The Society for Growing Australian Plants was established in 1957 by a group of people who "pledged to promote the establishment and breeding of Australian native plants for garden, park and farm". By 1958 active regional Societies had been established in six States and the ACT with the Federal Association (ASGAP) being formed in 1962.

Since that time the Society has continued to grow and expand its activities and in NSW alone there are over 3000 members. Through the accumulated knowledge and widespread interests of it's members, the Society has become a leading source of information on many aspects of Australian Plants.