Flora of Brisbane facts for kids

The greater Brisbane area in Queensland, Australia, is home to many amazing native plants. These plants are called "indigenous flora" because they naturally grow here. This article will help you discover some of these cool plants and where you can find them around Brisbane, in parks and in the wild!

Discover Brisbane's Native Plants

Let's explore some of the native plants you can find in Brisbane. We'll list them by their scientific family name, then their specific scientific name, and finally their common names.

Trees and Shrubs

Many different trees and shrubs call Brisbane home. They provide shade, food, and homes for local animals.

• Acacia, also known as wattles, are famous for their bright yellow flowers.
  • Acacia fimbriata, the Brisbane golden wattle, is a beautiful local type.
  • Acacia leiocalyx, the black wattle, is another common sight.
• Acmena, or lillypillies, often have colourful berries.
  • Acmena smithii, a common lillypilly, is a popular garden plant too.
• Alphitonia
  • Alphitonia excelsa, the red ash, is a tall tree.
• Angophora, known as apples or gums, are related to eucalypts.
  • Angophora subvelutina, the broadleaf apple, has rough bark.
• Allocasuarina, or forest she-oaks, have needle-like leaves.
  • Allocasuarina torulosa, the forest she-oak, makes a soft, whispering sound in the wind.
• Araucaria, these are ancient conifers or pines.
  • Araucaria bidwillii, the bunya pine, produces huge cones with edible nuts.
  • Araucaria cunninghamii, the Moreton Bay pine or hoop pine, is a tall, straight tree.
• Argyrodendron
  • Argyrodendron trifoliolatum, the white booyong, is a rainforest tree.
• Austromyrtus
  • Austromyrtus hillii, the scaly myrtle, is a smaller tree.
• Banksia are known for their unique, cone-like flowers.
  • Banksia integrifolia, the coastal banksia, grows well near the beach.
• Brachychiton, known as kurrajong or bottletree, often have swollen trunks.
  • Brachychiton discolor, the lacebark, has stunning pink flowers.
  • Brachychiton populneus, the kurrajong, is very tough.
• Callistemon, or bottlebrush, have flowers that look like bottle brushes.
  • Callistemon salignus, the white bottlebrush, has creamy flowers.
  • Callistemon viminalis, the weeping bottlebrush, has bright red flowers.
• Castanospermum
  • Castanospermum australe, the black bean, has large, dark seeds.
• Casuarina, or she-oaks, are often found along rivers.
  • Casuarina cunninghamiana, the river she-oak, helps prevent riverbank erosion.
• Citrus
  • Citrus australasica, also called finger lime, has tiny, caviar-like pulp.
  • Citrus australis, the native lime, is another local citrus.
• Corymbia, these are bloodwoods, ghost gums, or spotted gums.
  • Corymbia citriodora, the lemon scented gum, smells like lemons!
  • Corymbia tessellaris, the Moreton Bay ash, has a distinctive bark pattern.
• Cupaniopsis
  • Cupaniopsis anacardioides, the tuckeroo, is a common street tree.
• Dysoxylum
  • Dysoxylum rufum, the hairy rosewood, is a rainforest tree.
• Elaeocarpus, or quandong, are known for their colourful fruits.
  • Elaeocarpus reticulatus, the blueberry ash, has pretty blue berries.
• Eucalyptus, known as gums or ironbarks, are iconic Australian trees.
  • Eucalyptus microcorys, the tallowwood, has very durable timber.
  • Eucalyptus tereticornis, the Queensland blue gum, is a tall, impressive tree.
• Ficus, or figs, are well-known for their large, spreading canopies.
  • Ficus macrophylla, the Moreton Bay fig, is a giant tree with huge roots.
  • Ficus obliqua, the small-leaved fig, is another common fig.
• Flindersia, or ash trees.
  • Flindersia australis, Crow's ash, is a strong timber tree.
• Glochidion
  • Glochidion ferdinandi, the cheese tree, has fruits that look like tiny cheese wheels.
• Gmelina
  • Gmelina leichhardtii, the white beech, is a valuable timber tree.
• Grevillea
  • Grevillea robusta, the silky oak, has beautiful orange flowers.
• Harpullia
  • Harpullia pendula, the tulipwood, has attractive red fruits.
• Hibiscus
  • Hibiscus heterophyllus, the native hibiscus, has large, showy flowers.
• Hymenosporum
  • Hymenosporum flavum, the native frangipani, has fragrant yellow flowers.
• Jagera
  • Jagera pseudorhus, the foambark, gets its name from the foam it produces when its bark is rubbed.
• Lophostemon, or boxes.
  • Lophostemon confertus, the brush box, is a very common street tree in Brisbane.
• Macaranga
  • Macaranga tanarius, the blush macaranga, is a fast-growing tree.
• Mallotus
  • Mallotus philippensis, the red kamala, has fruits used to make a red dye.
• Melia
  • Melia azedarach var. australasica, the white cedar, is a beautiful shade tree.
• Omalanthus
  • Omalanthus populifolius, the bleeding heart, has leaves that turn red before falling.
• Pittosporum
  • Pittosporum rhombifolium, the hollywood, has bright orange berries.
• Podocarpus, conifers or pines.
  • Podocarpus elatus, the brown pine, is a native conifer.
• Polyscias
  • Polyscias elegans, the celerywood, is a rainforest tree.
• Rhodosphaera
  • Rhodosphaera rhodanthema, the deep yellowwood, has lovely yellow timber.
• Stenocarpus
  • Stenocarpus sinuatus, the firewheel tree, has unique, wheel-shaped red flowers.
• Sterculia
  • Sterculia quadrifida, the peanut tree, has pods that look like peanuts.
• Syzygium
  • Syzygium australe, the creek lilly pilly, is a popular native plant.
• Toona
  • Toona australis, the red cedar, is a famous Australian timber tree.
• Tristaniopsis
  • Tristaniopsis laurina, the watergum, often grows near water.
• Waterhousea
  • Waterhousea floribunda, the weeping lilly pilly, has graceful weeping branches.

Ferns and Groundcovers

These plants grow closer to the ground, often in shady, moist areas.

• Adiantum
  • Adiantum aethiopicum, the common maidenhair fern, has delicate fronds.
• Alpinia
  • Alpinia caerulea, the native ginger, has edible blue berries.
• Asplenium
  • Asplenium australasicum, the birdsnest fern, grows in a large, nest-like shape.
• Cissus
  • Cissus antarctica, the water vine, is a climbing plant.
• Cordyline
  • Cordyline petiolaris, the broad-leaved palm lily, has colourful leaves.
• Crinum
  • Crinum pedunculatum, the river lily, has large white flowers.
• Davallia
  • Davallia pyxidata, the haresfoot fern, has furry rhizomes.
• Dianella
  • Dianella caerulea, the blue flax lily, has pretty blue berries.
• Doodia
  • Doodia aspera, the prickly rasp fern, has rough fronds.
• Drynaria
  • Drynaria rigidula, the basket fern, forms a basket-like base.
• Gymnostachys
  • Gymnostachys anceps, the settlers flax, has long, sword-like leaves.
• Lomandra
  • Lomandra longifolia, the long-leaved matrush, is a very common grass-like plant.
• Oplismenus
  • Oplismenus aemulus, the creeping beard grass, is a soft groundcover.
• Platycerium
  • Platycerium bifurcatum, the elkhorn, is a famous fern that grows on trees.
  • Platycerium superbum, the staghorn, is even larger than the elkhorn.
• Pteris
  • Pteridium esculentum, the common bracken, is a widespread fern.
• Smilax
  • Smilax australis, the barbed wire vine, is a climbing plant with thorns.

Orchids and Vines

Brisbane is also home to beautiful orchids and climbing vines.

• Aristolochia
  • Aristolochia praevenosa, the Richmond birdwing butterfly vine, is super important! It's the only plant the caterpillars of the amazing Richmond birdwing butterfly can eat.
• Dendrobium, these are native orchids.
  • Dendrobium speciosum, the king orchid, has large, showy flowers.
  • Dendrobium teretifolium, the bridal veil orchid, has long, hanging stems.
• Pandorea
  • Pandorea pandorana, the wonga vine, has pretty bell-shaped flowers.
• Stephania
  • Stephania philippensis, the snake vine, is a climbing plant.

Where to See Native Plants in Brisbane

You can find these amazing native plants in many parks, forests, and reserves around Brisbane. It's a great way to explore nature!

Parks and Reserves in the City Area

These places are right in or very close to Brisbane city.

• Anstead Bushland Reserve
• Banks Street Reserve
• Boondall Wetlands - Great for birdwatching and seeing wetland plants.
• Bunyaville State Forest Park - A popular spot for walking and mountain biking.
• Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha - A fantastic place to see many different native plants, often labelled.
• Brisbane Forest Park, Queensland - A large area with diverse habitats.
• Brisbane Koala Bushlands - You might even spot a koala here!
• City Botanic Gardens - Right in the heart of the city, with some beautiful old trees.
• Karawatha Forest - A large bushland area with many walking tracks.
• Mt Coot-tha Forest - Next to the Botanic Gardens, offering great views and bushwalks.
• Roma Street Parkland - A beautiful park with a mix of native and exotic plants.
• Toohey Mountain / Toohey Forest - A significant bushland area on the south side of Brisbane.
• Venman Bushland National Park - A lovely national park just outside the main city area.

Natural Areas Within 100 km of Brisbane

If you travel a little further from the city, you'll find even more incredible natural places.

• Bribie Island - Known for its coastal plants and beautiful beaches.
• Burleigh Head National Park - On the Gold Coast, with stunning coastal rainforest.
• Glasshouse Mountains - Famous for their unique volcanic peaks and surrounding bushland.
• Moreton Island National Park - A large sand island with diverse plant life.
• North Stradbroke Island - Another large sand island, great for exploring.
• Tamborine Mountain - A cooler, elevated area with lush rainforests.
• White Rock Conservation Park - Near Ipswich, known for its distinctive white rock formations and bushland.