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 available to the following within the Brisbane City Local Government area.
| Group | Number of free native plants |
|---|---|
| Residential properties | 2 plants each financial year |
| Residents or owners of homes built in targeted suburbs within the past 12 months | 4 plants |
| Lessees on Council-leased land (including sporting and community clubs and community gardens) | up to 20 plants each financial year |
| New citizens at an official citizenship ceremony | One plant for each new citizen |
Free native plants are not provided for:
- small or large-scale events
- fetes
- promotional programs
- giveaways or on-selling activities
- prizes
- fundraising activities
- commercial businesses
- universities and TAFE campuses
- government departments
Residential properties
A residential property includes:
- a detached house (i.e. dwelling house – see Council’s planning 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 title scheme.
Brisbane residential owners, residential tenants, public housing and Defence Housing residents can claim 2 free native plants each financial year (July to June).
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 owner (e.g. relative or neighbour), you will need to provide their written permission.
A rate notice from the previous financial year is unable to be used to redeem unclaimed plants.
How to claim
Council offers two options to residents wanting to claim their free native plants.
When collecting your plants, the total approved number of plants must be collected in the same visit.
Collection option 1 - from a participating nursery
- Visit a library (excluding pop-up libraries), mobile library, Customer Centre or ward office and present a paid rate 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.
- You will receive a stamped Free Native Plants voucher.
- Visit a participating retail nursery and exchange your voucher for 2 free native plants.
Residential owners and residential tenants will be required to obtain a Free Native Plants voucher before visiting a participating retail nursery. Due to privacy reasons, a rate notice is 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.
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 4 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.
Targeted suburbs
| North | South | East | West |
|---|---|---|---|
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 or official citizenship ceremonies must apply online.
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.
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 a wide range of habitat benefits 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.
Planting guidelines
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.