Australia is too big for just ‘native’.

A native species is defined as one that is found in a certain ecosystem due to natural processes. But it is important to remember, however, that species can be considered native to several regions, or a whole country, as opposed to being confined to just one specific geographical location.

Understanding species’ origin habitats is important as it is likely there are thousands of specific plant and animal associations we don't know about.

How these associations may affect the local food web is also mostly unknown, so on that just-in-case basis, when buying plants for our gardens we should always factor in near-native species, including at least a few species endemic to our location. 

Try searching “plants endemic to [your area]” to get an idea of plant choices. Local councils usually have great resources on this - worth a read.

Happy planting!