Our Browse Gardens for Wildlife in Care project has started up and already we have participants on board in our local  region, and more people asking for information about the concept. Members have begun visiting some potential browse garden sites and looking at existing vegetation, soil type, level of shelter from wind or frost, existing animals on the property, access to water supply, drainage etc. There is quite a bit to consider in terms of what to plant where, on top of considerations of what plants our joeys and rehabilitating animals need to eat. 

The plants that will be recommended will vary for each property, depending on the considerations mentioned above, but we have already created a general list from which to choose from. The species listed below are just the start, and will be added to and refined over time. As any gardener knows, there is always a bit of trial and error involved in creating a new garden or even just enhancing an existing one.   The species and varieties below are a general guide only:  The best options to plant will be worked out between carer and gardener/participant on a site-by-site basis:

Tall trees:

Eucalyptus ovata  - Swamp Gum

Eucalyptus viminalis - Manna Gum

Eucalyptus camuldulensis - River Red Gum

Eucalyptus bicostata - Victorian Bluegum

Eucalyptus pauciflora - Snowgum

Eucalyptus dives - Broadleaf Peppermint

Eucalyptus radiata - Narrowleaf Peppermint

Mid-storey trees:

Acacia pycnantha - Golden Wattle - Fast-growing pioneer trees to create windbreaks and shelter

Acacia mearnsii - Black Wattle - ""  "" "" "" 

Agonis flexuosa - Willow Myrtle - Popular habitat tree for Ringtail possums, who enjoy using it to line dreys and nests. There is a very pretty new variety called "Flamingo" with pink foliage, as well as burgundy and maroon varieties, but so far only the plain species has been trialled with the possums. 

Leptospernum petersonii - Lemon-scented Teatree - Ringtails love it and it helps keep mozzies away

Leptospermum morrisonii - burgundy leaf Teatree

Leptospermum obovatum "Starry Night" - A lovely weeping tree with dark foliage and big white flowers.

Leptospermum scoparium - Manuka Teatree - countless bright and beautiful cultivars available, natie to both Australia AND New Zealand - and the Ringtails seem to love them all. 

Leptospermum continentale - Prickly Teatree, and Leptospermum lanigerum - Soft Teatree, are indigenous to area, but for some reason, I found they don't grow as well as the above species, and at my place at least, have been rejected by the wildlife. They do come in handy as windbreaks and shelter plants for small birds.

Callistemon citrinus - Crimson Bottlebrush - Joeys like the flowers and the soft "tippy growth" that emerges around flowering season

Callistemon sieberi - River Bottlebrush - Softer, greyish foliage and flowers in cream or pale pink. 

Callistemon viminalis  "Dawsons River Weeper" - lovely weeping tree with dark red bottlebrushes and attractive bark

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Melaleuca species... There are so many species of Melaleuca that are suitable, they won't fit here. Any with narrow, soft foliage and lots of "tippy growth", and with papery soft bark, and sweet honey-scented blooms... will all be good

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Syzygium species- Lilly Pilly:  There are countless varieties of Lilly PIlly that make wonderful browse for wildlife as well as some that have edible fruit that humans can enjoy. Joeys enjoy those with soft "tippy growth" and may also eat the blossoms and fruit. My favourite is "Cascade", a hybrid of Syzygium Luehmannii ( edible Riberry) x Syzygium wilsonii (burgundy flowering Lilly Pilly) - with candy pink flowers and pink to crimson new growth, and a slightly weeping habit. 

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Understorey / Ground Covers: 

To be continued...

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