Some Plants in the Sculpture Garden and Mossy Log Walk

Return to Index Page
Click on each image to see an enlarged or alternate image. You will have to use your browser back button (top left of screen) to return to this page.
Alphitonia excelsa
(Red Ash, Leatherjacket or Soap Tree) A splendid shade tree which can grow to a height of about 21 m in warm moist conditions.The  leaves are alternate, narrow to elliptic and 7 to 12 cm long, white or rusty-tomentose (hairy) on the under surface. Flowers, although individually insignificant, cover the tree with clusters of small cream blossoms in late autumn and early winter. The fruits which follow are ovoid, blackish drupes usually 6 to 10 mm in diameter. Distributed through coastal regions Northern Territory and Queensland  to the south coast of NSW, in or near rainforests. Text & Photo © Australian National Botanic Gardens		 Acacia hubbardiana
An open shrub varying in height from 50 cm to 2 m. The small stiff phyllodes are triangular in shape, about 1.2 cm long and sharply pointed. The cream coloured ball-flowers are borne on axillary stalks to 1.2 cm. They are seen in late winter and spring.
Distribution: Qld. Propagation from scarified seed or boiling water treatment. Suitable for poorly drained areas. Recommended for its foliage. Suitable for planting in tropical areas.

Text & Photo © Australian National Botanic Gardens

 Austromyrtus inophloia / Gossia inophloia  'Blushing Beauty' - Thready Barked Myrtle
Striking evergreen 1.5m Shrub grown for its colourful pink/burgundy new foliage. Clusters of small white flowers in the leaf axils in summer. The fruit is a small black berry ripening during autumn and relished by birds. It will tolerate light frost and a full to part sun position. Prefers well drained soil. Can be tip pruned after flowering for shape
Photo © Australian National Botanic Gardens

Livistona australis (Cabbage Palm, Fan Palm, Cabbage Tree Palm)
Large, attractive fan palm. Growth to 30 m, crowned with shiny leaves 3-4.5 m long. In summer it bears flower spikes with sprigs of cream-white flowers. The fruit is red, turning black when it is ready to be peeled and planted. Distribution: Widespread along Australian east coast, in moist open forests, rainforests, often swampy sites.
Photo © Australian National Botanic Gardens

 Synoum glandulosum (Rosewood)
Small tree to about 7m high with dark brown scaly bark; widespread in warmer rainforest, from mid NSW to NE Qld. Leaves compound, pinnate with 5-9, (occasionally 3-11) pointed leaflets, including a true terminal leaflet which is usually longer than the laterals; leaflets rather soft,  hairless,  margins entire. Flowers small, white to pinkish, corolla opening to 4 or 5 pointed petals 4-6mm long, arranged in axillary panicles of few to several flowers.Fruit reddish, globose 3-lobed capsule.     Photo © Australian National Botanic Gardens

Eucalyptus microcorys (Tallowwood)
Large tree to 30 m high occasionally 40 with persistent stringy red-brown or brown-black bark. Common in dry rainforest and moist/dry eucalypt forest. Recognized by the reddish rough bark, dis-colorous leaves (top of leaf darker than bottom) and funnel-shaped fruits. Found along the coastal areas from Queensland down to Newcastle New South Wales. Low branching habit and dense crown provides an excellent windbreak. Important local species for insects, birds and mammals, including koalas. Produces a denser canopy than most eucalypts. Photos © Australian National Botanic Gardens

 Eucalyptus pilularis (Blackbutt)
Found in wet sclerophyll or grassy coastal forests in south eastern Queensland and NSW. Reaches large size on drier slopes near rainforest. Blackbutt can grow to 70 metres in height, and a trunk diameter of 4.1 metres, though is mostly seen between 20 and 45 metres tall. Blackbutt has dark fibrous bark covering the lower part of the trunk, the higher branches are a glossy cream, occasionally with scribbles from insect larvae. Adult leaves alternate on the stem, lanceolate to slightly sickle shaped, 9 to 16 cm long, 1.5 to 3 cm wide. Leaves oblique, asymmetrical at the base. The same shade of green above and below the leaf. Photos © Australian National Botanic Gardens

Eucalyptus tereticornis (Forest Red Gum, Queensland Blue Gum, Flooded Gum)Native from eastern Australia into New Guinea and Papua. It grows to a height of from 20 to 50 metres, and a girth of up to 2 metres. The trunk is straight, and is usually unbranched for more than half of the total height of the tree. Thereafter, limbs are unusually steeply inclined for a Eucalyptus species. Bark smooth, whitish, peeling in irregular thin sheets or large flakes, becoming mottled with white, gray, or blueish patches. Flowers are in umbels single at leaf base, 2.5–3 cm long including the rounded stalk of 1 cm. Flowers 5–12, spreading on equal stalks on 5–7 mm. Buds 12–16 mm long, 5 mm wide. Stamens many, threadlike, white, 10–12 mm long. Photos © Australian National Botanic Gardens

Syzygium australe  (Australian Rose Apple, Creek Cherry, Brush Cherry)
A common plant of coastal and highland rainforests from southern New South Wales to central Queensland. Dense, evergreen tree with oval, glossy green leaves on pendulous branches. In nature it can reach over 25 metres in height but is usually smaller in cultivation. Red to copper-brown new growth, profuse, fluffy, cream flowers in summer and autumn followed by clusters of edible, pink, purple to red coloured fruit (with a large seed) that are often made into jams or eaten fresh.
Photos © Australian National Botanic Gardens

 

Syzygium "cascade" Syzygium luehmannii x Syzygium wilsonii
Grows 5 metres high by 2 metres wide, a decorative compact shrub with flowing 'cascades' of drooping red new growth changing through shades of red and pink to green as the new growth ages. Producing clusters of pink flowers in spring followed by pink/red edible fruits. Very poplular hedge plant.  Likes a protected well mulched well drained moist sunny spot or part shade.
As for most lilly pillys the berries can be used to make jam.
Photos © Australian National Botanic Gardens
   
Cryptocarya sp

Boronia keysii  (Key's Boronia) is an open, thin stemmed sprawling shrub up to 2 m in height, with secondary branches typically in one plane. Leaves are in opposite pairs and of two types; simple and pinnate. Simple leaves are lanceolate, up to 3 cm long and borne on winged stalks. Pinnate leaves have three, five or seven leaflets; the terminal leaflet is similar in shape and size to the simple leaves and twice the size of lateral leaflets. Flowers are deep rose-pink to pink and occasionally white, and occur in clusters of two to six. The fruits split explosively to release smooth black seeds 4 mm long. It is distinguished from related species by the covering of short, golden-brown star-shaped hairs that cover the entire plant. Flowering occurs chiefly from May to November (Stanley & Ross,1983; Wang & Boorsboom, 1998)Conservation Status:
Key’s Boronia is listed as vulnerable.
 Conservation advice (hyperlink)
 Photos © Australian National Botanic Gardens

Dodonaea viscosa (Sticky hop bush) is found in every state and territory of Australia. Seven sub-species, each with a distinct habitat and able to handle varying degrees of drought. The major differences of the sub-species are in distribution, form and leaf characteristics. In general, Dodonaea viscosa is an extremely hardy species and is able to resprout from the base. The stand-out horticultural feature of this species is the brilliant colour of the capsules. Other desirable features include its successful use as a hedge due to the dense habit. Dodonaea viscosa flowers are inconspicuous, with no petals. These flowers occur during spring and summer and are less than a centimetre in size. The plants are dioecious; i.e. the flowers are male or female and usually occur on separate plants.
 Photos & text © Australian National Botanic Gardens

Baeckea 'La Petite'

Sannantha virgata ???

Dainty shrub to 1 m - dark green narrow leaves - profuse tiny white flowers during the Summer months - tolerates some shade - frost resistant.

Baeckea "La Petite" Height: 1m

Form of Baeckea virgata Width: 2m

Compact, weeping shrub with attractive yellow/green foliage. Masses of small white flowers in summer. Ideal for a low, compact hedge.

 Archontophoenix cunninghamiana

 (Piccabeen Palm or Bangalow Palm)

The Bangalow Palm has a solitary stem that may reach a height of 25 metres with a diameter of 25 centimetres. The stem is slightly enlarged at the base.

The fronds may reach a length of three metres with individual segments 30-50 centimetres long with thread-like points. They are green on both surfaces.

Spring flowers are pink to lilac and are followed by bright red, globular fruits. Native birds are fond of the fruit.

Bangalow Palms are widely cultivated in warmer areas and are frequently grown in larger gardens and parks.

Archontophoenix cunninghamiana is a native of coastal New South Wales and Queensland.    Photos © Australian National Botanic Gardens
 
Garnia sp Plectranthus nitidus (Nightcap Plectranthus) - a small shrub that grows 30–150 cm tall. Its leaves are rounded, fleshy and have serrated edges. The upper surfaces of leaves are green with a lower surface that is a distinct purple hue. The branches are erect and sparsely covered with short hairs. The axis bracts are lance-shaped to triangular and 3.6–3.8 mm long and the corolla tube is bent at 25–30°. The flowers are tubular, mauve to blue and have a long lower lip. Flowering occurs from February–May.

In Queensland listed as Endangered under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.

Conservation advice (hyperlink)

 Photos © Australian National Botanic Gardens

 Melastoma affine (Blue Tongue)
A fast growing, evergreen, bushy shrub with attractive dark green, leathery foliage and contrasting red stems. It's large showy, mauve to purple flowers last only a few days but are produced over many months and in some areas throughout the year. Flowers followed by blue-black fruit with a sweet, edible flesh which stains the mouth. Regular pruning from an early age is shape hardy to a wide range of soils and situations, but sensitive to dry conditions and frost. An attractive hardy shrub suitable for tropical to warm temperate regions.
 Photos © Australian National Botanic Gardens		 Polyscias elegans (Celery Wood, Black Pencil Cedar and Silver Basswood). Range - east coast Australian rainforests from Jervis Bay NSW to Cape York Qld. A fast growing medium sized tree with an attractive palm like or umbrella shaped crown. Up to 30 metres tall and a trunk diameter of 75 cm. The trunk is mostly straight, unbuttressed and cylindrical. Smooth barked on young trees but fissured, scaly and rough barked on larger trees. Leaves are large, pinnate or bi-pinnate with almost opposite leaflets, often in threes. Leaflets ovate in shape, with a point, 5 to 13 cm long. Leaf veins noticeable on both sides, net veins visible below. Purple flowers form on a terminal panicle, arranged in a series of racemes in the months of February to April. However, flowers can form at other times. The fruit is a drupe; brown or purplish black in colour, 5 to 7 mm wide. Inside the drupe are two cells, containing one seed each, 5 mm long. Seed is fertile for regeneration from the droppings of the Pied Currawong. Fruit eaten by a large variety of birds. Photos © Australian National Botanic Gardens

Elaeocarpus grandis (Blue Fig or Quandong)  An attractive Australian native tree grown for ornamental flowers, fruit and foliage. Height: 12-20m, Width: 5-10m. Clusters of finely toothed, glossy, dark green leaves which are hairy and paler beneath. Old leaves turn bright red to scarlet in colour before falling. Long, green-white flowers with feathery petals in Autumn are followed by masses of shiny, round, bright blue fruits from Winter to mid Summer. Aboriginals mixed fresh fruit with water to make an edible paste.

 
Hibbertia scandans (Twining Guinea Flower, Climbing guinea flower, Golden guinea vine) South-eastern New South Wales to north-east Queensland. Hibbertia scandens is a fairly vigorous climber or scrambler, growing to 2 to 5 metres long. It has elliptic to obviate leaves 3-9cm long by 1-3 cm wide. The large golden yellow flowers, 5-7cm across, occur throughout the year but are most commonly seen in late Spring and Summer. The individual flowers usually last only a day or two but new flowers are produced over a long period. This plant is very commonly seen in cultivation and will tolerate a wide range of climates, including exposure to salt-laden winds (this reflects where it is found in the wild; everywhere from sheltered mountain gullies to exposed sand dunes). It flowers best in full sun but will also grow successfully in semi-shaded areas. It prefers soils with reasonable drainage (like most other guinea flowers) and will tolerate at least moderate frost. The species makes an excellent screening plant on walls or fences, or growing as a scrambler among more established plants. Lomandra hystrix (Creek Mat Rush, Green matrush)
A robust matrush found near or in creeks on sandy soils and river stones, north of Taree NSW. Can form clumps up to 2m high. Clings on tenaciously in poor soils, despite sometimes having roots exposed. Leaves are smooth (hairless), flat and long, usually to 130cm, pointed, with teeth on each side of the main point. Flowers are in branched inflorescences (flowering structures). The major branchlets up to 20 cm. The cluster bracts are spiny, to 10cm, hence the name hystrix which means spiny. Flowers grow along the branchlets of the inflorescence, yellow or cream in Spring and Summer. Seed germinates readily after two months if kept moist and continues sprouting for up to four months. The starchy, fleshy bases of the leaves are edible (they taste of raw peas). 		Rulingia salviifolia

Shrub,

mainly in Eucalyptus forests N from Mt. Warning

and the McPherson Range and adjacent areas (Beadle

1982; Harden 1990); Recorded in Tweed (L. FitzGerald

pers. comm. Aug 2004)

listed as Rare under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992. (The Rare category is gradually being phased out in favour of the Near Threatened category.)

 Brachychiton bidwillii (Rusty Kurrajong, Little Kurrajong ) found growing  from south-eastern Queensland to Bowen, in scrub, dry rainforest and inside the edge of open hardwood forest, but always in situations with high light levels.It is a variable species, mostly an open shrub of about two metres tall, but may sometimes develop as a small tree on a single stem reaching to four metres.The foliage is one of its distinctive features with five lobed felty leaves reminiscent of the form of a human hand. Most forms of B.bidwillii drop their leaves immediately before flowering which enhances the spectacular floral display.Bell shaped flowers up to 30mm long and 15mm wide, vary from orange-red to salmon pink and are held in clusters. As the plants age, flower production increases, and after eight years or so they may produce spectacular massed displays of hundreds of flowers almost covering the trunk, adding to the usual display clustered along twigs and branches. Crinum pedunculatum (Swamp Lily, River Lily, Mangrove Lily) a bulbous perennial found in stream and tidal areas of the east coast of Queensland and New South Wales, Australia as well as New Guinea and some Pacific Islands. It is a very large bulbous perennial plant, up to 2 to 3 metres tall, with a spread of up to 3 metres. It likes either full sun or partial shade. Usually found on the edge of forests, but also at the high tide level close to mangroves.The white, fragrant flowers are in a cluster with 10 to 100 flowers on an umbel.
         
Hibiscus sp Hovea acutifolia