Plant life

Plants Nursery including Butterfly Host Plants

HUNTER WETLANDS CENTRE NURSERY

The nursery grows more than 200 different local providence plants, and all seed and cuttings are collected on site. The collection of seeds and cuttings is a very important function, especially cuttings for species that are difficult to propagate from seed. Under the guidance of the nursery volunteers the capacity of the nursery has increased to more than 100,000 plants per year.

Our nursery specializes in local providence Australian native plants species including understory trees, shrubs, grasses and water/wetland plants. 

Plant Sales

We have a wide range of native plants in stock, from tube stock to 20 cm pots.  We are equipped to supply large orders for projects but also welcome smaller orders of around 40 plants. For special orders, the lead time from collecting the required seed to when the plants are ready to be planted is approx 6 months.

A selection of plants is available for sale at the Visitors Centre. Popular species include Callistemon, Davidson Plum, Goodenia & Tussock Grass. Prices range from $3 to $10.

Nursery Contact: Kenneth Bayliss
0434623658
nursery@wetlands.org.au

Thursdays between 9.00am and 12 noon the Australian Plant Society (Newcastle Group) sell native plants from their nursery at the wetlands. Enter via Nardoo Gate. They also hold big plant sales at HWCA twice a year.

overhead watering nursery 3

Native Plants at the Hunter Wetlands Centre

The Hunter Wetlands Centre hosts a high diversity of both endemic (original) and rehabilitated native plant communities. Over 200 native and exotic floral species have been recorded within the HWCA.

Since 1985 over 400,000 trees, shrubs, bushes and grasses have been planted across the site.

Find out more about the plants you can see at HWCA by downloading a copy of Native Plants at the Hunter Wetlands Centre or ask for a copy at reception.

Our nursery specializes in local providence Australian native plants species including understory trees, shrubs, grasses and water/wetland plants.

Rainforest Plants

Once part of a much larger rainforest that grew on the outer edges of Hexham Swamp, a remnant rainforest can be found on the western edge of the site.

Volunteers have worked hard to restore the existing rainforest plants and added other native rainforest species around the edges increasing the size of the remnant to approximately 1ha.

Download A Walk in our East Coast Rainforest.

Plants Nursery including Butterfly Host Plants

Bush Tucker Garden

Wetlands were important areas where Aboriginal people sourced food and medicine.

Our Bush Tucker Garden is located on a man-made hill on the NE side of the site, overlooking Moorhen Swamp and Ironbark Reed Marsh.

Signs installed in 2022 identify many species of plants and describe how Aboriginal people used them

Australian Plants Society Newcastle Group

The Australian Plants Society, Newcastle Group (APS Newcastle Group) began in 1960 and was a founding partner of the Hunter Wetlands Centre.

The Newcastle Group meets at the Hunter Wetlands Centre on the first Wednesday of every month (except January). They also have a nursery at the wetlands and sell plants there on Thursdays between 9am and 12 noon.

Australian-Plants-Society-Newcastle-Group