8 minute read
Some tips on what to look out for this autumn
PLANTS IN THE GARDENS
DISCOVER MORE ABOUT THE WONDERFUL PLANTS TO LOOK OUT FOR NEXT TIME YOU VISIT THE GARDENS.
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BRAZILIAN RED CLOAK Megaskepasma erythrochlamys Family Acanthaceae An excellent shrub, easy to grow, but burdened with a difficult name!
This is a monotypic species – that is, the only species in the genus – and despite its common name, is a native of Venezuela.
It always attracts a lot of interest from visitors to the Garden when in flower during late summer through to early autumn. Other members of the Acanthaceae family, so well represented in the Royal Botanic Garden, include Justicia, Eranthemum, Mackaya, Ruellia, Odontonema, Pachystachys and Strobilanthes to name a few. All these genera have species that thrive in our climate with a minimum of attention while giving great satisfaction to the gardener.
The most striking feature of this shrub in bloom is not the very small, tubular, white to palest-pink flowers, but the large showy crimson bracts on which they grow. The flowers are not long-lasting but the floral bracts provide colour in the garden over several weeks. The foliage is always attractive, as the strongly veined leaves are shiny and bright green. It will grow to about 1.5–2 metres high and can be 1–2 metres in width in ideal conditions, making a well-rounded shrub. Even out of flower it provides an excellent background plant for annuals or smaller growing perennial plants. It can also make a good informal hedge or screen, as the foliage is normally quite dense from the top to just above the soil level.
Thriving in warmth and high humidity, the Brazilian Red Cloak is well suited to the Sydney climate and other mild frost-free regions, as are so many other related plants in the Acanthaceae family. Ideally it should be grown in a reasonably sheltered position with shade from the hottest afternoon sun in summer. It can be grown in any reasonably well-drained soil. It needs regular deep watering to become established, then occasional deep soakings in dry periods. The root zone should be well mulched, taking care to keep mulch away from the stem. Shrubs should be fertilised in spring and perhaps in early summer if the soil is very porous and sandy. A light pruning to remove spent flower heads is desirable or for shaping. However, generally their growth habit is attractive and needs little attention.
The best place to see this shrub is in the Lower Garden near the Mare and Foal Statue. Growing Friends frequently has these plants for sale. Margaret Hanks, Growing Friends, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
Rhododendron aurigeranum
ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN SYDNEY
After the warm humid Sydney summer, the weather is finally cooling down. Autumn sees many attractions in the Garden and the weather is more pleasant for both visitors and our gardeners. Our extensive collection of Camellia sasanqua is flowering prolifically from April through May. The Garden also has an excellent collection of different species of camellia. In cultivation, we tend to grow only four species, but the camellia genus contains up to 300 species and a good selection can be seen near Rathborne Lodge.
In the Rose Garden it’s the last opportunity to enjoy this season’s flowers on hybrid teas and floribundas before the horticulturists give them their winter prune in July. The Middle Garden is also worth a visit, displaying a large collection of Vireya rhododendron and this is the perfect time to see them. These more tropical rhododendrons thrive in our climate and produce the most beautiful flowers in a wide range of colours.
Many of our trees are performing at their best in autumn, such as the magnificent Ginkgo biloba near the Oriental Garden. Also in the Oriental Garden are three newly planted Acers which should add to the autumn colour.
One of my favourite flowering trees is the Hong Kong Orchid Tree Bauhinia x blakeana, which can be found in the Tropical Garden. Flowering between March and July, it produces blooms that resemble those of an orchid.
Another tree flowering at this time is the wonderful Ceiba speciosa which can be found between the Gardens Shop and the Herb Garden. These trees, which have armoured trunks with vicious spikes, produce the most beautiful pink and white Hibiscus-like flowers in abundance.
Stenocarpus sinuatus, one of our most spectacular flowering trees, is flowering throughout autumn. These native trees can be found near The Calyx.
As the weather cools, the greenkeepers are busy renovating formal lawns and preparing them for winter. The horticulturists are mulching and keeping on top of pests like Kurrajong leaf tier, lily caterpillar and citrus gall wasp. The arborists use the excellent conditions to plant trees as part of our tree succession plan. With the heat of summer gone but the soils still warm, autumn is the perfect time to plant. David Laughlin, Curator Manager
Licuala ramsayi
AUSTRALIAN BOTANIC GARDEN
Licuala ramsayi, the Queensland Fan Palm, is one of the most iconic palm species in the North Queensland rainforest. This palm is famous for its large pleated and nearcircular leaves, which can grow up to 2 metres in diameter. The plant itself can grow to a mature height of around 20 metres in its natural habitat. Flowers are produced between November and January, and fruits between January and March. Interestingly, the Fan Palm provided local Indigenous groups with leaves for thatching and shelter, and for food wrapping.
Licuala should be grown in a shady and protected position with plenty of moisture. It is one of the most cold-tolerant of the Licuala ramsayi, but still requires frost-free conditions. Licuala is happiest when grown in moist well-drained soil and when young, in particular, given plenty of shade. It is a slow grower, so you’ll have to be patient, but it will be worth the wait. This makes it a perfect plant to grow in pots on your patio or verandah. Licuala is equally at home as an indoor plant – just make sure it is placed in an area where it is warm and bright with consistent moisture and humidity. Be sure to visit the stand of Licuala located near the Water Garden next time you visit the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan. Simon Reid, Horticulturist
Potberg Sugarbush
BLUE MOUNTAINS BOTANIC GARDEN
Protea aurea subsp. potbergensis, commonly known as the Potberg Sugarbush, sits atop the basalt like the queen of the Rock Garden. Unmissable in her autumn glory, this golden obconical flower spreads its bracts out slowly, settling around the base of the flower like a ballerina’s tutu, and catches the sunlight in its fine hairs. With velvety new leaves and a sparsely branched, upright habit, the subspecies is a unique golden colour when compared to the soft pink straight species, Protea aurea. With a tiny range of distribution, found only on the upper slopes of Potberg mountain in the Western Cape of South Africa, Protea aurea subsp. potbergensis is listed as near threatened on the current Red Data List and can be admired in our South African Rock Garden between April and July. Marion Whitehead, Senior Horticulturist, Nursery
GROWING FRIENDS PLANT SALES
The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Mon–Fri 11am–2pm, Sat 10am–2pm The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan Mon–Sun 9am–4pm The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah Mon–Sun 9.30am–4.30pm
GROWING FRIENDS
The Growing Friends Nursery in Sydney reopened in mid-October 2021 after four long months of lockdown. Normal operations have progressively resumed, with most of our volunteer members returning enthusiastically to the work of propagating and selling our wide range of rare and unusual plants. Sales and nursery activities have also resumed at the Australian Botanic Garden and the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden.
The high quality and volume of plants we have been able to offer for sale has exceeded our expectations, largely due to the support received from the Gardens’ horticultural staff in caring for our stock during the lockdown. In Sydney, we have also benefitted from numerous deliveries of magnificent flowering native plants from Mount Annan.
We are presently focusing on expanding our offering of succulents and epiphytes in the Sydney Nursery, to coincide with the Inside the Tide exhibition at The Calyx, which features highly imaginative displays of these plants simulating underwater scenes. We will be gradually introducing new succulent products over the coming months while the exhibition continues.
Stay tuned for news regarding the changing offering of plants at our nurseries via the Foundation & Friends’ email newsletter, Facebook and Instagram posts. Raoul de Ferranti, General Coordinator Growing Friends
