This walk commences on the Main Path, just past the café outside the Ellis Rowan Building. It then continues uphill past the Red Centre Garden to the Western Mallee section. Wonderful flowers and lovely views.

1. Near the entrance to the Ellis Rowan Building is the low-growing Banksia ‘Stumpy Gold’ [Section 131] with developing flower spikes, open flowers and mature cones.
2. Further along on the right you will see Crowea ‘Cooper’s Hybrid’ [Section 240], a delightful plant in winter with its pink star-shaped flowers.
3. Turn left at the end of the building and walk uphill. On the right just past the aging Eucalyptus mannifera admire the lacy foliage and tiny pink flowers of Thryptomene saxicola ‘Pink Lace’ [Section10], a low spreading shrub.
4. On the left-hand side near the top of the road is Epacris longiflora [Section 110], with delightful red tubular flowers.
5. Cross the Main Path near the Rock Garden. At the first step is Grevillea lanigera [Section 15c]. It is a low‑growing shrub with narrow ovate leaves and a mass of pink and cream flowers.
6. Banksia integrifolia subsp. integrifolia [Section 15c], the Coast Banksia, spills down the steps displaying its yellow flower heads. This species was collected by Joseph Banks at Botany Bay in 1770 and the entire genus now bears his name.
7. On the right is Correa ‘Ivory Bells’ [Section 15d], covered with bell-shaped creamy flowers.
8. In a pot ahead you can see the first yellow globular inflorescences of Acacia pterocaulon [Section 15e] displayed on its unusual branchlets. This plant is known to grow naturally in only one range of hills in Western Australia.
9. Turn right and before you leave the Rock Garden you will see Banksia spinulosa ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 15l], bearing golden flower heads with prominent red styles.
10. Follow the pebble path and turn up the steps to the sign for the Summit Walk. Cross the Eucalypt Lawn following the path and walk uphill keeping the Red Centre Garden on your right. Nicotiana rosulata subsp. ingulba [Section 326] has white flowers and is used by some indigenous Australians as a type of tobacco. Look also for the red flowers of Sturt’s Desert Pea, Swainsona formosa.
11. Near the top of the road turn right and take the second turn to the right into the Western Mallee section. The tiny pink flowers and delicate leaves of an Astartea sp. [Section 100c] greet you. Follow the path in a clockwise direction to see a range of interesting plants from the mallee areas of Western Australia and South Australia.
12. Hakea cycloptera [Section 100c] holds spidery pink flower heads close to its branches.
13. Acacia alata var. biglandulosa [Section 100c] displays flattened zigzag phyllodes and fluffy cream flower heads. This plant is known as the Winged Wattle.
14. Look to the right and you will see Acacia aphylla [Section 100a], with its yellow flower heads on the wiry leafless branches.
15. Banksia epica [Section 100a] has lime buds and creamy yellow mature flowers. This plant grows in Western Australia at the edge of the Great Australian Bight.

Before you leave you can admire the wonderful view of the Red Centre Garden from here. You can then weave your own way back downhill through the Gardens.

Roslyn Joslin