Celebrating a significant milestone of 1000 plant profiles (native species and cultivars)

The project’s roots trace back to 2008 when Jeff Howes began crafting articles about Australian native plants for his suburban Sydney block. He was originally inspired by Brian Walters efforts of documenting native plants with ASGAP. Slowly this initiative gained momentum and, in 2017, during the APS NSW website transition, it evolved into a Plant Profile Project. Initially spearheaded by Jeff Howes and the late Warren Sheather, the project aimed to share vital information about native plants, instilling confidence in embracing Australia’s unique flora. Jeff, a driving force since 2008, laid the foundation by crafting articles like ‘Australian native plants that I grow – a few words.’ Heather Miles recognized the project’s value, setting it in motion for public access.

In mid-2020, Dan Clarke joined the team, enhancing botanical accuracy. The collective effort intensified, particularly during the challenges posed by COVID, with Alan Fairley’s generous photo contributions of over 1,400 pictures of native plants adding a substantial amount of images to the APS catalogue. As well as the aforementioned, along the way many other APS Members have also contributed images to the project including but not limited to, Peter Shelton, Paul Maurice, Gloria Sheather, Andrew Knop and many more. 

Jeff Howes reflected on the collaborative effort, stating, “My first draft for Dan was in June 2020, and the master profile template was initially prepared by Heather and subsequently modified by Dan, ensuring a uniform approach to the project.”

 Acknowledging the collaborative spirit, profiles weren’t just crafted by Jeff Howes, Warren & Gloria Sheather but also by dedicated members like Ralph Cartwright, Rhonda Daniels and others. Heather Miles has also contributed a significant amount of time both setting up and maintaining hundreds of database profiles. 

Dan Clarke now oversees the project as the overall editor, welcoming corrections and cultivation insights. A detailed edit was initiated in October 2022, leading to the remarkable 1000-plant milestone in January 2024. Currently, the database is the most visited section of the website, becoming a pivotal reason for individuals to join the society.

Educational Resource and Future Aspirations: The APS NSW Plant Database serves as a valuable educational resource, categorizing plants by form and size, offering insights into Australia’s unique ecosystems. Gratitude is extended to photo contributors, emphasizing the aim to cultivate 2000 profiles for an even richer educational resource.

The Vision Ahead: With an impressive 24,000 native plant species in Australia, the APS NSW Plant Database aspires to encapsulate and document. It is our intention to have profiles for predominantly plants found growing naturally in NSW, focusing on the roughly 5,000 species native to our state. The ongoing commitment to reaching the 2000-plant goal signifies the project’s dedication. The hope is that this digital repository becomes an invaluable resource for those studying, growing, and learning about Australia’s remarkable plant life.

Celebrating A Collective Passion: This celebration goes beyond numerical achievement—it is a testament to the collaborative spirit of APS members, showcasing the power of collective passion for Australia’s diverse native flora. Here’s to the next thousand profiles and beyond!