Rewilding your backyard can make it a haven for native birds and insects. Planting native Tasmanian species in your garden is one of the best ways to attract local wildlife, perfect for birdwatchers or anyone who loves Tassie’s unique plants and animals.

Rae Young runs the Plants of Tasmania Nursery, which specialises in growing and selling Tasmanian native plants. With a background in ecology and botany, Rae is passionate about encouraging birds and insects into gardens. The nursery stocks over 500 different species and varieties, in bushland at Ridgeway just 15 minutes from the centre of Hobart.

Rae says native plants play a vital role in keeping Tasmania’s ecosystems healthy. “By incorporating them into gardens and landscapes, Tasmanians can support biodiversity and promote healthier environments in built up areas,” she explains.

Gardens filled with exotic plants can often give non-native birds and insects the upper hand. But by including native species, or even setting aside a dedicated native section, you can help swing the balance back in favour of local wildlife. Rae points out that Tasmania’s native animals tend to be on the smaller side, as are many of our native flowers; a relationship shaped over thousands of years. “If many gardens in a catchment include areas with Tasmanian native plants that can have a positive effect on the native insects and small bird populations in the area.”

So which native plants are best for attracting birds? According to Rae, just about all of them can help. “Some plants provide nectar or pollen, others provide perching areas, prickly plants provide a safe haven for small birds, and then there is nesting material they need to land, make a home and breed,” she says. The key is variety. Having a mix of native plants that meet these needs helps create a true haven for birds.

If she had to pick a couple of standouts, Rae would highlight silver banksia and prickly box. These plants attract a wide range of insects, which in turn are food for small birds, and they also produce plentiful pollen. With these in your garden, you might spot wrens, honeyeaters, and thornbills popping by.

There are also plenty of great options when it comes to insects. Groundcovers like milky beauty-heads, native violet, and lowland cushion plants offer shelter for beetles living in the soil. Smaller wattles. such as myrtle wattle and sunshine wattle, produce loads of pollen, while larger shrubs like teatrees, bottlebrush, and hakeas are rich in nectar. If you’ve got the space, trees like leatherwood or blanket leaf can also be great additions to larger gardens.

Once you start planting natives, you’ll almost certainly begin to see more native birds and insects around. That said, Rae warns that European wasps will sadly stick around. “Its worth everyone thinking about some control of those pest animals,” she says.

As to what to avoid when setting up a wildlife-friendly garden, Rae says planting your plants too far apart is an issue. “Having a smaller area with close plantings provides better habitat and does it quicker,” she says. If you live near bushland, she also advises caution with what you plant. Eucalypts, for example, can outcompete other vegetation for resources. Similarly, Kunzea should be planted carefully near bushland, as it’s spread quite aggressively in areas like South Hobart and Mount Nelson.

Now you’re ready to start turning your backyard into a sanctuary for native birds and insects. Once things are growing nicely, think about adding a birdbath or birdhouse to give your feathered visitors a bit of extra love.