Lily, Spreading Flax Lily
An evergreen perennial with arching strap-like leaves. The margins of which are slightly rolled back. During the spring and summer this plant bears clusters of nodding, star-shaped, bright blue flowers, which are followed by glossy, dark blue berries. Thrives in a sunny to partly shaded position in well drained soil. Ideal for rockeries, poolside planting and containers.
Flax Lily
An evergreen perennial plant with arching, strap-like leaves which can be up to 1.2m long. During spring and summer this plant bears clusters of nodding, star shaped, bright blue to purple flowers which are followed by glossy deep blue berries. Thrives in a sunny to partly shaded position in humus rich, well drained soil. Ideal for rockeries, poolside planting and containers.
Grey Parrot-pea
Attracts Fringed Blue
Evergreen small shrub with fine leaves t0 50cm. Orange yellow pea flowers cover the plant in spring. Full sun to part shade in well-drained soil. Tolerates dryness and shade.
Heath
Attracts Mountain Blue Butterfly
Masses of red, white or pink flowers adorn this popular heath. Grows to .5m.Needs well drained position.
Button Everlasting
Suckering plant 10cm tall X 40cm with 30cm stems bearing large yellow daisy flowers. Likes full sun to part shade and moist but well drained soils. Dormant over summer. Protects from snails.
Leafy shrub to 1.5m tall. Covered in masses of pink/purple pea like flowers. A blue dye can be extracted from the flowers.
Scaly Buttons, Sunny Buttons
Small rockery plant with yellow or cream flowers on slender stems to 15cm in summer. Well drained sites in sun or part shade.
Woolley Tea-tree
Upright shrub 4-6m with blue-grey leaves. Prefers moist sites with large white flowers in summer.
Common Tea Tree, Manuka
Hardy Tea Tree growing to 3m. Profuse white flowers in late spring or early summer.
Ross Daisy
Syn. Helipterum Albicans
Well drained sunny position, grey foliage, small heads of yellow paper-like flowers in spring. 45cm.
Long Leaf Mat Bush, Sagg
Attracts Rare White-spot Skipper
A popular plant for use as accent in gardens, where the rush like foliage contrasts well with broad leafed plants. Use it next to ponds or as a boarder plant. Flowers in spring, bearing clusters of cream strongly perfumed flowers - great for use in flora arrangements. A very adaptable plant that will grow well in a range of soils, but does best in a moist position.
Mauve Carpet
Low growing creeping plant. Ideal ground cover, with mauve flowers spring and summer. Semi shade or sun.
Daisy Bush, Musky Daisy Bush
Evergreen tall shrub to small tree. Large olive green leaves, silver underneath, white daisy flowers in large clusters in spring. Cool, moist conditions. Tolerates light snow and frost.
Daisy Bush, Silky Daisy Bush, Silky Daisybush
Evergreen small to medium shrub, grey-green leaves, masses of white daisy flowers during spring. Cool moist areas.
Daisy Bush, Swamp Daisy Bush
Frost hardy shrub to 1.5m high x 1.5m wide. Masses of white daisy flowers in summer. Hardy in moist well drained soil.
Daisy Bush, Silky Daisy Bush
Small to medium shrub. White daisies in spring. Sunny, well drained, situation. Frost resistant.
A compact, evergreen Australian native shrub which in spring is covered in masses in white daisy flowers, the species is variable with some forms producing pink or mauve flowers. The attractive grey-green, wavy edged leaves are aromatic.
Daisy Bush, Twiggy Daisy Bush, Twigy Daisy Bush
A small shrub of 1-1.5m in height with tiny leaves and a dense covering of tiny mauve or white flowers September to May. Very showy in flower. Well drained soil. Generally very hardy.
Daisy Bush
Fast growing, soft leaved shrub to 2.5m. masses of white daisy flowers in late spring. Prune after flowering if a compact shrub is required.
Daisy Bush
Fast growing, soft leaved shrub to 2.5m. masses of white daisy flowers in late spring. Best in a cool, moist, well drained site. Prune after flowering if a compact shrub is required.
Daisy Bush, Sticky Daisy Bush, Viscid Daisy Bush
Shiny leaved shrub to 2m x 1.5m wide for well drained and dry sites. White daisy flowers in summer
Daisy Bush, Sticky Daisy Bush, Viscid Daisy Bush
A loose-limmed shrub to 2m. with shiny green leaves and clusters of creamy-white flowers in summer. Prune if a more compact shrub is required is required. Adapts to most sites.
Sticky Bush Everlasting
A narrow erect growing shrub to 1.5m. glossy leaves and white flowers in spring. Endemic to Tasmania where it grows on hills and mountain slopes. Not suitable for dry sites.
Grey Everlasting
(syn. Helichrysum obcordatum)
shrub to 1m X 1m with neat rounded foliage which is grey underneath. Heads of golden flowers pring-summer. Likes well drained to dry soils in full or part sun.
Red Bud
Shrub to 2m with grey foliage and showy red buds opening to white flowers in late spring. Requires well drained or dry sites. Suitable for cut flowers.
Spreading shrub to 2m. masses of now white flowers the full length of long arching branches in spring. Well drained soil, frost hardy.
Snowy Pimelia
Large pom-pom white flowers adorn this medium sized shrub. Attractive deep green glossy leaves. An ideal cutflower plant suited to well drained sites. Frost hardy.
Attracts Tasmanian Skipper, White Grassdart, Ptunarra Brown, Klug’s Xenica, Common Silver Xenica
A popular Australian native grass grown for its soft green and grey foliage. In the warmer months this clumping plant produces an attractive flower head with a purple tint. Thrives in a sunny to partly shaded position and prefers moist, slightly acidic soils. Suitable for planting under trees, embankments and mass plantings. Cut to just above ground level in late winter for fresh new spring growth.
Velvet Grass
Attracts Tasmanian Skipper, White Grassdart, Ptunarra Brown, Common Silver Xenica
An ornamental grass with soft weeping foliage. Summer flowering. Hardy. Cut back hard in autumn if vigorous new growth is required. Native to Tasmania and Victoria.
Blue Pratia, Common Pratia, White Pratia
This dainty, spreading plant forms a carpet of tiny, green leaves, which from spring to early summer is smothered in a mass of tiny, white flowers. This carpeting plant is ideal for filling in spaces near rocks and sleepers, and makes an attractive groundcover, thrives in a sunny to semi-shaded position in moist soil. Keep moist at all times.
Alpine Mint Bush, Small Mint Bush
A sprawling shrub with small, soft rounded leaves that are strongly aromatic. During summer this Australian native shrub bears masses of showy, white or pale lilac flowers with purple blotches on the throat.
Christmas Bush, Tasmanian Christmas Bush
The Victorian Christmas bush comes into flower around Christmas. Throughout the moth of December, with masses of scented foliage. A rapid growth in a range of soils, but for best results grow in a well drained soil and mulch to retain moisture in the drier months. A useful plant that will grow in a range of positions in the garden.
Purple Mint Bush
Evergreen tall shrub with deep mauve to lilac flowers covering the whole plant in spring. Rounded small leaves are mint scented. Australian native responds well to light pruning after flowering.
Native Daphne
Attracts Fringed Blue
Quick growing 2-3 m for well drained sites. Yellow pea flowers in Spring
Creeping Fan Flower, Mat Fan Flower
A very densely evergreen matting groundcover with glossy, dark green leaves and small, white fan-shapes flowers in flushes during spring, summer and autumn. An excellent soil binding plant for average to moist positions. Frost hardy.
Kangaroo Grass
Attracts Common Brown
T.Australia
Ornamental and hardy native grass with reddish-bronzed tinged foliage and seed heads. Withstands dry conditions once established. Flowering stalks to 50cm high.
ButterflyMix
- Acacia dealbata Tasmanian Hairstreak Butterfly
- Acacia mearnsii Tasmanian Hairstreak Butterfly NSW, Vic, Tas
- Acacia melanoxyln Tasmanian Hairstreak Butterfly
- Bursaria spinosa Shouldered Brown, Sth East Australia 0-760, Bright Copper, Sthn Qld, NSW, Vic, Tas, 0-400
- Carex appressa Marrawah Skipper,NSW, Vic, Tas Bright-eyed Brown,Tas 0-1000
- Carex tasmanica Bright-eyed Brown
- Epacris family Mountain Blue Sth NSW,Vic,Tas
- Helichrysum alpine daisies Mountain Blue Sth NSW, Vic
- Helichrysum scorpiodes Australian Painted Lady, Aust and NZ
- Lomandra longifolia Rare White-spot Skipper, Sth Qld, NSW, Vic, SA, Tas 0-300m
- Poa rodwayii Dominula Skipper, Vic, NSW, 0-300m Tasmanian Skipper Sth coastal Qld to Tas White Grassdart, Nth Qld, NSW, Vic, SA 0-600, Hobart Brown, Tas 0-1000 Hobart Brown, Klug's Xenica, Sth and East Australia, Common Silver Xenica NSW, Vic, Tas 0-1000, Orichora Brown NSW, Vic, Tas, 750-1500m, Ptunarra Brown, Tas, 300-1200m
- Poa lab Dominula Skipper, Vic, NSW, Tas 0-300m Tasmanica Skipper Sth coastalQld to Tas, White Grassdart,Hobart Brown, Klug's Xenica, Common Silver Xenica, Orichora Brown, Ptunarra Brown
- Themeda triandra Common Brown, Sthn Australia
- Native peas Fabaceae family incl Aotus Fringed Blue Sth Qld, NSW, Vic, SA, Sth WA, Tas 0-1000m
- Native peas Fabaceae
Plants that may Atract Buterflies for Nectar Feeding
- Brachycombe
- Bursaria spinosa
- Epacris impressa
- Helichrysum bracteatum
- Hymemosporum flavum, Native frangipani
- Leptospermum
- Mazus pumilio
- Pimelia
- Pratia pedunculata
- Prostanthera
- Pulteneaea
- Scavola
- Some callistemon, Acacia and Melaleucasp
Some of the butterflies you may attract to your Garden and their Foodplants are
- Helichrysum spp Australian Painted Lady (Vanessa kershawi)
- Lomandra longifolia Symmons Skipper (Trapezides symmomus soma)
- Poa lab Ringed Xenica (Geitoneura acanthi acanthi)
- Themeda triandra, australis, Ringed Xenica
- Grasses inc Themeda triandra, Poa lab, Wallaby, Danthonia Browns Heteronympha
- Ghania Swordgrass Brown Tisiphone abeona