The Tweed Coast is blessed with a rich variety and diversity of native plants.
The villages of the Tweed Coast are lucky to be surrounded by a fantastic natural environment, from the mountains to the ocean. Native plants form the backbone of the Tweed Coast's local landscapes and we have a natural abundance of local native species that are perfectly suited to the gardens of the Tweed Coast, from Fingal to Pottsville and beyond. These local endemic species compliment the ever improving range of new natives on the market.
These photo galleries will explore some of the rich variety of native plants along the Tweed Coast, in particular our coastal Wallum Heath communities and Norries Headland, Cabarita Beach's iconic natural landmark.
Norries Headland
Norries Headland, the undisputable natural icon of Cabarita Beach - Bogangar is impressive in every sense. Norries Headland and its rock formations tell a story of some 400 million years of the earth's history and the remarkable and sometimes violent geological process’s that contributed to its formation.
Norrie's is also home to a very unique plant community, classified as ‘Themeda Grassland on Seacliffs and Coastal Headlands’ and is listed as an Endangered Ecological Community. It is a rare and fragile community that is constantly under threat and contains a unique assemblage of flora and fauna that support one another, and it’s been officially recognised and protected by State Legislation. Dealing with very tough conditions, poor soil, strong salt laden winds and full exposure, Norries Headland still manages to produce an incredible native plant community.
Many species are present in other vegetation communities such as Hardenbergia, Dianella and Lomandra's, but they have adapted perfectly to the conditions to become unique sub species in their own right.
Below are just some of the 50 recognised native species that call Norries home and contribute to its diversity and put on a fantastic wildflower display throughout Spring.
Coastal Wallum Heath
Coastal Heath, often referred to as Wallum Heath, is another unique coastal plant community that gives us the chance to get up close with a truly remarkable flower display. Heath communities are recognised for wildflowers and the local area is no exception. Two types of Coastal Heath exist, Wet Heath and Dry Heath and we have both communities along the Tweed Coast.
Both types of Heath are protected in the Cudgen Nature Reserve to the north and south of Cabarita Beach and are represented at Fingal Head. Like the plant community on Norrie's Headland, Heath communities are highly specialised and adapted to their conditions, predominantly poor sandy soils with low nutrition, whether they be wet or dry. Both wet and dry communities present different plant species due to the conditions but all flower consistently over the wildflower season, August through to October.
