Kwongan Heath around Narrogin

​The word “Kwongan” (or “kwongkan”) comes from the Noongar aboriginal word for sand plain.
Kwongan heath refers to areas of shrubland with few or no trees, which are interspersed between woodlands (jarrah-marri, rock sheoak, wandoo, York gum-jam, mallee, and salmon gum) . They are always on infertile poor water-holding soils, which support  a large number and diversity of flowering shrubs and small plants. Orchids are uncommon, but kwongan areas are great for wildflower lovers and bird watchers. Most kwongan occurs on lateritic sand and gravel uplands, which can cover large areas in the wheatbelt, or patches in hilly areas like Foxes Lair. 
Kwongan plants can vary significantly from one place to another. Tammas (Allocasuarina species), and rushes/ sedges are common, in addition to more showy flowering species like acacias, Proteaceae, and Fabeaceae

Gravelly grass tree kwongan at Dryandra home block

​Local kwongan areas include

• Dense prickly scrub on lateritic soils, which range from shallow gravel or ironstone uplands to yellow and white sands on upland slopes and hollows.
• Yellow and white banksia dominated sandplain dunes and slopes usually on the east-southeast of salt lakes.
• Shallow gritty to clay soils associated with granite or mafic rock outcrops

​Here are some great kwongan spots in the greater Narrogin area. Click on blue hyperlink for information on each reserve.
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Foxes Lair. A lovely patch on the western half of the Banksia Trail has regenerated after a fire in 2009. This section of the walk has flowers from July to late November, with differing species becoming prominent at varying times. Notable plants include Hakea lissocarpha, several dryandras, Grevilleas tenuiflora and leptobotrys, Pimelea ciliata, Stylidium amoenum, and Jacksonia epiphyllum. Occasionally I see Elegant Parrots feeding there
A tiny patch of winter-wet, grass tree kwongan clay adjoining the claypit has many species including plants found nowhere else in Foxes Lair.
​An upland plateau on the Claypit Walk contains a grey sandplain (almost) kwongan plant community with mainly parrotbush (Banksia sessilis), and roadside tea-tree (Leptospermum erubescens) amongst scattered marris.

Jacksonia epiphyllum November

Elegant parrot in kwongan

Kwongan ten years after fire

​Harrismith Nature Reserve is a fabulous kwongan reserve with a 3.5km walk/cycle trail, and a drive trail. It is worth a visit in both September and October to see the full range of wildflowers

Tutanning Nature Reserve is a great reserve with a range of kwongan shrublands, which support a large number of species of plants, animals, and birds. Short stay accommodation onsite enables visitors to enjoy the solitude and beauty day and night.

​​Yilliminning Nature Reserve is a wonderful reserve, which has two types of kwongan vegetation. The southern side is winter-wet kwongan with low shrubs on shallow soil over granite. The northern side has a wide range of flowering shrubs. There is wide range of wildflowers which require a visit in September and October to see them in flower.

Winter wet kwongan south of Boundain Road

Grevillea pilulifera

Gravelly kwongan north of Boundain Road

Yilliminning Rock Reserve has a kwongan ridge and slope alongside Birdwhistle Road just past the turnoff to the rock.  In late October there is a spectacular display of pinkish-white Verticordia eriocephala (Cabbage Verticordia) in a low slope on the west of Birdwhistle Road about 500 metres past the turnoff to the rock.

Verticordia eriocephala in early morning

​Highbury Telstra spot has an unusual kwongan community growing on shallow grey clay amidst granite outcrops on a ridge. This is a good spot to visit from mid-August to October for heath plants, orchids and granite vegetation. Take care not to crush lichens on the granite. There is no dedicated walk trail, but an abandoned illegal trail bike circuit. Smile for the surveillance cameras and don't get lost

Blue hakea Hakea Lehmanniana

Dwarf marri at Toolibin cemetery

​Banksia woodland and tall sandplain heath can be seen on grey and yellow sand dunes blown from Toolibin Lake on to (gravel) Cemetery Road, and the abandoned Toolibin townsite. Look for Woolly Banksia Banksia baueri at the Toolibin cemetery in May/June and other kwongan plants in September /October. Gravel road.

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Newman Block Sandplain Walk has an upland patch of deep white sand ringed by by large jarrahs. In years with good spring rain this has a beautiful show of smoke bush and Petrophile longifolia in late September-October followed by pink Verticordia densiflora, yellow Calytrix flavescens and Nuytsia florabunda  in November-December. As the access track to this walk is not maintained, a 4WD or sturdy 2WD may be required to get to the car park. 

East Yornaning Nature Reserve has some great examples of white sand/sand over gravel. It is a great wildflower reserve, but access roads are gravel, and it is more suitable for 4WD vehicles. White sand areas may be boggy in dry weather.

September

August

November

Yarling Nature Reserve has interesting kwongan shrubland in a seasonally wet sandy hollow, witha few species I haven't seen elsewhere.

Eremaea pauciflora kwongan at Yarling Nature Reserve

The Kwongan Foundation is a great resource to learn more about kwongan plant communities.