Seed Set as an Ecological Indicator in Urban Wild Gardens

Tended Earth is connecting with local experts, schools, and residents to assess and better understand pollination and seed set in urban wild gardens. This information helps identify ecological interventions needed to strengthen the pollination potential in restored urban landscapes - a critical step in ensuring our wild plantings can successfully self-seed.

Over time, an optimised, self-seeding wild garden can also become a valuable local seed source, supporting local community groups to propagate plants and expand urban land restoration efforts.

Local Expert Session:

Assessing Seed Germination in Urban Wild Gardens

Local Expert

Philp Taylor, PhD - Botanist, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at Rural Health Latrobe University and School of Medicine at University of Melbourne, Advisor to Brunswick Communities for Nature, and local Brunswick resident

Locations

  1. New wild gardens of Brunswick Secondary College, 47 Dawson Street, Brunswick

  2. Established garden on nearby Union Street, Brunswick

Focus Plant Species

Native Paper Daisy, Xerochyrsum bracteatum 

Findings (9 Feb 2026)

Flowers collected from Xerochrysum bracteatum in the new BSC gardens revealed very few viable seeds - these are the dark plump seeds (photos below ).

An elderly man with glasses and a plaid shirt squats in a garden, tending to pink and yellow flowers. He is surrounded by greenery and brick buildings.

An elderly man with glasses and a plaid shirt squats in a garden, tending to pink and yellow flowers. He is surrounded by greenery and brick buildings.

Close-up of a person's hand in the background with dried flower petals or similar debris on the palm, with another hand pointing at the debris.

Close-up of a person's hand in the background with dried flower petals or similar debris on the palm, with another hand pointing at the debris.

An older man with glasses, a plaid shirt, black pants, and black shoes is crouching down and tending to a garden bed with yellow and pink flowers near a brick building.

An older man with glasses, a plaid shirt, black pants, and black shoes is crouching down and tending to a garden bed with yellow and pink flowers near a brick building.

A hand with tiny insects on the palm and fingers, set against a background of soil and small plants.

A hand with tiny insects on the palm and fingers, set against a background of soil and small plants.

In comparison, flowers collected from Xerochrysum bracteatum in Philip’s established home garden revealed many more viable seeds (photos below).

A man with glasses and a plaid shirt kneeling by pink and white flowers in a garden, holding a small fuzzy caterpillar on his open hand.

A man with glasses and a plaid shirt kneeling by pink and white flowers in a garden, holding a small fuzzy caterpillar on his open hand.

A person's palm holding sunflower seeds in front of a flower garden with pink and yellow flowers.

A person's palm holding sunflower seeds in front of a flower garden with pink and yellow flowers.

An man wearing glasses and a plaid shirt picking pink Paper Daisy flowers in a garden.

An man wearing glasses and a plaid shirt picking pink Paper Daisy flowers in a garden.

A person holding a flower with the other hand, which has small black seeds on it, and pink and white flowers in the background.

A person holding a flower with the other hand, which has small black seeds on it, and pink and white flowers in the background.

Discussions

“Many of these Asteraceae family of plants need out-crossing with insects. The pollen is available before the style is receptive on the same flower, so insects (native bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, hoverflies) need to move the pollen between flowers/plants to set seed” - Philip Taylor, Feb 2026.

It is important to note that the cultivar of Xerochrysum bracteatum differed between the two collection sites;  therefore seed set rates cannot be directly compare. However observations across the two populations still provide useful insight into relative pollination activity.

The low level of seed set observed in Paper Daisies growing within the school wild gardens indicates limited out-crossing. This suggests the school gardens are still ecologically young and isolated, with pollinating insects yet to establish in sufficient numbers.

In contrast, Philip observed his garden is rich with insects. The higher seed set in his home-grown Paper Daisies likely reflects increased pollinating insect activity and highlights the need to strengthen the pollinator potential within the new wild gardens at BSC.

Please note: These findings are observational. They are intended to spark curiosity and encourage the open sharing of experiences and knowledge, helping us build a deeper collective understanding of our restored urban landscapes.

Implications & Future Studies

Examining seed set can provide a valuable measure for assessing the ecological health of restored urban landscapes.

Tended Earth’s next steps include:

  • Examining the seed set in other plants within our wild gardens (on-going studies with Philip Taylor)

  • Seeking advice from local ecological experts on strategies to increase the pollination potential in new urban plantings

  • Sharing knowledge and practical strategies with other community-focused land restoration initiatives

  • Connecting with local community nurseries to explore opportunities to share knowledge and seeds

If you would like to share your experiences and/or knowledge in seed set as an ecological indicator of pollinator activity, please get in touch.