Collect native plant material

Allow four weeks for permit applications to be processed.

Collecting native plant material means removing material without causing substantial damage or death to the plant. Anything else (such as severing branches, limbs, stems or trunks of vegetation) is defined as clearance and is not classified as collection.

You need a permit to collect native plant material from public land.

If you want to clear native plants, find out if you need a permit on the Native Vegetation Clearance webpage.

For what activities do I need a plant materials permit?

You may wish to collect for:

herbarium voucher specimens
research purposes
revegetation projects
creating seed banks
propagation of plants for nursery sale
bush food
art.

What plant materials can I collect?

You can apply to collect flowers, seeds, leaves, cuttings and any other part of the plant.

What species of plant material can I collect?

You can collect material from any native plant species, as long as you have the right permit.

Where can I collect native plant materials?

Generally, collection of native plant material from National Parks and Wildlife reserves is not permitted. If, however, you hold a valid permit for these areas, please notify the District Office for that reserve every time a collection will take place.
See the Where can I collect native plant materials factsheet for a summary of the species that can be collected, and the land tenures on which collection is permitted for each permit type.

Do I need a permit?

Collecting for scientific research

You need a permit if you wish to collect native plant material from public land or plant material from a prescribed plant species from private land, and if collection is for herbarium voucher specimens or to carry out research. To apply for this permit, go to the Scientific Research Permit forms.

Collecting for non-scientific purposes

You need a permit to collect native plant material from public land. To access an application form, select the reason why you wish to collect native plant materials:

Commercial plant collecting, including commercial propagation and large revegetation projects
Individual, community and botanic garden collecting, including revegetation and propagation for small collections, individual project and other purposes
Bush food collecting
Threatened species collecting.

Permit holders must:

obtain separate permission from the authority responsible for care and control of the public land from which you wish to collect (for example, the local council, DEW or ForestrySA)
comply with the conditions of the permit
abide by the native plant collecting guidelines.

If you are a member of Trees for Life, please apply for an Individual, community and botanic garden collecting permit.

Are there any fees?

Yes. There are fees associated with applying for, or being granted, a permit.

What are my permit holder responsibilities?

The permit holder must make sure that collection activities do not have a negative impact on the surrounding habitat. See our information sheets plant specimen collecting guidelines and collecting native seeds and fruits..

Sustainable harvest

The maximum amount of plant material that is to be taken from any one plant will differ depending on the conservation status of the species. Generally, and unless otherwise indicated on the permit the maximum amount is 20%, unless the plant is regionally or state listed as threatened where it is a maximum amount of 10%.

Harvest must take place from only those plants that appear healthy and robust. Target plants must not be isolated, that is they must have a healthy neighbour within approximately 20m. When collecting from a population, the collector should attempt to collect from as many plants as possible, taking fewer seed and fruit from each plant. A collector must never take more seed and fruit than is necessary for the project and must only collect fully ripe seed or fruit.