Shrub habitats
What are shrubs?
Shrubs are plants which have multiple woody stems growing out of the base. They are usually under 6 metres tall. Native examples include bush peas, wattles, grevilleas and banksias.
Grey spider flower. The flowers provide nectar for animals.
Shrubs as habitat
Shrubs provide nest sites and protection for small animals from predators. They produce flowers containing nectar, seeds and fruit that some species of birds, invertebrates and mammals use for food.
After flowering wattles produce seeds. Many seeds are eaten but some will fall into the leaf litter and grow into a new plant.
Pink spider flowers are a type of grevillea. They provide food for many animals in the form of nectar. Can you see evidence of a spider using this flower?
After bushfires shrubs grow quickly to provide essential habitat and food to many species. The pinky purple shrub in the foreground is boronia.
Eastern spinebill
An eastern spinebill bird is a type of honeyeater. It feeds on insects and nectar from flowers such as grevilleas, native heath and mountain devils. The long, narrow beak of a spinebill is designed to reach deeply into tubular flowers to obtain nectar.
Eastern spinebills collect nectar from flowering shrubs.
Habitat digital book
Find out more
Habitat is a digital book that investigates the needs of living things through detailed text, interactive activities, videos and stunning images.
Explore the value of habitats such as trees, shrubs and ground cover plants and non-living habitats such as leaf litter, rocks, logs and water.
Find out how to create and restore habitats that will help animals survive and thrive.
This book supports Australian Curriculum biological sciences and living world.