Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner is encouraging residents looking for a last minute Christmas gift to consider Council’s Free Native Plants program.
Cr Schrinner said residents could get a voucher from their local library or ward office and head to a participating nursery to grab up to two free plants.
“Aussie natives make the perfect present for last minute-gift givers because they’re drought resistant and low maintenance enough for people without green thumbs,” he said.
“We’ve got 40 different varieties, from smaller, pot-options for homes with balconies to flowering groundcovers, climbers, feature and shade trees for bigger yards.”
The most popular plants chosen by residents this year include fan flower (Scaevola aemula), common rush (Juncus usitatus), grevillea (Grevillea), native ginger (Alpinia caerulea) and bottlebrush (Callistemon).
Cr Schrinner said the program gave away more than 45,000 plants to homeowners, renters and organisations each year.
“This program started in the late 1960s and is the longest running of its kind in Australia,” he said.
“It has helped green our city to the point where Brisbane now has more tree cover than any other capital city in the nation.
“Making it easier for residents to plant trees helps remove carbon dioxide, beautify our gardens and provide much-needed shade in our sub-tropical climate. By providing habitat, trees also support our city’s wildlife and attract insects and bees.”
Residents can get a voucher for two free plants by following three easy steps:
- Visit a library, Council Regional Business Centre, ward office or Council’s Downfall Creek Bushland Centre at Chermside West or Karawatha Forest Discovery Centre at Karawatha.
- Present your paid rates notice or if a renter, written authority from the current financial year from the property owner or property manager.
- Visit a participating retail nursery and exchange your voucher for two free native plants
Council has invested more than $130,000 towards the program which was part of its commitment to making Brisbane more clean, green and sustainable city.
For the full list of plant species and plant descriptions, visit Council’s website www.brisbane.qld.gov.au.
Participating nurseries include:
- City Farm Nursery – Northey Street City Farm, 16 Victoria Street, Windsor
- Oxley Nursery 174 Dowding Street, Oxley
- Plantmark Willawong – 40 King Avenue, Willawong
- Daly’s Native Plants – 57 Weedon Street West, Mansfield
- Paten Park Native Nursery – 57 Paten Road, The Gap
- Downfall Creek Bushland Centre – 815 Rode Road, Chermside West
- Karawatha Forest Discovery Centre – 149 Acacia Road, Karawatha