City of Stirling - Native plants and habitats

The City’s natural reserves are home to a variety of native plants and wildflowers. These plants create important habitats that play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance, supporting wildlife, and enhancing the natural beauty of the City.

Critical environments and threatened ecological communities

The habitat created by different plants and animals can be classed as an ecological community.

In Stirling we have a diverse range of plant communities that thrive in different environmental conditions including:

Coastal shrublands
Rottnest Island Pine
Melaleuca swampland
Banksia Woodlands
Tuart, Jarrah and Marri Woodlands

Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs)

Of these, Banksia Woodlands, Tuart Woodlands, and Rottnest Island Pine are classified as Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs). These are ecological communities of very high conservation value due to their rarity and the unique species they support. Protecting these environments is critical for ensuring the survival of endangered species.

This ecological community was listed as Endangered under Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 in September 2016, due to its significant decline. Prior to urbanisation, Banksia Woodland formed a continuous band of large bushland patches around Perth, however roughly 60 per cent has been lost, with most remaining patches small in size.

Tuart Woodlands and Forests were listed as critically endangered in July 2019, under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Ongoing risk of degradation within Tuart Woodlands suggests that this ecological community is likely to be completely lost if it is not protected and restored.

Trigg Bushland Reserve is one of the few places in Perth where you can find natural groves of Rottnest Island Pine. Once widespread along the coast, it is now classified as a Threatened Ecological Community under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 due to the impact of land development and frequent fire.

The bushlands in Stirling are rich in native orchids, grasses, shrubs and trees, contributing to the area's ecological diversity. Orchid species such as Pink Fairy Orchid and Donkey Orchid can be found in many bushlands, often flourishing in well-preserved natural habitats.

Wetlands are vital ecosystems within Stirling, supporting a wide range of vegetation such as Paperbark trees, reeds and rushes, that thrive in wet conditions. Vegetation surrounding the wetland provides essential habitats for birds, frogs and reptiles such as the snake-necked turtle.

Coastal plants have adapted well to sandy soils and salty conditions. Plants growing along the coastal dunes and cliff faces between Watermans Bay and Trigg are exposed to changing and at times, extremely harsh conditions. Coastal plants have evolved and adapted over time with different species growing on specific parts of the coastal dunes and cliffs. They play a crucial role in stabilizing dunes and preventing coastal erosion.