We sell seed to the Melbourne and Central Victorian area that is not collected from remnant populations of indigenous plants. Our seed is different from that available from some other sources as we have set up our own Seed Production Area (SPA). We sell seed for a range of Victorian plants, from native grasses to large trees. For more information about the diversity of seed produced by our SPA, and the steps we have taken to make the seed as genetically diverse as possible, please go to the About page.

We store all our seed at a low temperature in a fridge used only for this purpose and we have a policy of not keeping seed for long periods of time. Our plan is to sell most seed each year and collect fresh seed every year. The exception to this is hard coated seeds such as wattle seed which last with high viability for many years. We have collected seed on our property from over 80 species in the past and now have a possible 75 species for sale. For the list of seed currently for sale go to our Catalogue page, and for a more detailed list of these combined with species we hope to have for sale in the future, go to the About page. The catalogue page has species that are available at any given time. In most cases as the seed is sold it will not be replaced until after the following summer as this is the main seed collection time.

If there is a species that you are particularly keen to grow please send us an email telling us the quantity you would like and we can do our best to channel our seed collection efforts to the species most requested.

If you are interested in growing plants from seed but are not experienced in the skills required we are selling copies of Growing Native Plants from Seed by Murray Ralph for the reduced price of $25.

Libby and Steve

How native plants can transform your property (click images to view larger):

We own a lovely 142 hectare (350 acre) ex-grazing property called Thorpewood . Thorpewood is located north of Violet Town, in north eastern Victoria and has a mixture of Grassy Woodland and Box-Ironbark Country. Two like-minded families joined forces and bought the property. We were attracted to its range of diverse native species- some threatened and some near threatened. We hoped to conserve and improve the property and hence, extend the range of species on the property and increase the numbers in the threatened species. At the time of purchase some very good improvement work had been started by Trust for Nature who had bought the property through their revolving fund. It was a requirement that we put a Trust for Nature covenant on the property and we were very happy to comply with this.

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As the diversity of our planting is improving the diversity of birds is increasing with it.  In replicating and extending the plant diversity of our forest the Seed Production Area (SPA) is highlighting the dependent relationships between native birds and indigenous plants. It has certainly made us more aware of the affect we can have on the landscape.

Many species of birds have moved into or passed through the SPA taking advantage of seed, nectar, pollen, and insect supplies. We have noted more Red-browed Finches enjoying the native grasses. Crested Shrike-tits have been seen for the first time in late summer 2011/2012 as they joined Yellow-faced Honeyeaters and White-naped Honeyeaters in taking advantage of the copious nectar supplies of the Silver Banksias. These plants were previously visited by Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos, feasting on the seed, earlier in summer. The Cockatoos had also enjoyed the fruit of the Hakea plants, pruning them in the process. The Hakea then flowered through winter providing nectar for Eastern Spine-bills and White-eared Honeyeaters. The Grey Shrike-thrush and Yellow-rumped Thornbills have established across the area and Silvereyes are regular visitors.

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