Australian National Botanic Gardens

In Flower this Week

A weekly news sheet prepared by a Gardens' volunteer.
Numbers in square brackets [] refer to garden bed Sections. Plants in flower are in bold type.

26 January 2007

Eucalyptus ficifolia - click for larger image

Who could not but admire the flashes of fiery red flowers on either side of Banks Walk. They include, on the upper side Eucalyptus ficifolia ‘Dwarf Crimson’ [Section 210] and Eucalyptus ficifolia [Section 210] with orange tinted red flowers. On the lower side better seen from the lower road, Eucalyptus ficifolia ‘Wildfire’ [Section 174] with crimson coloured flowers and another Eucalyptus ficifolia [Section 174] with its orange- red flowers. All these lovely dwarf bloodwood trees are grafted onto Eucalyptus maculata. Kangaroo paws edging the path include Anigozanthos ‘Bush Dawn’ [Section 174] and Anigozanthos ‘Bush Glow’ [Section 210] with more subdued floral colourings. Another plant which catches the eye is Xanthorrhoea glauca subsp. angustifolia [Section 60], a grasstree with dense green ‘skirt’ and long brown flower spike which followed the white flowers.

Following the road edging the Rainforest, Grevillea ‘Royal Mantle’ [Section 124] is a dense groundcover bearing red toothbrush-like flowers. Around the corner crowded with other shrubs, Grevillea ‘Poorinda Queen’ [Section 124] displays its soft apricot coloured spider flowers. At the far end of this road, Scaevola albida [Section 124] has tiny blue fan-shaped flowers over the dense groundcover foliage. Another groundcover edging this road is Myoporum parvifolium [Section 117] draping over the rock wall with small white flowers. A Native Wandering Jew, Commelina cyanea [Section 124] is a small semi- prostrate plant with fleshy fine leaves and bright blue three-petalled flowers.

Taking the narrow path into the Brittle Gum Lawn Babingtonia plurifora [Section 107] is a large shrub with spreading branches well clad with small white flowers. Edging this relaxing green oasis a tea-tree, Leptospermum petersonii [Section 110] spreads its long branches clad with white petalled flowers while closeby, Grevillea ‘Robyn Gordon’ [Section 110] is a low spreading shrub bearing its lovely terminal clusters of multi-red flowers. Beside the seat Hibiscus pedunculatus [Section 110] has long low branches bearing pink flowers.

Backhousia citriodora - click for larger image

Following the road up beside the Rainforest Gully other hibiscus shrubs include Hibiscus divaricatus [Section 114,104] with brilliant yellow open flowers and Hibiscus heterophyllus subsp.heterophyllus [Section 114,104] with large white, with smears of pink, flowers. Opposite the entry to the Rainforest, a lemon ironwood, Backhousia citriodora [Section 78] is a tall slim shrub with large clusters of white perfumed flowers. Entering the Rainforest on the Main Path, a Conjevoi lily, Alocasia macrorrhizos [Section 114] has very large leaves on long fleshy stems with an arum lily-like greenish cream flower with long yellow anther.

Towards the bridge, a coachwood, Ceratopetalum apetalum [Section 146] is a tall tree laden with clusters of small cream flowers with reddened calyces to follow. Where the stairs descend see the Dorrego waratah, Alloxylon pinnatum [Section 146], a tall slim shrub still tipped with red waratah-like flowers. Beside is another tall shrub, Caldcluvia paniculosa [Section 146] with branches clad with white feathery flowers, arching over the path. Down the stairs to the stream see the Stream Lily, Helmholtzia glaberrima [Section 144], a plant with long strappy leaves and long stems clad with pink plume-like flower heads. Follow the path down-stream to the café.

Such a cool spot to finish … Barbara Daly.