Ku-ring-gai is bursting with stunning native plants, essential to preserving our local flora and providing food and habitat for our native wildlife. High rainfall and rich clay soils support over 800 plant species in our local areas and include 18 threatened species.
Ecological communities
Iconic Aussie flora including the Sydney Green Wattle and Old Man Banksia thrive in Ku-ring-gai within our main ecological communities.The conditions in Ku-ring-gai allow unique environments to flourish. We have a patch of rainforest at Brown's Field in South Turramurra where Cabbage Palms and Sassafras trees can be found, a mangrove forest in Middle Harbour near Roseville and wet heaths in St Ives.
Learn more about our ecological communities
Endangered ecological communities
We have six ecological communities which are either endangered or critically endangered.
Learn more about them and our efforts to protect them
Native species
Local flora species include the Blue Trumpet, Common Silkpod, White Dogwood, Grey Mangrove, Tall Bluebell, Swamp Oak, Prickly Treefern, Bitter Pea, Sydney Golden Wattle, Native Geranium, Flax Lily, Pearl Vine Climber, Crimson Bottlebrush, Scribbly Gum, Sydney Peppermint, Blackbutt, Wallaby Grass, Water Pepper Herb, Red Spider Flower, Woody Pear and Burrawang.
Threatened flora
Local species include the Heart-leaved Stringybark, Midge Orchids, Yellow-top Ash,Julian's Hibbertia, Narrow-leaf Finger Fern (Gramittis stenophylla).
For a full list view our Biodiversity Strategy (pdf. 1MB)
Your garden
Pollinator favourites
Residents have told us their favourite flowering natives for attracting bees, pollination and general attractiveness. Download the full list here. (pdf. 435KB)
Your Hidden Native Garden (pdf. 3MB) from the Environmental Trust NSW is another helpful guide for identifying native plants in your backyard and how you can preserve and appreciate their range of benefits.
Weeds
Weeds compete with our native species for resources and threaten the health of our local habitats. There are things we can all do to reduce the impact of weeds on our local community.
Learn how to prevent weeds
Grow me instead
Search a library of alternatives for those invasive plants in your backyard.
Spotted something unique?
Let us know at wildthings@kmc.nsw.gov.au. Your input will help us learn more about Ku-ring-gai’s biodiversity and manage our precious bushland.
Related documents
Ku-ring-gai Biodiversity and Riparian Lands study (pdf. 5MB)
Mapping_and_Assessment_of_Key_gai_Local_Government_Area_Volume_1_Technical_Report.pdf (pdf. 7MB)
Mapping_and_Assessment_of_Key_gai_Local_Government_Area_Volume_2_Technical_Report.pdf (pdf. 3MB)