PLANTS IN THE GARDENS

Acacia (wattle)

Family: Fabacae subf. Mimosoideae

At the time of writing this story, our Governor General, Sam Mostyn AC, was being sworn in at Government House in Canberra, wearing a sprig of the Commonwealth floral emblem, Acacia pycnantha (golden wattle), in her lapel.

The genus Acacia is in the family Fabaceae subf. Mimosoideae and is the largest genus of native plants in Australia. There are approximately 1,350 species throughout the world and close to 1,000 species native to Australia.

While ‘Wattle Day’ is officially celebrated on 1 September, most wattles flower in winter and spring. However, there is a wattle in flower somewhere in Australia every day throughout the year.

Acacia flowers are usually cream to yellow/gold, and a few are pink. Their spectacular staminate flowers are either globular or cylindrical spikes and have a distinct perfume, which is often described as sweet floral, honey and woody. Wattle is often blamed for allergies, but tests rarely confirm this as the pollen is actually too heavy to travel far.

The fruits of Acacia are pods containing seeds, which are rich in protein and also contain potassium, calcium, iron and zinc. Wattleseed has been used in the diet of First Nations People for thousands of years, but not all species are edible. A number of bush food products using wattleseed are now available for culinary use.

The leaves on most Acacia are phyllodes, or flattened stems, which take on the appearance and function of leaves. This plant modification enables the plant to adapt to drought and exposure to salt. Many Acacia seedlings initially have feathery juvenile leaves, which disappear as the plant matures.

Acacia species are fast growing and many are considered colonisers as the seeds have long viability and germinate quickly in disturbed soils and after fire. They also have nitrogen-fixing nodules on their roots, which enrich the soil and so they are often used as nurse plants when establishing trees and shrubs on exposed sites.

Australian native plants are becoming more appreciated for the important role they play in the environment and there is an ever-increasing variety of wattles available commercially in various forms, from trees and shrubs to groundcovers. There are also weeping forms, dwarf cultivars grafted as standards and a selection for use as hedging.

Belinda Moon, Growing Friends Sydney

Blue Mountains Botanic Garden

This year, we celebrate the 30th anniversary of a pivotal moment in botany; a discovery that resonated with plant lovers worldwide. It was the year when David Noble, an off-duty national parks officer, stumbled across a canyon holding an ancient stand of trees thought to be extinct – the Wollemi pine (Wollemia nobilis). This discovery, which captured the imagination of plant lovers the world over, marked the beginning of a journey that has been inextricably linked with the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah (BMBG).

Since then, Botanic Gardens of Sydney has championed this ‘living fossil’, with the oldest (and tallest!) cultivated groves of Wollemi worldwide growing in BMBG’s Gondwana Walk. This collection is set to hold the most genetically diverse in-ground collection of specimens with known maternal lines.

Coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the discovery, this spring the BMBG, a key player in conserving the Wollemi pine, will undertake a significant step in our ongoing conservation efforts.

The first stage of this project will acknowledge many individuals who have played essential roles in conserving Wollemi pines since their discovery, through a celebratory planting day where we will plant out the final genetic individuals yet to be held within Tomah’s slopes, completing our collection with a full representative sample of Wollemi pine genetics from the wild population. In addition to these initial plantings, there will be ex-situ plantings of Wollemi pines along Tomah Creek and the Grotto. These sites perfectly mimic the natural habitat where Wollemi pines are naturally found, offering a unique experience akin to viewing them in the wild. In the years to follow, the BMBG will continue to supplement these plantings with younger plants, creating age diversity among the collection. With these initiatives in place, we, the community, and the world, will be able to appreciate, study and be humbled by these magnificent trees for centuries to come.

Ash Filipovski, Curator Manager

Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

In spring, the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney truly comes alive, offering a serene and picturesque retreat that celebrates the beauty and diversity of nature.

This will be my second spring as Curator Manager and I must say the team is doing an extraordinary job caring for the Garden. I use the word ‘caring’ as I recently attended a talk with Costa Georgiadis who mentioned he dislikes the word ‘maintenance’. I agree; we do more than maintain the Garden. We care for and are determined to continue to curate and present the living collections at a world standard.

Our iconic Rose Garden is always enchanting through the latter parts of spring. It becomes a fragrant oasis, showcasing a stunning array of colours and shapes. This year we are working on delivering the new rose bed situated at the top of the Garden Palace Steps. This garden will feature Buxus-lined borders with a timeline display from ancient species roses through to modern cultivars. While the garden will take a few years to mature, the bones will be in place and I think you will agree it is a great addition to our rose collection.

My must-see plant this spring is Dendrobium speciosum var. speciosum, commonly known as the rock orchid. It can be found along the east coast of Australia from up to 900 metres above sea level! It is highly variable and can be seen growing as an epiphyte or lithophyte and is absolutely stunning. Locations: Bed 12, Bed 35 (cultivar varieties), 50, 65i, 98b and in the fernery.

Jarryd Kelly, Curator Manager

Australian Botanic Garden

This spring marks three years since I joined the Horticulture & Living Collections team. Looking back at all the projects the team has undertaken, it is genuinely satisfying to see that the new landscapes, gardens and plantings we implemented have now come into their own.

As we approached spring last year, we encountered some challenges with our annual display due to some fungal issues. These were largely unseen issues to the casual observer, thanks to the swift and effective corrective care by our horticultural team. This experience prompted us to reduce the density of seed sowing, resulting in a significant reduction in fungal issues this year. Additionally, the horticultural team has introduced a new netting process for the paper daisy display. While the changes to netting and seed-sowing density may seem minor at first glance, they represent a strategic investment that has significantly increased the efficiency of caring for this display and freed up operational time to curate and care for other collection areas.

When you are about in the Garden this spring, enjoying the new Rainforest Creek Line (working title), the herbarium landscape with its sunken garden, or the spring wattles bursting with vibrancy, the kaleidoscope of paper daisies or any of the 2,500+ species we have on display, remember there is a small but mighty team of passionate conservation horticulturists caring for and curating these collections for all to enjoy. Michael Elgey, Curator Manager

Growing Friends

After a cold and unusually wet winter, it’s time to awaken the senses for spring. Visually, it is exciting to watch dormant plants producing new shoots or emerging from the soil. We also become aware of perfume in the air, which has been missing for most of winter. The choice of new-season fruits, vegetables and herbs inspire us to produce delicious food and there are the sounds of migrating birds and insects returning to the garden. Warm weather and longer daylight hours also remind us that spring has arrived. It is exciting to see the cool-climate plants growing so well in Royal Botanic Garden Sydney this spring, with cool temperatures providing more ‘chill time’ to initiate abundant flowering.

In particular, the Spring Walk is a riot of colour with rhododendron, magnolia, Prunus, Spiraea and many bulbs and annuals providing such joy with both perfume and colour.

The Herb Garden is looking beautiful and there you will find information about medicinal and edible herbs and the role of companion planting as a means of pest control. Visit the Rose Garden later in spring to see so many exquisite flowers and enjoy their perfume, and maybe take time out to look at the view.

The Growing Friends have been busily propagating plants, so make sure that you keep an eye out for upcoming sales. There will be a special sale of our magnificent Worsleya procera in late spring, as well as orchids and many other rare and unusual plants. Belinda Moon, Growing Friends