Eumundi Voice, Issue 101, 5 September 2024

ENVIRONMENT

What’s flowering now?

Everyone is talking about how Spring seems to have come early this year, with the Winter weather transitioning straight to Summer. What does that mean for the flowers popping out all over the place?

Well to be honest, when it comes to our native wildflowers, their peak flowering time usually begins in August anyway, and that has certainly happened. You may have noticed driving along the motorway and road into Noosa that there have been lots of Hoveas (purple peas) and yellow Pultenaea (yellow peas) about, and they are already finishing.

There is a range of great walks you can do across the region where you might still find some lovely blooms to brighten your day, including those in our own backyard at the Eumundi Conservation Park.

This Park is mainly eucalypt forest with some sections of rainforest but with a surprising diversity of flowers in their season. There are 3 entrances to the park: from Eumundi Noosa Rd, Verrierdale Forest Rd (off Seib Rd), or from North Arm Yandina Creek Rd. There is a range of options for return walks, circuits or across the park. The tracks traverse some quite steep hills and creek crossings.

Interesting flowers to be found include Handsome Flat Pea, Wallum Dogwood, Daviesia peas, Caladenias and Tall Lobelia. Visit: t.ly/ oDExC.

Some local native plants you might find in flower currently are:

Bitter Pea & Gorse Bitter Pea (Daviesia umbellulata & D. ulicifolia)

Shrub around 1-1.5m, stiff, sharp-pointed leaves, yellow pea flowers with brown markings in early spring. Often in forests and rocky areas. Gorse Bitter Pea has sharp, spiky leaves.

Hairy Apple Berry (Billardiera scandens)

Slender vine that grows amongst shrubs and understory in eucalypt forests and woodlands. Leaves alternate, white, down-turned tubular flowers to 2.5 cm which turn pink before forming oblong hairy fruits. Flowers mostly in spring but at other times as well.

Dogwood (Jacksonia scoparia)

Mid-sized tree/shrub to 2m, grey green stems (without leaves) in drooping branchlets. Yellow

flowers in spring.

Hairy Guinea Flower (Hibbertia vestita)

Low lying scrub to 30 cm, small leaves, bright yellow flowers with 5 petals. Flowering at various times across the year.

Handsome Flat Pea (Platylobium formosum)

A yellow pea flower with reddish markings, with flat leaves, mostly found in the understory of Eucalypt forests.

Tall Lobelia (Lobelia gibbose)

A small herbaceous plant that stands erect and is very graceful with beautiful pale purple flowers. Blooms in late spring.

Just remember, native plants are protected so you can’t collect flowers or any part of the plants at the Eumundi Conservation Park as with other national parks and reserves. Fortunately, we have a range of great native plant nurseries in the region, so do check them out to see what might grow in your garden.

For more information on Sunshine Coast wildflowers and walks you can purchase the booklet called Cooloola Coastcare at: t.ly/6CJBJ.

For further information visit: wildflowerwomen. net or FB wildflowerwomenaustralia.

Dr Sue Davis – Wild/flower Women Projects