Green genes at work in the Council plant nursery

Published on 19 June 2024

The nursery at St Ives is creating a living bank containing a back up population of two threatened plant species that originate in Ku-ring-gai.

The nursery in St Ives specialises in local provenance plants propagated by staff and volunteers, using locally sourced seeds and cuttings.

Local provenance plants are those naturally occurring and belonging in the local area which have evolved to suit geological and environmental conditions, making them very well suited for use in residents gardens.

Recently the staff and volunteers at the nursery have turned their attention to conserving two threatened Ku-ring-gai plant species.

One is the endangered shrub Haloragodendron lucasii, known as Hal for short. The collection being put together with the assistance of the NSW Saving Our Species program will include clones of all known wild specimens of Hal, securing the full genetic diversity of the species.  The intention is to slowly reintroduce Hal to local bushland areas where it has previously disappeared.

Another even rarer plant that was first discovered in Ku-ring-gai by a Council staff member in 2012 will also have its own bank of propagated seeds and plants.

The critically endangered Hibbertia spanantha is being preserved through the progeny of plants from the Ryde, Cheltenham, Maroota and Turramurra areas.

With the nursery collection now numerous and healthy, selected plants were chosen for translocation into Turramurra where it was first discovered. The Turramurra colony has received thirty-two plants descended from Ryde, Cheltenham and Maroota.

Council staff are closely monitoring the health of the Hibbertia spanantha population in Turramurra to assess cross-pollination between wild and translocated plants.

Mayor Sam Ngai said the two unique plant collections were the result of painstaking work by nursery staff and volunteers.

“Many hours of work have gone into this project, especially by the nursery volunteers. It’s wonderful to see such dedication to preserving Ku-ring-gai’s unique vegetation, which is so important to biodiversity.”

Native plants produced at the nursery are available for sale at the Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden. Mayor Ngai said the Wildflower Garden nursery was open to the public at selected times and could also organise online orders on a click and collect basis.

“Our staff are available to help with plant selection and discuss with you how these might meet your garden requirements”.

For more information about Ku-ring-gai Council’s locally produced plants visit krg.nsw.gov.au/nursery

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Media enquiries: media@krg.nsw.gov.au or 9424 0000.