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Plants Some tips on what to look out for this summer
PLANTS IN THE GARDENS
DISCOVER MORE ABOUT THE WONDERFUL PLANTS TO LOOK OUT FOR NEXT TIME YOU VISIT THE GARDENS.
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Kohleria hirsuta (also known as Kohleria eriantha) Family Gesneriaceae In the same family as the well- known African violet, this attractive plant does not appear to have a common name. Its botanical name was given to honour Michael Kohler, a 19th century natural history teacher in Zurich, Switzerland. All told, there are 24 species in the genus, all native to Central America, with a significant number (8 species) found only in Colombia.
Kohleria hirsuta
It is an upright grower to around one metre in height, often less. The somewhat fleshy, mid-green stems and leaves are covered in fine velvety, reddish hairs. Leaves have finely scalloped margins. The bright scarlet to orange-scarlet, flared, tubular flowers can be up to four centimetres long in ideal conditions, but more likely to be 2–3 centimetres in general garden cultivation. The foliage is decorative in its own right, even when there are no flowers in bloom.
Kohleria hirsuta is easy to grow in any well-drained soil in a sheltered situation and makes a very decorative potted plant too. Whether planted in the ground or in a container, the soil or potting mix must have free drainage.
All plants, but especially containergrown plants, need to be kept on the dry side in winter. Over watering kills more plants than anything else. Plants, but especially container-grown plants, are best grown in shaded areas with shelter from strong wind.
In suitable conditions, Kohleria hirsuta have quite a long flowering period. Their main flowering is from late spring through summer, but in their habitat they are known to flower on and off throughout the year. These plants are sensitive to cold so will not thrive outdoors in regions where winter temperatures are low.
Kohleria hirsuta is growing in several parts of the Royal Botanic Garden with an especially fine display in bed 35 in the Middle Gardens in the shade of large mature trees with a fairly high canopy. There is also a good display in bed 83, behind the Conservatorium of Music. There may also be a few growing under some of the large figs in the Palace Gardens (adjacent to Macquarie Street) where they were quite often planted in past years.
Growing Friends Plant Sales very often has these lovely plants for sale. Margaret Hanks, Growing Friends, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
Rose Garden
ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN SYDNEY
There are so many plants to enjoy in the Garden this summer.
The Meadow is at its best and buzzing with pollinating insects. Creating a natural looking Meadow takes a lot of horticultural skill and the team does such an amazing job each year.
The Rose Garden has been improving every year with the introduction of roses suited to Sydney’s humid summers and mild winters. In peak flowering season, the mix of flowers and scent from the roses are worth a walk around. While there, check out what’s performing well in the nearby Trial Garden.
On a hot summer day, a walk through the native rainforest is a great treat – not only is the temperature significantly lower, but the plants are stunning. If you are there in February, look out for the spectacular Leichhardt Pine Neolamarckia cadamba with its spherical fragrant flowers. Other trees to look out for are the Kigelia africana (Sausage Tree) near Henry Lawson Gate, which flowers in mid-summer with spectacular sausage shaped fruit following the flowers. The Barringtonia neocaledonica on the Spring Walk is another wonderful summer flowering tree.
The tropical gardens next to Botanic House are worth a visit anytime, but in summer you can see a range of gingers at their best. While there, don’t forget to check out the unusual bat-like flowers of Tacca integrifolia. In addition, our beds of annuals will this year be inspired by WorldPride – hosted in Sydney in late summer – and feature a pallet of red, orange, yellow, blue, purple and even green.
The Garden is the perfect place to spend a pleasant summer’s day with so much more to see than the few areas I have mentioned. David Laughlin, Curator Manager
Leichhardt Pine
Corymbia ficifolia
AUSTRALIAN BOTANIC GARDEN
We are lucky at Mount Annan to have many iconic plants that perform well over the summer months. Following are just a few beauties to look out for: • Ceratopetalum gummiferum (New
South Wales Christmas Bush) produces amazing clusters of colour. • Buckinghamia celsissima (Ivory Curl
Tree) is a stunning example of an adaptable rainforest species that can be grown in temperate and sub-tropical gardens. • Anigozanthos cultivars (Kangaroo Paw) is a showy masterpiece. There are now many different cultivars, but typically you will have success with larger varieties. Just ensure they are in full sun and your soil drains well. • Babingtonia virgata (Heath Myrtle) grows 2–4 metres and is covered with white flowers leading up to Christmas. • Brachychiton populneus x acerifolius is a stunning hybrid cross between an
Illawarra Flame Tree and Kurrajong
Tree. Flowering late spring to early summer, this beauty displays clusters of red bell-shaped flowers. • Corymbia ficifolia (Flowering Gum) is hardy, beautiful and attractive to native birds. Flowering in December, it is the perfect specimen to catch one’s eye during the festive season. • Stenocarpus sinuatus (Firewheel Tree) produces a spectacular display. Keep an eye out for its eye-catching orangered flowers. It is a large tree and can grow to 30 metres, however, often only growing to 10 metres in cultivation. Jarryd Kelly, Supervisor Horticulture
Lapageria rosea
BLUE MOUNTAINS BOTANIC GARDEN
Lapageria rosea, the Chilean Bell flower, is the national flower of Chile. Featuring fleshy red, pendulous flowers contrasted against its deep green glossy leaves, this elegant climber flowers throughout the summer, and in the right conditions can flower for up to nine months.
Named for Napoleon’s wife Josephine (whose maiden name was Tascher de la Pagerie), it can be found at the top entrance of the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden’s Gondwanan Garden. The aril of the flower is edible and said to taste like cucumber and it is pollinated in its native Chile by hummingbirds. With the vine twining clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counterclockwise when grown in the southern hemisphere, Lapageria is a wonder to behold on a hot summer day. Marion Whitehead, Supervisor Ornamental Gardens and Nursery
GROWING FRIENDS PLANT SALES
Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Mon–Fri 11am–2pm, Sat 10am–2pm Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan Mon–Sun 9am–4pm Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah Mon–Sun 9.30am–4.30pm *Christmas/New Year hours may vary
GROWING FRIENDS
Growing Friends’ preparation of plants for summer has been a little hindered by the cold and cloudy winter, but we are looking forward to some sunshine and warmth boosting growth in time for Christmas. We are planning to have many attractive gift ideas and plants for our loyal customers.
Over the past few years we have been progressively introducing more shadeloving plants, which are suited to indoors and smaller, protected environments characteristic of inner-city living spaces. Our biggest sellers over the past year include numerous ferns such as Blechnum ‘Silver Lady’ and Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Montana’, a wide range of Rhipsalis and Lepismium cacti species, numerous Hoya, begonia and bromeliads. Indoor mini-gardens and succulent bowls have also been selling well and will make great gifts for Christmas.
The flow of native plants from our Mount Annan nursery has been particularly affected by the cold and cloudy weather, but we are now expecting a renewed supply of the most popular plants such as Actinotus helianthi (Flannel Flower), Crowea exalata (wax flower), Tetratheca thymifolia (Black-eyed Susan) and the iconic West Australian native shrub, Lechenaultia biloba (Blue Leschenaultia). In time for Christmas, we are also expecting to have a limited supply of very handsome Wollemi Pine available at both Sydney and Mount Annan Growing Friends Plant Sales. Raoul de Ferranti, General Coordinator, Growing Friends
