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.

2 May 2008

Leptospermum squarrosum - click for larger image

Our fair city is a kaleidoscope of lovely autumn colours. These Gardens too are so colourful with banksias, grevilleas and more so take this walk through the white trunks of our eucalypts, the Sydney Basin Flora, the Rock Garden and the peaceful Rainforest. A few flowers will be mentioned so come, follow the Main Path.

Starting at the far end of the café building, a teatree, Leptospermum squarrosum [Section 12] is of medium size and covers its terminal branches with pink peach-blossom flowers. Edging the side path a large bottlebrush, Callistemon citrinus [Section 9] is clad with its red flowers. A corner bed contains small plants including Thryptomene denticulata [Section 9] with tiny pink flowers and Verticordia densiflora var. cespitosa [Section 9] and open shrub with dark centred tiny pink flowers. The heath-leaved banksia, Banksia ericifolia var. ericifolia [Section 30] is a grand old shrub with long low branches terminating with an abundance of golden cylindrical flower spikes while, nearby Banksia ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 30] is a dense dwarf spreading shrub massed with upright golden, candle-like flower spikes. Opposite, Dryandra quercifolia [Section 30] is a dense shrub with toothed leaves and large fluffy yellow flower heads. Banksia spinulosa var. spinulosa [Section 27] is yet small with gold flower spikes ribbed with dark styles. Grevillea lanigera [Section 25] is a dense groundcover profuse with pinkish spider flowers.

Crossing the road, Hakea cycloptera [Section 24] has long needle-like leaves and pink flowers maturing along the branch terminals. Grevillea humifusa [Section 26] is a prostrate plant bright with short red toothbrush-like flowers while Banksia conferta subsp. penicillata [Section 26] is another grand old shrub with greenish flower spikes mixing with the spent dark spikes.

Crossing the road the yet small shrubs, Crowea exalata [Section 112] bears its pink star flowers and Correa ‘Marians Marvel’ [Section 112] dangles it’s pink and cream tube flowers among the dense foliage. Follow the path through the Sydney Region Flora where, in the gully Bursaria spinosa var. spinosa [Section 191s] is tall and well covered with clusters of white flowers. Edging the path Epacris longiflora [Section 191p] is a low shrub with long curved branches holding pendulous slim ivory coloured tube flowers while Epacris pulchella [Section 191e] is upright with tiny pink flowers edging the terminal stems. Crowea saligna [Section 191u] behind the curved seat, is a low spreading shrub with bright green foliage and large bright pink star flowers.

Fieldia australis - click for larger image

Cross the Eucalyptus Lawn down to the Rock Garden passing Hakea drupacea [Section 20] an upright shrub bearing lacy globular white flower clusters amid the foliage. Edging the path the dense shrub with bright yellow flowers is Labichea lanceolata [Section 4]. Edging the waterfall Thryptomene denticulata [Section 15S] is a low spreading long flowering shrub with lateral branches of tiny pink flowers while above, a mint bush, Prostanthera densa [Section 15S] is a small shrub bearing small mauve bugle shaped flowers. Beside the drinking fountain Guichenotia ledifolia [Section 4] is a rounded shrub with grey-green foliage and soft pink bell shaped flowers. In front of the waterfall an emu-bush, Eremophila christopheri [Section 15V] has mauve coloured bugle shaped flowers on its upright stems.

The Rain Forest is cool and pleasant with few flowers. However find soon after entering, Fieldia australis [Section 158] a dense climber but here it hugs the ground and bears long yellow tubular pendent flowers concealed among its foliage. So, exit the Rainforest and down the ramp with more colourful flowers to enjoy.

Such a place to walk … Barbara Daly.