Plants of our region

Close to 4,000 plant species have been recorded in the dry tropics. This is a snapshot of some indigenous plants you can expect to see.

When it comes to trees, eucalypts, acacias and melaleucas dominate the landscape.

Some of the common eucalypt species from Greenvale to Alpha are; Moreton Bay ash, narrow-leafed ironbark, poplar gum, long-fruited bloodwood, Reid River box and silver-leafed ironbark.

Paperbarks are prevalent and you’ll find tea trees like the broad-leafed and the weeping tea-tree in woodland areas.  Mistletoe also grows throughout the region. Palm trees like the screw palm and waxy cabbage palm are native to the area. Grevilleas, she-oaks and Brigalow are also prevalent.

The dry tropics is also home to the Burdekin plum.

Hundreds of shrub and herb bush varieties grow in the area. There are about 50 varieties of acacias including the slender wattle.

Don’t underestimate the diversity of grasslands. Lots of legume vines and herbs are intermixed throughout them like the giddee giddee with poisonous red berries and the caustic vine.

The main grasses that grow from inland areas to the coast are black spear grass, kangaroo grass, the tussocky golden beard grass and Queensland bluegrass.

There are also lots of sedges growing in moist and poorly drained areas.

Wetlands dotted throughout the dry tropics are often populated with the white or purple flowers of the water lily.

There are patches of rainforest areas within the dry tropics that are home to a diverse range of plant species.

Salt marshes and mangroves are prevalent along the coast. The coast is home to the pink flowered, broad- leafed, trailing goat’s foot morning glory. Bead weed and saltwater couch also grow well in marine areas as do yellow and grey mangrove trees.

Want to know more?

NQ Dry Tropics has published books on plants of our region.

Bush Friendly Plants of the Burdekin Dry Tropics is a helpful booklet that gives you alternative plants to use instead of ones that could invade the bush.

Coastal Plants of the Burdekin Dry Tropics is an incredibly useful book designed for anyone interested in the wide range of trees, shrubs and creepers that grow near our coast.