Australia is one of the most botanically diverse nations on earth. With over 24,000 native plant species — the vast majority found nowhere else — the continent has produced an extraordinary natural pharmacy, much of it still underexplored by Western science but deeply understood by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have lived here for more than 65,000 years.
The plants below represent a starting point. They were chosen because they are among the most well-documented in terms of traditional use, have attracted genuine scientific interest, and are practically accessible to most Australians today — whether through the bush, health food stores, or the growing native skincare industry. This is not a complete list. It is not medical advice. And it comes with an important note: much of what we know about these plants traces back to knowledge that belongs, first and foremost, to the First Nations communities who developed and preserved it.
1. Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)
No plant better represents the crossover between traditional Australian bush medicine and the modern wellness industry. Tea tree is native to a relatively small area of the NSW coast and hinterland — Country belonging to the Bundjalung people, who used the leaves medicinally for thousands of years, crushing them to treat skin infections, wounds and respiratory ailments.
The active compound responsible for most of tea tree oil's antimicrobial properties is terpinen-4-ol, which should make up at least 30 percent of any therapeutic-grade oil. The research base is unusually robust by natural remedy standards: multiple controlled studies have confirmed tea tree oil's effectiveness against a broad range of bacteria and fungi, including Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. A 2013 Cochrane review found it effective for fungal nail infections. It is one of the few traditional remedies to have crossed convincingly into evidence-based medicine.
Practical note: tea tree oil must always be diluted before skin application — typically 1–2% in a carrier oil. Undiluted application can cause contact dermatitis, and ingestion is toxic.
2. Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus species)
With more than 700 species, eucalyptus is almost synonymous with Australia itself. The tall, silver-barked trees that define so much of the Australian landscape have been central to Aboriginal medicine across the continent, with different communities developing detailed knowledge of the specific species available on their Country.
The leaves contain volatile oils — principally 1,8-cineole, also called eucalyptol — that have well-documented decongestant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Traditional applications included crushing fresh leaves and inhaling the steam for colds and chest congestion, applying heated leaves to inflamed joints, and using leaf infusions to clean wounds. Many of these uses are reflected in modern pharmaceutical preparations: you'll find eucalyptol in commercial chest rubs, throat lozenges and inhalants.
Eucalyptus globulus (Tasmanian blue gum) and Eucalyptus radiata (narrow-leaf peppermint) are the species most commonly used for therapeutic-grade essential oil production. The research supports their traditional respiratory uses well, though high concentrations should never be applied near the faces of young children.
3. Lemon Myrtle (Backhousia citriodora)
Native to subtropical Queensland rainforests, lemon myrtle holds a remarkable distinction: it contains the highest known concentration of citral — the compound that produces its intensely fresh, lemon-lime scent — of any plant on earth. Its leaves can be up to 98 percent citral, compared to around 5 percent in actual lemon peel.
Traditional uses by Queensland Aboriginal communities included using the leaves as flavouring and for their antibacterial properties. Contemporary research has confirmed strong antimicrobial activity against a range of bacteria and fungi. Its antifungal activity has shown particular promise in early studies, and one clinical trial demonstrated greater efficacy than tea tree oil for molluscum contagiosum in children. Culinary use is the most accessible entry point — dried or fresh lemon myrtle leaves make an exceptional tea, and the flavour works brilliantly in baked goods, sauces and marinades.
4. Kakadu Plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana)
Kakadu plum holds a world record that surprises most people: it is the richest known food source of Vitamin C on earth, containing up to 5,300 milligrams per 100 grams of fresh fruit — roughly 100 times more than an orange. The fruit also contains significant levels of gallic acid and ellagic acid, both of which have demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in laboratory research.
Native to the tropical woodlands of northern Australia, the small, pale-green fruit has been an important food source for Aboriginal communities across this region for thousands of years — eaten fresh, dried or fermented, and used to treat skin conditions and maintain general health. Today, Kakadu plum extract is a premium ingredient in the native skincare industry, where its antioxidant profile makes it particularly valuable in anti-ageing and brightening formulations.
5. Quandong (Santalum acuminatum)
The desert quandong — sometimes called native peach — is one of the most culturally significant plants of arid and semi-arid Australia. The bright-red fruit was a vital food and medicine for Aboriginal communities across a vast inland area stretching from the Western Australian goldfields through South Australia and into western NSW and Queensland. Medicinally, quandong was used for skin conditions including sores, blistering and inflammation. The fruit is notably high in Vitamin C and antioxidant compounds, and quandong extract is now appearing in premium native skincare products.
6. Wattleseed (Acacia species)
Australia has around 1,000 species of Acacia, and perhaps 20 to 30 of these have been used as food sources by Aboriginal communities, with the seeds ground into flour or roasted and eaten whole. Nutritionally, the seeds are impressive: high in protein (around 25 percent), with a low glycaemic index and significant iron and zinc content. Wattleseed is enjoying a contemporary revival in native food products ranging from bread to ice cream, and some Acacia species have been investigated for antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds.
7. River Mint (Mentha australis)
Australia's native mint species — found along waterways throughout much of the south and east — was widely used by Aboriginal communities for respiratory ailments, headaches and as a general wellness herb. The leaves were crushed and inhaled, brewed into infusions, or applied topically. River mint contains a different volatile oil profile to commercial peppermint, with lower menthol content and a milder, more complex flavour. It has attracted scientific interest for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, and is an excellent sustainable herb for cooking and tea-making.
8. Saltbush (Atriplex species)
Several species of saltbush — low-growing grey-green shrubs widespread across inland and coastal Australia — have significant traditional medicinal histories. The leaves were used topically for skin irritation, stings and rashes. Contemporary research has identified antioxidant compounds in saltbush leaves and is exploring anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial applications. Saltbush is also appearing in native food products — the leaves make a flavourful, salty cooking herb — and in some skincare formulations.
9. Kunzea (Kunzea ambigua)
Kunzea — sometimes called white kunzea or tick bush — is a flowering shrub native to south-eastern Australia and Tasmania. It is relatively new to international attention compared to tea tree or eucalyptus, but has attracted significant scientific interest in recent decades. The essential oil has demonstrated anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antimicrobial properties in a number of studies, and is used in therapeutic massage blends and natural pain-relief products. Kunzea's chemical profile is distinct from other Australian native oils, containing primarily alpha-pinene and globulol, and it is generally well-tolerated on skin at appropriate dilutions.
10. Davidson's Plum (Davidsonia species)
Davidson's plum is a subtropical rainforest tree native to Queensland and northern NSW, producing deep purple fruit with one of the highest anthocyanin contents of any fruit measured. Anthocyanins — the pigments responsible for the deep colour of blueberries and red wine — are among the most studied antioxidant compounds in food science. Traditional use as a food source is well-documented. In skincare, the extract's antioxidant profile has attracted interest for anti-ageing and skin-brightening applications, and several Australian native beauty brands now include it in formulations.
A Final Note on Respect and Context
The ten plants above represent a small fraction of the botanical knowledge developed across this continent over tens of thousands of years. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities hold knowledge that goes far deeper than what has been recorded in scientific literature — and in many cases, that knowledge has not been shared publicly, or has been shared on the community's own terms. Approaching bush medicine with genuine curiosity and respect means acknowledging this context: supporting Indigenous-led enterprises wherever possible, being cautious about commercial exploitation of culturally significant plants, and recognising that scientific validation — while valuable — is not the only measure of a remedy's worth.