Disappearing plants

Posted on by Lyn

Though not listed as threatened in Victoria, many of the 320 native plant species that once existed in the Melbourne region have all but disappeared. (Ref Flora of Melbourne) This makes Westgate Park and Bili Nursery important in protecting and conserving this diversity.

You can help by planting these species in your garden. Below are some of the rare plants we currently have in stock at Bili Nursery. Phone us on 0492 972 652 to order or just call in at 525 Williamstown Road, Port Melbourne.

Brachyscome multifida – Cut-leaf Daisy

Lasiopetalum baueri – Slender Velvet-bush

Malva preissiana – Australian Hollyhock

Podolepis jaceoides – Showy Podolepis

Brachyscome basaltica – Basalt Swamp Daisy

Lythrum salicaria – Purple Loosestrife (now in bloom and looking stunning in the compound lagoon at Westgate Park)

Mentha australis – River Mint (edible)

Actites megalocarpus – very rare in the Melbourne area
Brachyscome basaltica var. gracilis – locally rare
Brachyscome multifida – locally rare
Centipeda cunninghamii – becoming rarer in Melbourne
Isotoma fluviatilis ssp. australis – restricted to very few sites
Lasiopetalum baueri – close to extinction locally
Leucochrysum albicans var. albicans – severely depleted locally
Lotus australis var. australis – rare in Melbourne, possibly Vic
Lythrum salicaria – locally rare
Malva preissiana – locally rare for Port Phillip Bay
Mentha australis – Locally rare
Microseris lanceolata – once prevalent in Melbourne, rarer now
Podolepis jaceoides – becoming rarer in Melbourne
Pultinaea tenuifolia– possibly extinct in Melbourne
Swainsonia lessertifolia – endangered in the Melbourne area.
Viminaria juncea – becoming more rare in Melbourne.
Vittardinia cuneata var. cuneata – becoming rare throughout its range