From the deserts to the sea, the flora of South Australia is as unique and beautiful as its varied landscapes.
About Us
The Regional Society – Australian Plants Society (SA Region) Inc.
The Australian Plants Society SA Region (APSSA) is a community based, non-profit group of people who share an interest in Australian native plants.
Our aims are –
- To encourage the cultivation and study of Australian plants.
- To promote the establishment of gardens in all types of soil and climates for the preservation of Australian flora.
- To pass on our knowledge as widely as possible.
- To support or initiate efforts to protect Australian plants and their habitats.
The society, originally named the Society for Growing Australian Plants (SGAP), was created in 1958, shortly after similar bodies were formed interstate.
Our Vision is
To encourage appreciation of the beauty of native plants, and see native plants valued, cultivated and protected.
To apply our appreciation and practical knowledge of native plants to encourage and assist people and communities to recognise the aesthetic and physical benefits of natural environments.
To combat loss of biodiversity in local environments.
Our Vision
The National Association – Australian Native Plants Society (Australia)
The ANPS(A) is the national association of the various state-based societies. The origin of ANPS(A) dates back to the early 1950s. The idea of a Society that is dedicated to the cultivation of Australian plants was proposed by Arthur Swaby who, for several years from May 1954, wrote a column “Know Your Natives” in the popular gardening magazine “Your Garden“.
As a result of Swaby’s initiative, the first regional Society was established in 1957 in Victoria. The idea was quickly taken up in other parts of Australia to form the separate independent Regional Societies which are now based in each Australian State and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).
The national association was formed in 1962 to foster the interchange of ideas and information throughout Australia and to coordinate issues extending beyond regional boundaries. Prior to December 2008, the organisation’s name was the Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants (ASGAP). The name was changed to better reflect the wider interests of member societies, which extend beyond cultivation of Australian native plants. ANPSA is an administrative body and does not have individuals as members. Individual membership is available through the State based Regional Societies.
(Based on an excerpt from the ANPSA website)
Society Newsletters
- February 4, 2026 APSSA Newsletter
- October 31, 2025 APSSA Newsletter
- September 5, 2025 APSSA Newsletter
- July 30, 2025 APSSA Newsletter
Society Updates
Local Groups
Adelaide Group
Our members come from the Adelaide metropolitan area and from the nearby Adelaide Hills. Our aims are to investigate, propagate […]
Northern Yorke Peninsula Group
For Gardeners, non gardeners, enthusiasts or anyone on NYP with an interest in the conservation, propagation, planting and promotion of Australian plants. […]
Fleurieu Group
Our members come from the Lower Fleurieu Peninsular including Goolwa, Victor Harbor, and surrounding areas. We generally meet at Carrickalinga […]
COOTS Group (Conservation of our Threatened Species)
Conservation is possibly the most important part of the Australian Plants Society. We are actively involved in several conservation initiatives. In one […]
Eastern Eyre Peninsula Group
The Eastern Eyre Group meets regularly in the Arno Bay / Port Neill region.
Brinkworth Group
Meetings at Brinkworth Hall Supper Room unless indicated otherwise
Gawler and Barossa Group
The Gawler and Barossa Districts Group meets at 7:30pm on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at the Lyndoch Institute […]
Message from the COOTS conservation group.
On the 21st of March 2026, the Propagation Workshops will be happening once again.
This new group will be the 16th COOTS group.
As always, it will be held at 21A Richards Terrace, Goodwood, and will begin at 12 noon every Saturday for six days.
There is no cost for this valuable six (6) consecutive Saturday course; all I ask is for a gold coin towards coffee and cake.
What I need now are participants. If this is something that appeals to you, please email me at [email protected] to register your interest in the course.
I need around 10 to make it a comfortable group. Group 15 filled in two days, so see if we can better that. Those who missed the last session can now apply for this round.
The course looks closely at how to grow Australian Native Plants, and my intention is to look in detail at how best to do that being seed or cuttings.
There will be a field day amongst the courses, and a couple of very experienced speakers speaking on their particular subject.
Don't miss out on this opportunity, where your possibilities are quite extensive. Many of the earlier participants have taken on roles in the COOTS group, and I look forward to many more enthusiastic people joining them to make this progressive conservation group grow in the coming years.
See if you can join the COOTS propagation workshops, and join this fun experience.
Once the course is completed, there will be ample opportunity to bring your seedlings back to the shed to pot them on into larger pots ready to plant out, or sell to the general public.
Jeff Reid. ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Hi all, as part of the course for our new group (Group 15), we take the participants out of the comfort of the shed and do a field day visit.
I have contacted others in the APS, just in case, many more members, even others who would like to accompany group 15 to Glenthorne Farm.
I haven't been there myself, and Alan Burns has welcomed the group and me to see the progress that has been made at Glenthorne Farm over the last few years. I am quite excited to visit the site and pleased to be able to take group 15 as well.
Now it is open to as many as possible in the APS, and also family and friends, so even though it is short notice, there is still time to consider a visit.
Alan has provided the following directions for all of you.
I just wanted to let you know that we will meet at 12.00 noon.
Do bring some lunch and something to drink as well. Obviously hat and sunscreen are a must.
If coming up Main South Road, go past the Victoria Hotel, and turn right at the lights onto Majors Road. Follow the signs. The entrance is on the left, just past the IGRA College, formerly O'Halloran Hill TAFE. Follow the road in as it winds to the left down into the playground area. Plenty of parks there.
If coming up the Southern Expressway, there is a turnoff to O'Halloan Hill and Hallett Cove. Once off the SE, turn left onto Majors Road, and Glenthorne Farm is the next right hander into the park. Again, follow the road down to the playground area.
We will assemble near this playground area, and we can then leave it up to Alan to show us around and see some of the works that they have been undertaking.
Finally, I will add that on Sunday, the 22nd (the day after Glenthorne), we will put some hours into our project at Lands End, so if you are at a loss as to what you can do, come down and catch up with Gerard Wallace, who is now the coordinator of the Lands End project.
We are so lucky that the Deep Creek fire just missed us, and this is an opportunity to see just how close that fire came to wiping out all the work that we have done over the last forty years.
Do join me on the day.
Jeff Reid. ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
There are Australian native hibiscus, but I am not aware of any native chilli. You can check our website before you come. We expect to have a species list available about a week before the sale. ... See MoreSee Less
This content isn't available right now
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
A big day on Saturday. The weather will be extreme, but the workshop will go ahead. Might have to shorten the day if necessary. This is a reminder to the new group (group 15) that we do have a good airconditioner, so we'll see how we go.
Jeff. ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Hi all my FB followers, it's time for me to put on hold any further participants for round 15.
The round has been filled.
The next round will be in March 2026. If you missed this opportunity, we will continue throughout the year, so keep an eye on Facebook.
Jeff Reid. ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
I know that I may be leaving this a bit late, but the time has come for me to get over my recent experience and get back to some sort of normality.
I cannot continue to feel sorry for myself, so on the 24th of January 2026, the Propagation Workshops will begin again.
This new group will be the 15th COOTS group.
As always, it will be held at 21A Richards Terrace, Goodwood, and will begin at 12 noon every Saturday for six days.
There is no cost for this valuable six (6) consecutive Saturday course; probably all I ask is for a gold coin towards coffee and cake.
What I need now are participants, so if this is something that appeals to you, please send me an email at [email protected] to register your interest in the course. I need around 10 to make it a comfortable group.
The course looks closely at how to grow Australian Native Plants, and my intention is to look in detail at how best to do that being seed or cuttings.
There will be a field day amongst the course, a couple of very experienced speakers, plus a surprise day, where we look at plant identification.
Don't miss out on this opportunity, where your possibilities are quite extensive. Many of the earlier participants have taken on roles in the COOTS group, and I look forward to many more enthusiastic people joining them to make this progressive conservation group grow in the coming years.
See if you are able to join the COOTS propagation workshops, and join this fun experience.
Jeff Reid. ... See MoreSee Less
3 CommentsComment on Facebook