| Botanical and Common Name |
Flowering Season |
Seed Collection |
Propagation Tips |
Acacia longifolia var. sophorae
Coast Golden Wattle |
December / January |
Remove pods from tree when some begin to split open. This indicates that they are mature. |
Remove seeds from pods and use hot water treatment. Pour hot water just off the boil over seeds and allow to soak at least overnight. Repeat treatment if majority of seeds have not expanded in size. Spread seeds out and allow to dry. Sow immediately. |
Acacia melaloxylon
Blackwood |
December / January |
Remove pods from tree when some begin to split open. This indicates that they are mature. |
Remove seeds from pods and use hot water treatment. Pour hot water just off the boil over seeds and allow to soak at least overnight. Repeat treatment if majority of seeds have not expanded in size. Spread seeds out and allow to dry. Sow immediately. |
Ackama paniculata
Rose-leaved Marara |
Late spring, early summer |
Allow collected material to dry for one week in a paper bag to release minute seeds. |
Do not cover seeds |
Acronychia oblongifolia
White Lily Pilly |
Winter |
Ripe when fruit white |
Allow fruit to decompose in sugar syrup mixture. Remove seeds from pulp and sow. Good results in one month. |
Alectryon coriaceus
Beach Alectryon, Beach Birds-eye |
March / April |
Remove from tree when fruit is black with red aril showing |
Soak seed with aril attached for two days changing water daily. Drain and sow. |
Allocasuarina torulosa
Forest Oak |
Anytime of year |
Seed is ripe when cone turns from greyish green to red/brown. |
Place cones in a paper bag and allow to dry. Cones will open to release seeds. Sow. |
Alocasia brisbanensis
Cunjevoi Lily |
Late summer |
Wait until spathe opens to show clusters of red berries. |
Sown with flesh still on gives good results |
Alphitonia excelsa
Red Ash |
December / January |
Ripe when some drupes have naturally opened to expose red seed. Best results obtained from young trees |
Remove powdery coating by rubbing between sieves. Place seeds in a metal container and leave in full sun. Red seeds will pop out, this will continue over a couple of weeks. Use hot water treatment once only as seeds do not swell. |
Alpinia caerulea
Native Ginger |
April / May |
Ripe when outer shell turns blue |
Clean sticky cobweb type material to separate seeds. Good results by soaking seeds for three days changing water daily. |
Angophora subvelotina
Broad-leaved Apple |
6 months after flowering, usually summer. |
Seeds are released at maturity so need to watch carefully for ripening. |
Good results from surface sowing as they require light to germinate. |
Anopterus macleayanus
Macleay Laurel |
Late autumn, early winter |
Seed ripe when capsule is brown. |
Sow densely and cover lightly with sand. Good drainage is essential. |
Archirhodomyrtus beckleri
Rose Myrtle |
Summer |
Seed is ripe when flesh is red |
Remove flesh from seed and sow. Germinates readily in one month. |
Archontophoenix cunninghamiana
Bangalow Palm |
Summer |
Seed is ripe when red and falling from palm |
Soak for three days changing water daily and direct sow into pots as they do not like being transplanted. |
Asplenium australasicum
Birds Nest Fern |
|
Collect when spores are ripe. Test by placing a leaf with spores over a sheet of white paper. If spores drop they are ready to sow. |
Cut leaf into small pieces and lay on seed raising mix with added moisture holding material. Remove when spores have dropped. Germination is slow but reliable. |
Banksia integrifolia
Coast Banksia |
Summer |
Ripe when cones turn chocolate brown and follicles start to open. |
Remove seed from follicle by leaving in the sun. Discard papery packing material and insect damaged seeds. Sow and cover with sand. Good germination in 1 – 2 weeks. Watch for damping off and iron deficiency. Use iron chelates |
Banksia robur
Swamp Banksia |
|
Ripe when the follicle is hard, dark brown and woody when scratched with your fingernail. |
Place cones on a metal dish in the oven at 120°C for about one hour or until follicles open. Sow seeds |
Brachychiton acerifolius
Illawarra Flame Tree |
Autumn |
Seed is ripe when follicles are hard and leathery and black or brown. |
Remove seed from follicle using gloves as hairs can cause skin irritation. Use hot water treatment and soak overnight. Sow seeds directly into pots. |
Brachychiton discolor
Lacebark Tree |
Autumn |
Seed is ripe when follicles are hard and leathery and black or brown. |
Remove seed from follicle using gloves as hairs can cause skin irritation. Use hot water treatment and soak overnight. Sow seeds directly into pots. |
Callistemon spp.
Bottlebrush |
All year |
Collect older woody capsules. |
Place capsules in a paper bag to allow seeds to release. Sow finely using very fine covering |
Callitris macleayana
Stringybark Pine |
Summer |
Fruit ripe when capsule turns grey brown |
Place cones in a paper bag to allow release of seeds. Place seeds in fridge for two weeks for good results. |
Canavalia rosea
Coastal Jack Bean |
Autumn / winter |
As per Acacia |
|
| Carex spp. |
December / January |
Seed is ripe when it is easy to remove from the seed head. |
Place in a paper bag for seeds to release. Sow and cover lightly. |
Carpobrotus glaucescens
Angular Pigface |
All year |
Best by cutting |
Place cuttings into straight sand for best results. These are subject to scale attack. |
| Casuarina spp. |
|
As per Allocasuarina |
|
Ceratopetalum gummiferum
Christmas Bush |
Late spring / summer |
The flower heads are ripe when red and papery |
Seed sown in dry flower heads. The flowers are placed stalk end down. Germinates readily. |
Cordyline stricta
Palm Lily |
Autumn |
Fruit is ripe when berries turn black |
Remove flesh from seeds; soak for two days then sow. Cuttings are easy. |
| Corymbia spp. |
Most of the year |
Fruits are woody capsules and are grey/brown when ripe |
Place seeds in a paper bag to allow release of seeds.Seeds are very fine and require no covering to germinate. Soak overnight in water if you have any difficulty |
Crinum pendunculatum
Swamp Lily |
Autumn / winter |
Fruit is a capsule containing seeds; ripe when changing from green to whitish grey. |
Direct sow into pots |
| Cryptocarya spp. |
Summer for obovata and rigida. Spring for glaucescens |
Fruit is ripe when it is black |
Remove flesh from seed of obovata and rigida by soakin in sugar syrup for three days. For glaucescens just sow without treatment. Germination is slow but good. |
Cupaniopsis anacardioides
Tuckeroo |
Summer |
Ripe when some fruits open to show black seed with red aril. |
Remove seed with aril from fruit capsule and soak overnight to kill caterpillar larvae. Sow direct into pots. Good germination. |
Dianella spp.
Flax Lily |
December |
Fruit is ripe when blue. |
Pulp fruit and sow; cover lightly. Germinates in three weeks |
Dillwynia parvifolia
Bacon & Eggs |
|
As per Acacia |
|
Diospyros australis
Black Plum |
Summer |
|
Remove flesh and sow fresh. Good result |
Diploglottis Australis
Native Tamarind |
November |
Fruit is ripe when yellow/amber colour and is tasty. |
Sow fruit whole. Good result. |
Dodonaea triquetra
Hop Bush |
Summer |
Fruit is a papery capsule that turns from green to brown and brittle when ripe. |
Remove seed from capsules by rubbing between two sieves; then as per Acacia |
Dysoxylum rufum
Hairy Rosewood |
May to September |
Fruit is ripe when capsule opens and allows seed to be removed. Take care when handling capsules as they are covered with irritating hairs. Fruit ripens differentially, usually up to eight weeks. |
Remove from capsule and soak overnight, the sow. Good results. |
Ehretia acuminate
Koda |
Summer |
Fruit is ripe when yellow. |
Good results obtained by allowing fruit to decompose in plastic bag in the sun. |
| Eucalyptus spp. |
|
As per Corymbia |
|
Ficus spp.
Fig |
|
Seed is ripe when fruit is soft. |
Pulp fruit and spread over wet seed raising mix. The dried pulp and seed mix stores well when dried. |
Gahnia clarkeii
Saw Sedge |
Late summer / autumn |
Fruits are a hard red/orange nut at maturity. |
Extract seed and sow. 3 – 9 months for germination (I am experimenting with smoke treatment on next batch) |
Glochidion ferdinandi
Cheese Tree |
Summer |
Fruit is small cheese or pumpkin like capsule seed & is ripe when bright red. |
Remove seed from capsule, soak overnight and sow immediately. |
Guioa semiglauca
Wild Quince |
Summer |
Fruit has three lobes and are ripe when they split to expose an orange fleshed seed. Collect branches showing some ripe seeds and place in water. Collect further seeds as they ripen. |
Remove orange fleshed seed from lobes and soak overnight, then sow immediately. |
Hakea salicifolia
Willow-leaved Hakea |
All year round |
|
Place follicles in paper bag to allow seeds to release, then sow. |
Hardenbergia violacea
False Sarsaparilla |
November |
Fruits are flattened pods that turn dark brown and rattle when ripe. |
As for Acacia |
Hibbertia scandens
Climbing Guinea Flower |
Summer |
Seed are ripe when the orange flesh around the seed is visible. |
Remove flesh by pulping seeds and sow immediately for good results using bottom heat. Also grown from cuttings |
| Hibiscus spp. |
Spring & autumn |
|
Cuttings are easiest |
Hibiscus tileaceus
Cottonwood |
Autumn |
Seeds are in capsules that become brown and split open at maturity. |
Remove seeds and use hot water treatment. Also by cutting |
Hymenosporum flavum
Native Frangipanni |
Summer |
Fruits are a capsule 3cm long that split open when ripe. |
Hold seed and sow in autumn for best results. |
Ipomoea pes-caprae
Beach Morning Glory |
spring & autumn |
|
Cuttings are easiest |
Isolopsis nodosa
Knobby Club Rush |
Spring / summer |
Fruits are ripe when the seeds are easily removed from the seed heads. |
Place seed heads in a paper bag to release seed or sieve seed heads. Do not cover seeds, keep moist. |
Jagera pseudorhus
Foambark |
Spring |
Fruit is a three lobed capsule that splits open showing a black seed in yellow aril. Take care when collecting and handling as the hairs on the capsules are irritating. |
Remove the black seeds from the fruit as they open. No need to remove yellow aril or place panicles of fruit in water. Soak seed overnight and sow immediately. |
| Juncus spp. |
Summer |
Seed are ripe when they fall out of the seed heads. |
Place seed heads in paper bags to allow seed to fall out. Do not cover seeds; keep moist. |
Kennedia rubicunda
Dusky Coral Pea |
Summer |
Fruits are pods up to 10cm long and are mature when seeds rattle. |
As for Acacia |
Lepidozamia peroffskyana
Shining Burrawang |
November |
Fruit is ripe when red. |
Remove the flesh from the fruit by soaking in sugar syrup. Crack hard seeds with a hammer to allow uptake of moisture. Sow seeds with 1/3 of seed above soil. Bottom heat assists germination. |
Leptospernum laevigatum
Coastal Teatree |
Summer |
Seeds release when capsules mature. They change from green to grey brown. |
Place in a paper bag to extract seed. Sow thinly and do not cover seeds. |
Linospadix monostachya
Walking Stick Palm |
February |
Fruit is ripe when red. |
Best results if fed to pet bird (pigeon) and seeds removed from droppings. Sow immediately. |
Livistona australis
Cabbage-tree Palm |
Winter |
Fruit is ripe when dark brown/black |
No treatment; sow directly into pots. |
| Lomandra spp. |
Summer |
Seed is ripe when capsules start to open revealing rice-like seeds. |
Remove seeds from seed heads by shaking and winnowing chaff from seeds. Soak seeds for three days changing water daily. Germination occurs in three weeks. |
| Lophostemon |
|
As for Corymbia |
|
| Melaleuca spp. |
|
As for Callistemon |
|
Melia azedarach
White Cedar |
Late winter / early spring |
Fruit is a brown drupe that starts to wrinkle when ripe. |
No treatment required. |
| Melicope spp. |
Autumn |
|
Easiest from cuttings |
Myoporum boninense
Coastal Boobyalla |
Spring and autumn |
|
Easiest from cuttings |
Myrsine howittiana
Brown Muttonwood |
February |
Fruit are drupes that are soft and black when ripe. |
Remove flesh from seed and soak overnight for good results. |
Neolitsea dealbata
White Bolly Gum |
Autumn |
Drupe is ripe when dark purple. Fruits will ripen on branches when placed in water. |
Remove flesh from seed and sow directly into pots. |
Pandanus tectorius
Screw Pine |
April |
Collect seed fallen from tree for best results. |
Soak for one week, then sow. Germination in 5 months. |
Pittosporum revolutum
Brisbane Laurel |
April |
Fruits are a capsule and are ripe when yellow and splitting open to reveal red sticky seeds. |
Wash sticky seeds in dishwashing liquid to remove. May take several washes, alternatively, place in a jar with clean river sand and agitate until sticky substance is removed |
Podocarpus elatus
Plum Pine |
March / April |
Fruit is ripe when dark purple and soft. |
Remove the single black seed (about the size of a small marble) from top of fruit and sow. Good results with bottom heat. |
Pouteria Australis
Black Apple |
Spring |
Fruit is ripe when dark purple and soft. |
Remove seed from fruit, soak overnight and sow immediately with bottom heat for good results |
Rhodamnia rubescens
Brush Turpentine |
December / January |
Fruits are berries that turn red/black when ripe. |
Pulp fruit and sow sparsely. Germinates in one month with bottom heat. |
Rhodomyrtrus psidioides
Native Guava |
April |
Fruit is a berry that is soft and light green when ripe |
Pulp the fruit and sow. Germinates in one month with bottom heat. |
Sarcopteryx stipata
Corduroy Tree |
December |
Fruits are lobed and ripe when starting to open. They will continue to ripen if branches are placed in water. |
No need to remove yellow aril. Soak overnight and sow. |
Scaevola calendulacea
Dune Fan flower |
Spring & autumn |
|
Best results from cuttings |
Senna acclinis
Brush Senna |
|
As for Acacia |
|
Solanum aviculare
Kangaroo Apple |
Summer |
Fruit is a large fleshy berry which is ripe when soft and orange/red. |
Pulp and remove flesh from seed. Soak overnight and sow. |
Sophora tomentose
Necklace Pod |
|
As per Acacia. |
Repeated treatments may be required for all seeds to swell. Pre scarifaction by rubbing seeds between coarse sandpaper will help. Germinates readily with bottom heat. |
Syncarpia glomulifera
Turpentine |
December |
As per Corymbia |
|
Synoum glandulosum
False Rosewood |
May |
Fruit is ripe when capsules split open to reveal brown seed with red flesh. |
Remove red fruit and sow directly into pots |
| Syzygium spp. |
Autumn |
Fruit is ripe when soft. |
Sow with flesh on after soaking overnight. |