Gardening with Native Plants is an event focused on cultivation of native plants in urban and semi-urban gardens in the Blue Mountains and was first held in 2025.

The day brings together four local native plant nurseries, local experts and our local gardeners, to celebrate the beauty of native plants and the potential of native gardens. We aim to inform and inspire Blue Mountains residents starting out to plant a native garden, and those who have a native garden and want to know more.

This community event is run by the not-for-profit association, Gardening with Natives Inc, supported by the Blue Mountains Conservation Society, Blue Mountains City Council and participating specialist native nurseries.

Native plant market

In the courtyard of the Neighbourhood Centre in Lawson, a great range of plants will be available, suitable for every position and for climates from the lower to upper Mountains. Contributing nurseries are: Conservation Society; Wildplant Rescue Service; Glenbrook Native Nursery and Lithgow Community Nursery.

Info sessions

Our speakers, many with deep local experience, deliver 20-minute presentations with 5 minutes for questions. Topics include how to get started with native gardens, what plants suit your local area, landscaping your native garden and choosing plants to attract birds and wildlife. We also look at Blue Mountains soils and the unique needs of some of our iconic plants such as the waratah. See our list of presenters and topics.

Check here from late September for the full list of speakers, topics and the program.