Free Native Plants program

Brisbane City Council’s Free Native Plants program offers a range of plants to enable the community to cultivate a greener and more sustainable Brisbane. The native species provided through the program will help grow our city’s urban forest and support wildlife.

Eligibility

The Free Native Plants program is open to residents and entities within the Brisbane City Local Government area.

EntityNumber of free native plants
Residential ratepayers2 plants each financial year
Residential tenants2 plants each financial year
Residents or owners of homes built in selected suburbs within the past 12 months4 plants
Lessees on Council-leased land (including sporting and community clubs and community gardens)up to 20 plants each financial year
Official citizenship ceremoniesOne plant for each new citizen
Entities not eligible for free native plants
  • small or large-scale events
  • fetes
  • promotional programs
  • giveaways or on-selling activities
  • prizes
  • fundraising activities
  • commercial businesses
  • universities and TAFE campuses
  • government departments

Plants must be planted on private property and are not intended for planting on Council land or to be used for waterway revegetation.

Requests for plants applied for but not claimed by 30 June, are unable to be honoured in the following financial year.

Once claimed, ongoing care of the plants is the responsibility of the resident or recipient. Council is unable to replace any plant that dies.

List of plant species on offer

Council offers a range of native plants that suit Brisbane soils and our subtropical climate. Plants are supplied in either 90 mm or 140 mm pots.

All of the plants provide food and shelter for wildlife. You can choose from a variety of plants including groundcovers, tufting plants, climbers, small and medium shrubs and feature trees with many species being available all year round.

While Council endeavours to supply the variety of plant species on offer throughout the year, due to seasonal availability this is not always possible. If a species is not available at the time of request, it may be substituted with a similar plant type and size available through the Free Native Plants program.

View the plant list on offer and watch the planting video on how to correctly plant your free native plants

Residential properties

Brisbane residential ratepayers, residential tenants, public housing and Defence Housing residents can claim two free native plants each financial year (July to June).

A residential property includes:

  • a detached house (i.e. dwelling house – see scheme, Brisbane City Plan 2014)
  • a unit in a duplex or dual occupancy
  • a unit in a townhouse complex or residential apartment building (excluding hotels or motels) or a stand-alone house under a community titles scheme.

When claiming free plants on behalf of their property owner, residential tenants renting a detached house, unit or townhouse must provide written approval from the property owner or property manager. The approval must include:

  • the owner's name/s
  • full property address
  • rate account number
  • signed authorisation for the current financial year.

Residential tenants must ensure they remain in compliance with their general tenancy agreement.

If you are claiming vouchers on behalf of another residential ratepayer (e.g. relative or neighbour), you will need to obtain their written permission.

Rate notices from previous financial years are unable to be used to redeem unclaimed plants.

How to claim

Council offers two options to residents wanting to claim their free native plants.

Collection option 1 - from a participating nursery
  1. Visit a library (excluding pop-up libraries), mobile libraryCustomer Centre or ward office and present a paid rates notice or written authority from the current financial year from the property owner or property manager. Public housing and Defence Housing residents must provide evidence of a recent rental payment.
  2. You will receive a stamped Free Native Plants voucher.
  3. Visit a participating retail nursery and exchange your voucher for 2 free native plants.

Residential ratepayers and residential tenants will be required to obtain a Free Native Plants voucher before visiting a participating retail nursery. Due to privacy reasons, residential rates notices are not accepted directly at participating retail nurseries for the Free Native Plants program. 

Collection option 2 - from a Council environment centre

Visit Council’s Downfall Creek Bushland Centre at Chermside West, Boondall Wetlands Environment Centre at Boondall, or Karawatha Forest Discovery Centre at Karawatha with your paid rates notice or written authority from the current financial year from the property owner or property manager. You will be able to receive your 2 free native plants from the Council display stand.

When collecting your plants, the total approved number of plants must be collected from in the same visit.

Free native plants – recently built homes in targeted suburbs

Residents who have purchased a newly built home or moved into their owner-built home within the past 12 months are eligible for four free native plants to assist in the establishment of their gardens.

If your property is listed in one of the targeted suburbs below, to receive your vouchers email the Free Native Plants team and attach a copy of your final inspection certificate for your house construction within 12 months of its issue. 

Eligible suburbs
NorthSouthEastWest

Bracken Ridge

Bridgeman Downs

Carseldine

Everton Park

Fitzgibbon

Hendra

McDowall

Nudgee

Taigum

Calamvale

Doolandella

Durack

Eight Mile Plains

Ellen Grove

Heathwood

Kuraby

Oxley

Pallara

Runcorn

Sunnybank Hills

Bulimba

Carindale

Hemmant

Mackenzie

Manly West

Rochedale

Tingalpa

Wakerley

Wynnum West

Bellbowrie

Chapel Hill

Ferny Grove

Fig Tree Pocket

Kenmore

Mitchelton

Moggill

Upper Kedron

Lessees on Council-leased land and official citizenship ceremonies

Free native plants are available for:

  • Lessees (sporting and community clubs and community gardens) on Council-leased land - up to 20 free plants
  • Official citizenship ceremonies, by Council ward offices or registered community groups - one plant for each new citizen.
How to apply

Lessees on Council-leased land and official citizenship ceremonies must apply online.

Apply now

As Council is unable to split or divide plant orders, ensure you request your full allocation in your application. 

Note: Lessees on Council leased land must seek written approval from their Leasing Officer prior to applying for plants.

Participating nurseries

Check the list of participating nurseries.

Last updated:
Topics: green

Brisbane City Council acknowledges this Country and its Traditional Custodians. We pay our respects to the Elders, those who have passed into the Dreaming; those here today; those of tomorrow.