The Science: Why We Plant in Wetlands

Restoring Perry Lakes from the Ground Up

Wetlands like Perry Lakes are dynamic, living systems that depend on a delicate balance of water, soil, and vegetation. While the towering trees and open waters often take centre stage, it’s the understory and dryland species—the grasses, sedges, rushes, and shrubs—that play a quiet but critical role in restoring ecological function and resilience.

This is at the heart of why we plant. As part of PlantFest ’25, Friends of Perry Lakes planted 4,000 native seedlings, with many drawn from hardy, locally adapted dryland species. These plants are not only visually diverse and beautiful, but they also work hard: stabilising sandy soils, outcompeting invasive weeds, and creating habitat and shelter for birds, insects, and reptiles.

These plants—and many others like them—form the ecological foundation of Perry Lakes' recovery.

These carefully chosen plants form the ecological foundation of Perry Lakes’ recovery. Over the past four years, Friends of Perry Lakes has planted more than 12,000 native plants across both East and West Lake. This sustained effort isn’t just about quantity—it’s a direct implementation of the Perry Lakes Management Plan 2021–2031, which outlines a long-term strategy to restore biodiversity, improve habitat connectivity, and build climate resilience through community-driven action.

These plants not only bring birdsong, frog calls, pollinators, and colour back to the landscape—they also play a vital role in rebuilding safe breeding habitats for native fauna such as the quenda (southern brown bandicoot) and the South-western snake-necked turtle. Together, these plants are transforming Perry Lakes from a dry parkland into a functioning wetland ecosystem—alive, complex, and capable of supporting the full lifecycle of native wildlife.

• Conostylis oculataA tufted perennial that forms dense ground cover and provides shelter for small fauna.
• Microlaena stipoides (weeping grass)Known for its erosion control properties and tolerance to dry conditions.
• Austrostipa elegantissima (native spear grass)Contributes structure and foraging space for invertebrates and small marsupials.
• Ficinia nodosa (Knobby Club-rush)A robust sedge that excels in both wet and dry zones, helping with water filtration and stabilisation near lake edges.
• Lepidosperma longitudinaleAn important sedge supporting bank stability, frog habitat, and bird nesting.
• Gahnia trifidaPlanted in dense clusters under large trees like Flooded Gums, creating shady sheltered areas known as "Quenda Corners" that provide cover and safe passage for quenda between Bold Park and West Lake.