The project hopes to see kowhai flourish throughout Otago, and Doc botanist John Barkla will hold a talk at the Oamaru Public Library next Wednesday to introduce Project Gold to Waitaki.
Mr Barkla said growing kowhai was a sure way to attract birds into gardens.
"The sight of birds flocking to spring-flowering kowhai is one of the joys of a New Zealand spring.
"Kowhai is a major food source for nectar-loving birds such as tui and bellbird. Kowhai is also popular with the native pigeon, or kereru, which will eat flower buds, flowers and leaves.
At other times of the year, insectivorous birds are attracted to kowhai to feed on the sometimes abundant supplies of caterpillars of the kowhai moth."
Doc Coastal Otago community relations ranger Lucy Hardy welcomed the library's involvement as a "great kick-start", for a project that was reliant on community support.
Details of the Waitaki District Council community awareness initiative "Biodiversity - Everyone's Business", would also be discussed on the day.
To coincide with Project Gold, the Waitaki District Parks officer Jane Matchett said she would also oversee the planting of 10 kowhai plants at the Oamaru Public Gardens on Friday, September 14, with assistance from pupils of Ardgowan School.
She said the kowhai plants would help spruce up the area on Milligans Corner, near the Chelmer St entrance, which already had native plants.
"The Ardgowan pupils are very excited about it."
