A seed production garden has been established on Kangaroo Island in a bid to save native flora at risk of extinction.

The Threatened Flora Seed Production Garden is a joint project of the South Australian Seed Conservation Centre (part of the Botanic Gardens of SA), the Nature Conservation of SA and Bio R, (a non-profit organisation that seeks to re-establish native habitat).

More than 60 varieties of at-risk Kangaroo Island flora will be grown in the garden.

Their seeds will then be collected, banked and used in biodiversity projects on the island.

They will also be an insurance for the species survival against future fire, floods and droughts.

Botanists from the Seed Conservation Centre have already propagated hundreds of threatened plants for the new garden.

So far about a quarter of the 5000m2 garden has been landscaped and planted. 

A new Friends of KI Threatened Flora group has been established to help manage the garden and undertake research.

The Nature Conservation Foundation is seeking government funding to support the group and train them to continue the work of the botanists and undertake field searches for target species, collect seeds and grow the plants.