Special features of the Gardens

Most of the plant displays in the Gardens are organised to show either plants closely related to each other or plants which grow in similar environments. A few of these are listed below.

Near the carpark, Cafe and Information Centre, some colourful plants are grouped for visual impact.

Rainforest Gully

The cool, shady environment of the Rainforest Gully makes it one of the Gardens' most popular attractions. The Gully features many remarkable plants from the rainforests of eastern Australia.

Rock Garden

Special soils in the Rock Garden allows cultivation of a wide variety of plants which naturally occur in habitats ranging from alpine areas to deserts. Many brightly coloured flowers add to the beauty of this special area of the Gardens.

Sydney Region Flora

The sandstone formations of the Sydney Basin supports one of the world's most diverse range of plants and this area is being developed to display examples of the flora of the region. Many plants are already on display in this tranquil and beautiful gully.

Mallee Plants

Multi-stemmed eucalypts, called mallees, cover much of dry southern Australia. Two areas in the Gardens display a range of mallee trees and the grasses and shrubs which are associated with them.

Banksias, waratahs and grevilleas (Family Proteaceae)

Many plants belonging to the family Proteaceae are grouped together in several displays throughout the Gardens. The plants often have great horticultural value.

Bottlebrushes, tea trees and honey-myrtles (Family Myrtaceae)

Displays of plants from the family Myrtaceae are a feature throughout the year, but are especially attractive during the spring and summer flowering periods.

The Eucalypt Lawn

About one fifth of Australia's eucalypt species are represented on the Eucalypt Lawn. The grassy site is an excellent area for picnics. The Burbidge Amphitheatre is situated in the upper part of the Eucalypt Lawn, and the Ducrou Pavilion is a popular picnic spot.

Wattles (Genus Acacia)

There are few places in Australia where wattles cannot be seen. Several areas in the Gardens display the remarkable diversity of the genus Acacia.

Pines and their relatives

There are two sections of the Gardens devoted to conifers. One showing a range of families and genera from cycads to araucarias and podocarps, and the other concentrating on the genus Callitris.

Hybrids and Cultivars

The gardens has several cultivar displays and plantings of hybrids based on Australian native plants. The Australian Cultivar Registration Authority (ACRA) is based in the Gardens and many of the registered cultivars are represented in the collection.

The Joseph Banks Building Garden

A delightful range of colourful, scented and bird-attracting plants are cultivated. Plants in this garden are primarily to enhance education programs.

Associated with this garden is the working area of the 'Growing Friends', a volunteer group propagating plants for sale to raise funds in support of the Gardens. They have a plastic 'igloo' and a hardening-off area for their plants.