Australian National Botanic Gardens

In Flower this Week

A weekly news sheet prepared by a Gardens' volunteer.
Numbers in square brackets [] refer to garden bed Sections. Plants in flower are in bold type.

13 July 2007

Hypocalymma xanthopetalum - click for larger image

Fresh breezes, cold days and a good walk about the Rock Garden. The plants often appear to be dead or very woody but after long drought with minimum water followed by much rain and frosty days many survive still with flowers to admire.

Starting at the base of the waterfall continue in a clockwise direction where the Gymea Lily, Doryanthes excelsa [Section 15C] have large strappy leaves and flower buds on very long stems stand and Xerochrysum sp. [Section 15D] with bright yellow straw flowers are seen through the Gardens At the corner tiny plants as Leucopogon microphyllus [Section 15C] with tiny white flowers amid its dark foliage and Cryptandra amara var. amara [Section 15C] with its white flowers along the prostrate lateral branches. Banksia integrifolia subsp. integrifolia [Section 15C], a semi-prostrate plant with fresh pale green buds and upright flower spikes continue to creep across the path. Opposite, behind another shrub, Banksia ‘Honeypots’ [Section 15D] displays its lovely flower spikes coloured gold, ribbed with almost red, honey coloured styles. Hybanthus floribundus subsp. adpressus [Section 15D] is a small upright shrub clad with tiny white flowers.

Hypocalymma xanthopetalum [Section 15F] shelters against the rocks has an abundance of yellow feathery flowers while, around the corner, Baeckea crassifolia [Section 15F] is a dwarf plant with upright branches clad with tiny pink flowers. Across the corner Grevillea lanigera [Section 15W] is prostrate, with dense foliage and with many pink and cream flower clusters. Along this path Micromyrtus ciliata [Section 15G] can be seen. The low spreading shrub is clad with tiny brick red buds which will mature to white flowers. Homoranthus flavescens [Section 15A] beside the stairs, is a low, flat topped shrub with its lateral branches clad with either red or yellow buds.

Conostylis seorsiflora - click for larger image

From the top road Olearia astroloba [Section 15H] with upright habit, presents its colourful mauve daisies among the dense many branched shrub. Nearby Cryptandra sp. [Section 15H], a low spreading shrub well covered with heads of white buds. Eremophila oldfieldii subsp. angustifolia [Section 15H, 15J] is an upright shrub with prominent pale green calyces which are seen after the red flowers drop. At the corner Senna artemisioides [Section 14], seen near the Grass trees, Xanthorrhoea johnsonii [Section 14] is of medium height with narrow silvery grey foliage, bright yellow flowers and many greenish seed pods.

Leucopogon fraseri [Section 15K] has a coverage of tiny pink flowers on the low spreading shrub while down the stairs Conostylis seorsiflora [Section 15P] is a dense prostrate plant dotted with small yellow flowers. At the corner Crowea exalata [Section 15S] has a coverage of pink star flowers while Thryptomene denticulata [Section 15S] continues to be so attractive with its coverage of pink flowers. There too, is Ptilotus drummondii [Section 15S] a low growing herb with attractive pinkish white fluffy cylindrical flower heads seen on upright stems. Near the fountain Guichenotia ledifolia [Section 4] is a picture for this dense rounded shrub is clad with soft down-turned pink flowers.

A worthwhile part of the Gardens to visit… Barbara Daly.