2.1.5 Horticultural theme

Background

The way in which a botanic garden displays its plants is often considered an indication of the horticultural and design expertise as well as the professionalism within the organisation. For this reason aesthetically designed horticultural displays of plants using annuals, cultivars and mixed plantings are important features. Such plantings also demonstrate the potential use of Australian plants and encourage people to use and value them.

In various areas of the Gardens, such as around buildings and in service and amenity areas, the need to provide an attractive landscape setting takes a high priority. Mixed plantings have been created for such purposes. A number of areas have been designed and planted according to accepted landscape principles, to enhance the built environment or to provide areas for visitor enjoyment and demonstrate the possible use of such plants for home gardens.

The Australian Cultivar Registration Authority is based at the Gardens in Canberra and specific sections have been planted to provide a display of cultivars of Australian species. At the Jervis Bay site a number of registered cultivars are displayed, in particular a range of Grevillea cultivars. These displays are important in encouraging garden use of Australian plants.

Management prescriptions

Objective

The objectives are to develop and maintain aesthetically pleasing displays of plants that create pleasant, attractive surroundings, to give visitors an increased appreciation of Australian plants and their use in landscaped settings, and to incorporate a range of cultivars to promote their use in horticulture.

Implementation

In high-visitation areas the maintenance of aesthetically pleasing landscape settings will continue to be a priority. Special displays will continue to be used both in Canberra and at Jervis Bay to add colour and provide seasonal diversity.

Cultivars of Australian plants will continue to be added to the collection and displayed to promote their use in horticulture. At Jervis Bay the future emphasis will be on cultivars best suited to coastal frost-free gardens.