Which native trees are genuinely worth planting in a Perth garden? This guide covers the species that perform best in WA conditions, support local wildlife, and pass the PSHB biosecurity screen — so your $150 Treebate rebate goes toward a tree that will still be standing in 50 years.
The WA Government’s Treebate program is straightforward: buy an eligible native tree from a WA nursery, plant it on your private property, and claim up to $150 back through the ServiceWA app. It is open to every Western Australian aged 18 or over, with up to 10,000 rebates released each year until 2029.
There is no government-published approved species list. The single eligibility rule is this: the tree must be an Australian native with a mature canopy height of at least 3 metres, purchased from a WA commercial nursery. The choice of species is yours.
Which means the real question is not which trees qualify — it is which trees are worth planting.
Three Filters Before You Buy
Will it survive Perth conditions? Perth sits on the Swan Coastal Plain — sandy soils, hot dry summers, mild wet winters, and salt-laden coastal winds in many suburbs. Local provenance matters. A tree that thrives in cooler, heavier-soiled climates may struggle here.
Does it support local wildlife? The point of the program is urban greening for biodiversity. A tree that feeds nothing is still a tree, but a tree that supports Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos, honeyeaters, or native bees is doing two jobs simultaneously.
What is its PSHB risk profile? PSHB is now permanently established across the Perth metro area. Before purchasing any species, cross-reference it against the DPIRD WA Host List — updated monthly — and check your suburb’s zone at dpird.wa.gov.au/pshb. Some species are hard-blocked for Management Zone customers. Getting this wrong wastes your one rebate claim.
Use our Tree Selection Tool to get a filtered list of species that pass all three tests for your specific zone, garden size, and goals.
The Species — Verified Against DPIRD Host List v6, 30 June 2025
Firewood Banksia — Banksia menziesi
Mature height: 4–10m | Mature width: 3–6m | PSHB: ✅ Negligible — Non-Reproductive Host
One of Perth’s most important wildlife trees. Large red and yellow flower spikes from autumn through winter fill the nectar gap when most species are dormant. A critical food source for Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo — listed as endangered under Commonwealth law. Perth NRM specifically recommends banksias as a priority Treebate choice for cockatoo habitat.
Grows well in sandy, well-drained Perth soils. Full sun. Frost tolerant. Widely available at WA nurseries.
Compliance note: Confirmed Negligible susceptibility on DPIRD WA Host List v6. Non-Reproductive Host — PSHB cannot successfully reproduce in this species. Safe for all Perth zones including Management Zone. Do not buy the dwarf cultivar — it will not reach 3m+.
Bull Banksia — Banksia grandis
Mature height: 5–10m | Mature width: 3–6m | PSHB: ✅ Negligible — Non-Reproductive Host
Produces the largest flower cones of any banksia — up to 40cm tall. Flowers from spring through summer, complementing the winter-flowering Firewood Banksia to create a near year-round nectar source if you plant both. A long-term garden investment that delivers exceptional biodiversity value.
Grows well in sandy, well-drained soils. Full sun to part shade. Excellent drainage is non-negotiable.
Compliance note: Confirmed Negligible susceptibility on DPIRD WA Host List v6. Non-Reproductive Host. Safe for all Perth zones including Management Zone. Do not buy dwarf or compact cultivars.
Grass-leaf Hakea — Hakea multilineat
Mature height: 3–4m | Mature width: 2–3m | PSHB: ✅ Negligible — Non-Reproductive Host
One of the most bird-attracting hakeas in Perth gardens. Deep pink to red flower clusters along the stems from winter to spring. Upright and slender — ideal for narrow spaces and smaller suburban blocks. Confirmed 3m+ at maturity.
Full sun, well-drained sandy soils. Low maintenance once established.
Compliance note: Confirmed Negligible susceptibility on DPIRD WA Host List v6. Non-Reproductive Host. Safe for all Perth zones. Confirm plant label shows Hakea multilineata before purchasing.
Pincushion Hakea — Hakea laurina
Mature height: 4–6m | Mature width: 3–5m | PSHB: ✅ Not listed on DPIRD Host List v6
Striking spherical crimson and cream flowers in winter when little else blooms. Dense upright habit makes it excellent for screening and privacy. Tolerates salt air and poor soils. Not listed on the DPIRD WA Host List v6 — one of the lowest PSHB risk choices available.
Compliance note: Buy tree-form stock, not the shrub form. Never apply phosphorus fertiliser — toxic to all Proteaceae. Prune lower branches early to develop a clear trunk above 3m.
Candle Banksia — Banksia attenuata
Mature height: 4–10m | Mature width: 3–5m | PSHB: ✅ Not listed on DPIRD Host List v6
A true Swan Coastal Plain endemic, among the most common banksias in the Perth metropolitan area. Tall cylindrical yellow flower spikes provide year-round food for Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos and honeyeaters. Highly adaptable to Perth’s sandy soils. Not listed on the DPIRD Host List v6.
Compliance note: Never apply standard phosphorus fertiliser. WA endemic — no geographic eligibility questions for Treebate purposes.
Olive Grevillea — Grevillea olivacea
Mature height: 3–5m | Mature width: 3–4m | PSHB: ✅ Negligible — Non-Reproductive Host
Year-round colour with bird-attracting flowers. Fast-establishing, drought tolerant, and excellent for privacy screening. Confirmed Negligible susceptibility on DPIRD Host List v6. Safe for all Perth zones.
Compliance note: Adaptable to most well-drained soils. Confirmed 3m+ at maturity.
Wonnich — Callistachys lanceolata
Mature height: 3–7m | Mature width: 2–4m | PSHB: ✅ Low — Non-Reproductive Host
WA endemic from the Swan Coastal Plain and southern forests. Beautiful yellow pea flowers in spring. Upright habit ideal for screening and pathway planting. Confirmed Low susceptibility on DPIRD Host List v6 — Non-Reproductive Host. PSHB can attack but cannot successfully reproduce in this species.
Compliance note: Confirmed 3m+ at maturity. Ensure plant label shows Callistachys lanceolata for ServiceWA submission.
Tuart — Eucalyptus gomphocephala
Mature height: 10–25m | Mature width: 8–12m | PSHB: ✅ Negligible — Non-Reproductive Host
Found only on the Swan Coastal Plain — entirely endemic to the Perth region. A large, long-lived shade tree. Tuart woodland supports nearly 600 documented plant and animal species. Planting tuart in a Perth garden is as close as you can get to restoring original Swan Coastal Plain habitat.
Grows best in well-drained sandy or limestone soils. Drought tolerant once established. Needs space — not suited to small blocks.
Compliance note: Confirmed Negligible susceptibility on DPIRD Host List v6. Safe for all Perth zones. Plant at least 8m from structures — large spreading root system.
Jarrah — Eucalyptus marginata
Mature height: 10–20m | Mature width: 6–10m | PSHB: Not listed on DPIRD Host List v6
WA’s iconic forest tree. Deep-rooted, extraordinarily long-lived, and one of the most ecologically valuable trees on the Swan Coastal Plain. Supports 100+ documented insect species. White flowers in spring provide nectar for honeyeaters.
Grows best in laterite or loam soils. In sandy coastal soils it grows more slowly. Suited to larger gardens — not ideal for small suburban lots or near structures.
Compliance note: Not listed on DPIRD WA Host List v6. Safe from a PSHB perspective.
WA Coral Gum — Eucalyptus torquata
Mature height: 5–8m | Mature width: 4–5m | PSHB: ✅ Not listed on DPIRD Host List v6
One of Perth’s most reliable ornamental gums. Coral-pink to red flowers for most of the year. Slow growing and drought tolerant — will not outgrow a suburban block. Thrives in alkaline limestone soils common across Perth. Excellent choice for narrow verges and driveways.
Compliance note: Not listed on DPIRD WA Host List v6. Safe for all Perth zones.
Species Removed From This Guide — And Why
WA Peppermint (Agonis flexuosa) — Appears on the DPIRD WA Host List v6. treebate.com.au applies a stricter biosecurity standard than DWER promotional materials, which have featured this species. We do not recommend Agonis flexuosa to any customer in a PSHB-affected area. If you have seen it recommended elsewhere on this site, that recommendation has been corrected. See PSHB-safe alternatives above.
Red Flowering Gum (Corymbia ficifolia) — Confirmed High Reproductive Host on DPIRD WA Host List v6. Hard-Stop for Management Zone customers. Manual Review required for Containment Zone. We have removed it from our recommended species list for QA zone customers. Outside QA residents should verify their zone at dpird.wa.gov.au/pshb before purchasing. We cannot recommend it as a general Perth garden choice given the extent of the QA.
How to Claim Your Treebate
- Buy a native tree from any WA commercial nursery. Must reach 3m+ canopy at maturity.
- Plant it in the ground on your private property. Pot plants are not eligible.
- Keep the tax invoice — must show business trading name, ABN, total value including GST, purchase date, and itemised tree purchased. No handwritten invoices or additions. No EFTPOS receipts.
- Photograph the plant label showing the species name.
- Submit via the ServiceWA app. Payment within approximately 7 business days.
Key rules:
- One rebate per person for the entire four-year program (2025–2029) — not per year
- No household limit — every eligible adult can claim independently
- Multiple household members can use the same tax invoice — each claiming a different tree line item on that invoice
- If the annual allocation of 10,000 is exhausted before you claim, you can still claim next year — keep your invoice and plant label safe
- Rebate equals actual purchase price up to $150 maximum — tree cost only
- Soil, mulch, stakes, and tools are not covered under Treebate (they may be covered under the separate WA Tree Recovery Program if you have a DPIRD Tree ID)
- Private sales via Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree are not eligible
The Bottom Line
For most Perth gardens the highest-value choices are Firewood Banksia, Bull Banksia, Candle Banksia, Grass-leaf Hakea, Pincushion Hakea, and Tuart — all WA endemics, all confirmed low or negligible PSHB risk, all eligible for Management Zone customers.
Check your PSHB zone at dpird.wa.gov.au/pshb before purchasing. Use our Tree Selection Tool to get a personalised shortlist for your zone, garden size, and goals in under two minutes.
PSHB susceptibility data sourced from DPIRD WA Host List Version 6, 30 June 2025. Treebate program rules verified against DWER FAQ (18 September 2025) and ServiceWA Treebate page (12 March 2026). Zone boundaries and host status are subject to change — always verify at dpird.wa.gov.au/pshb and wa.gov.au/treebate before purchasing. treebate.com.au is an independent guide and is not affiliated with DWER or the WA Government. Final rebate approval rests solely with DWER and ServiceWA.