The Royal Botanic Gardens of Sydney

Botanical Identification Service

We provide a comprehensive botanical identification service, with emphasis on wild (native and naturalised) and cultivated plants of New South Wales.

White flannel flowers

Thank you for contacting the Botanical Identification Service (BIS). 

We are closed between Monday 24th December 2024 and Friday 24th January 2025. Emails and parcels received during this period will not be processed until after we reopen. 

We thank you for your patience and look forward to working with you in the new year.

The Botanical Identification Service (BIS) provides a comprehensive botanical identification service, with emphasis on wild (native and naturalised) and cultivated plants of New South Wales.

How to collect and prepare specimens

To determine the best way to prepare your specimens for identification please see our printable booklet on collecting plants (PDF, 216 KB).

The identification of plant specimens can be difficult and at times requires a considerable amount of time and effort. In order to give you accurate identifications we require well-collected specimens with adequate accompanying information.

Service enquiries

Please print, complete and submit this form with your plant specimens:

Botanical Identification Service Enquiry Form (PDF, 236 KB)

Pricing

Note: Enquirers with new, important or quality specimen(s) that we can add to the Herbarium collection, will have reduced fees.
Free identificationFor up to 12 specimens (or four hours work) per year for members of the public and Foundation & Friends members, after which commercial rates apply. 
Note: please restrict your enquiry to no more than 12 specimens at any one time
Minimum chargeMail - $55 includes GST
Plant identifications$26 per specimen: for queries larger than 12 specimens
Consulting fee$250.00/hour depending on the complexity of the job
Urgent enquiriesEnquiries requiring immediate attention are charged at a rate of 50% more than standard enquiries
Austrodanthonia racemosa, or Slender Wallaby-Grass

More services

If your enquiry relates to:

Contact us

Download the Botanical Identification Service Enquiry Form (PDF, 236KB)

Offices:
Botanical Identification Service
National Herbarium of NSW
The Australian Botanic Gardens
Mount Annan NSW 2567

Postal address: [Please DO NOT send living material.]
Botanical Identification Service
National Herbarium of NSW
Locked Bag 6002, Mount Annan NSW 2567

Please contact us for address details for courier deliveries.

Time: 10am - 1pm weekdays 

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (02) 4631 5135 or (02) 4631 5136

Important information

Collecting permissions

Before you collect, please ensure you have permission. An appropriate licence is required prior to collecting plant specimens from land managed by National Parks and State Forests in New South Wales. Permission should always be sought from the landowner and/or manager when collecting specimens on private land.

The collection of species listed under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 requires a licence to pick or harm a threatened species or ecological community. Please provide permit/licence details with your plant specimens.

What happens after identification?

The specimens we receive and retain through the Botanical Identification Service make a significant contribution to our knowledge and understanding of the New South Wales flora. They become a permanent record in the herbarium providing invaluable data on the distribution and ecology of our flora.

This data contributes to resources such as NSW Flora Online (PlantNET), Australasian Virtual Herbarium and Atlas of Living Australia.  

Outside our services

The botanical information service does not provide:

  • general gardening advice
  • medical advice – however we will attempt to identify plants suspected of poisonings
  • definitive identification based on images alone
  • identification of plant cultivars
  • identification of wood and timber
  • advice of plant edibility or toxicity
  • advice on where to purchase plants.
Person holding golden leaves and pine cones

Related information:

Elegant sandstone building with sweeping roof, the National Herbarium of New South Wales

The National Herbarium of New South Wales

Discover a growing collection of over 1 million plant specimens.
Seed Vault
Garden icon
Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan

Australian PlantBank

Learn about the Australian Plantbank and how it furthers plant conservation and research.
wollemi pine thumbnail

Daniel Solander Library

Learn about the oldest botanical research library in Australia.