How to: choose local native plants for your garden

I've been using this blog to share some of what I have learned over the last couple of years about gardening with native and indigenous plants in the Illawarra. Now some people with a lot more knowledge and experience than me have put together an amazing practical guide to growing our local plants.  

The publication - Grow Local: Illawarra Native Garden Guide - is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in gardening with local plant species. It was developed under the Illawarra Biodiversity and Local Food Strategy for Climate Change, supported by Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama Councils.

It's full of practical advice on designing a native garden that looks good, provides habitat for local fauna and suits the site you're working on. There's also an invaluable plant list that gives details of many local species, the size they grow to, and the conditions they prefer.

Hard copies of the booklet are available from the offices of the three supporting councils. There's also a companion edible garden guide, which covers growing fruit and vegetables, and includes a few Australian native species. 

Happy gardening!