Port Pirie plantings sprout local gardening inspiration

Native plants are springing to life at SA Water’s Port Pirie Depot, as part of a landscaping project to enhance the site’s visual amenity and demonstrate to local residents the benefit of native gardens.

Established in mid-2022 with plants sourced from the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden and Fitzy’s Natives & Horticultural Services, the garden features a variety of local flora, carefully selected for their visual appeal and adaptation to the local environment.

SA Water's Vegetation Services Specialist Shaun Kennedy said using plants native to the Port Pirie region ensures they are suited to local soil conditions and hot, dry summers.

“Our depot is on one of the main thoroughfares in Port Pirie, so is quite visible to the public and provides an ideal opportunity to showcase a layered native garden that can be easily replicated in residential spaces,” Shaun said.

“The garden includes more than 200 seedlings local to the region that are already attracting native insects and bees, proving that even small-scale plantings can help support local biodiversity in a relatively short timeframe.

“We use drip-irrigation to water the garden during warmer months to ensure the plants can thrive throughout the year and have included plenty of ground cover species, such as the Creeping Boobialla, to create a living mulch that retains moisture in the soil, supporting the surrounding plants by reducing evaporation.

“Taller elements including the Drooping She-oak and Water-bush help to frame the space and provide shade for smaller plants, with the layers combining to protect the soil from erosion and heat during summer.

“Additionally, this leaves less room for weeds to grow and requires less maintenance.

“The garden also features tight pockets of seasonal colour such as Billy Buttons and Everlastings that are like a magnet for native bees and butterflies and can be pruned back in summer when the landscape is dry.

“Once we head into spring, their blooms will emerge and I can’t wait to see the bright array of colours fill the depot’s garden.

“We encourage locals to walk by our Port Pirie Depot for ideas and take note of signs describing the different plant species, or head to our website for more information about replicating native gardens at home.”

The Port Pirie Depot joins several other SA Water sites around South Australia that showcase native gardens, including at Kadina on Yorke Peninsula, Woodside in the Adelaide Hills and Naracoorte in the South East.

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