Native plants

Queensland has over 7,500 native flowering plant species and more than 1,500 non-flowering plant species (gymnosperms, ferns and mosses), with new species being discovered every year.

More than 30% of these species are unique to Queensland. The most recognisable plants are the wattles (Acacia species) and eucalypts (Eucalyptus and Corymbia species) that dominate many ecosystems, and commonly cultivated native plants such as lilly pillies (Syzygium species) and Callistemons (Melaleuca species). In addition, Queensland has more than 5,000 species in other related groups (algae, lichens, fungi).

Flowering plants

Wattles (Acacia species) and eucalypts (Eucalyptus and Corymbia species) dominate and define many regional ecosystems throughout Queensland and include hundreds of species. The greatest diversity of species occurs in rainforest and coastal heath communities, with many different families and groups represented.

The grasses (family Poaceae) are the largest vascular plant family in Queensland and dominate the understorey over much of the landscape. The myrtles (family Myrtaceae), the pea flowers (family Fabaceae) and the sedges (family Cyperaceae) are also well represented.

Non-flowering plants and other groups

Our ecosystems feature many non-flowering vascular plants (gymnosperms, ferns and fern allies), non-vascular plants (mosses, liverworts, hornworts) and other related groups (algae, lichens, fungi). We are still to discover many of these species and understand their importance. 

Interesting facts

• Queensland is the most diverse state with 12,000 native species of plants, algae, fungi and lichens represented by more than 500 families and 2,900 genera and 12,000 native species of plants, algae, fungi and lichens represented.
• We have over 8,400 species of native flowering plants, gymnosperms, ferns and fern allies (vascular plants), representing approximately 45% of the known Australian species.
• More than 30% of these are endemic to Queensland, that is, they are found nowhere else in the world.
• More than half of Australia’s cycad species and 80% of Australia’s fern species occur in Queensland, with many endemics in these groups.
• We have more than 400 non-flowering vascular plants (gymnosperms, ferns and fern allies) and more than 900 species of non-vascular plants (mosses, liverworts, hornworts)
• Related groups in the flora include:
  • algae (more than 1,500 known species including cyanobacteria, red, green and brown algae)
  • lichens (over 1,900 known species)
  • macrofungi (more than 1,200 known species)