7 minute read
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.
Advertisement
ARABIAN COFFEE Coffee arabica Family Rubiaceae In terms of world trade, coffee is second only to petroleum and its by-products in monetary value.
Coffee trees are thought to have originated in Kenya and Ethiopia, later spreading to Arabia about the 6th century. The Arabs were the first to brew coffee, followed by the Egyptians several centuries later, probably around the 16th century. Coffee reached England in the first half of the 17th century, where it became an important part of the social and political scene. There was known to have been a coffee house in Oxford by 1650, and by 1675 England is reputed to have had 3,000 of them! Some became centres for political and religious debate. King Charles II tried to have them closed as “seminaries of sedition,” but the ensuing uproar forced him to rescind his order.
Coffee is a very striking plant to grow and makes a great screening plant, a specimen shrub or even a large pot plant. In the Sydney region it is likely to grow up to 5m tall. The leaves are dark glossy-green while the starry flowers which are scented and white, appear in spring. The average tree will
produce its first berries after three to four years and, in the right environment, will go on producing berries for many years. Initially coffee berries are green, becoming deep-crimson when ripe. Normally each berry contains two seeds or beans. Trees have been known to remain productive for over 30 years in ideal conditions. Commercially the average coffee plant produces its first crop after about three years. Nowadays most commercial production of coffee is centred in tropical America, mainly Brazil, Colombia and the West Indies. It is also grown in part of south-east Asia, Papua New Guinea and a small amount in Queensland.
Ideally, coffee plants should be grown in locations sheltered from strong wind and shaded from the hottest afternoon sun in summer. Soil must be well drained and for best results, enriched with organic material such as aged manure or compost. The root zone should be mulched with a good layer of compost or straw to aid moisture retention and keep the roots cool. Take care to keep the mulch clear of the stem to avoid rotting of the base or collar of the stem. Water regularly until plants are well established then water deeply, but less often, to encourage a well-developed root system. You may like to harvest and dry ripe berries, and even consider roasting and grinding some. You are unlikely to produce the finest brew, but it could be an interesting experiment!
Growing Friends Plant Sales usually offer coffee plants, which are attractive at all stages of growth, with their dark glossy foliage and scented flowers as they mature. You can see some attractive specimens of coffee trees growing in bed 20 adjacent to the Cadi Jam Ora – First Encounters Garden, and in bed 84 just north of the Herb Garden. Margaret Hanks, Growing Friends, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
Pincushion protea, Leucospermum ‘Scarlet Ribbon’
ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN SYDNEY
Summer is on our doorstep and the plants are at their best, exhibiting vibrant growth and glorious flower displays. As well as captivating our senses and providing visual delights, they serve to provide an important pollen source for our onsite bees and insects. Throughout summer there will be a mass of annual displays, including the flower bed lawn near Farm Cove showcasing a mixed flower palette. This will be complemented by other assorted annuals scattered throughout the garden beds, including lavender, celosia, petunia, cleome, ameria, lobularia, gomphrena, gaura, pentus, tagetes and verbena. The Meadow will be buzzing with activity due to the diverse array of flowers, and this year the horticulture staff have opted to experiment with a variety of new seed blends, including six different types of sunflower. This will ensure ample seeds are deposited into the ground for next year’s Meadow cycle and support our bee and insect populations through the emergence of new seedlings throughout the year. As always, we have multiple projects and gardens transitioning. The Palm House beds 10a and 10c will feature a new display of South African Asteraceae. In addition, plants will be added to key horticultural collections including vireya, camellia, zamia, cycad and macrozamia. All have been carefully selected by the team to diversify our species collection. The Bicentennial Bed now features a large salvia collection and will be producing a magnificent assortment of flowers of all shapes and sizes. The roses will also be in full force, with fragrant bursts of sweet scents from ‘Mr Lincoln’ and ‘Pope John Paul II’. The first flush this year came in October and we can’t wait to see some new roses (integrated from a bare root stock order in July) develop and flourish. Madeline Arnott-Bryce, Supervisor Horticulture
Splashes of colour throughout the Meadow
Choragic Monument at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney surrounded by summer annual displays
Corymbia ficifolia ‘Summer Red’ Christmas Bells
Photos: Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan, Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah, Alice Bruyn, Ian Black, Charlotte Sandes, © Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust AUSTRALIAN BOTANIC GARDEN
Think of a native tree and for most of us, gum trees spring to mind. These tall iconic trees have even been immortalised in song. But with the shrinking size of ‘the great Australian dream’, the vision of a home among large, towering behemoths is unattainable for most. If you still lust after a gum tree or two in the yard, there is a solution – Corymbia ficifolia ‘Summer Red’. This member of the Myrtaceae family originates from southern Western Australia and has been hybridised to produce a 5m high x 3m wide rounded tree perfect for small and large gardens alike. ‘Summer Red’ is sought after for its summer display of bright vermillion red blooms, which engulf the tree. It is also prized for its large fruit once flowering has finished. ‘Summer Red’ is often multi-trunked but can be pruned to create a single trunk. It is quite a fast grower and prefers a sunny position but will cope with some shade when young. Find a spot with well-drained sandy soil. On the eastern seaboard, ‘Summer Red’ is grafted onto a sturdy rootstock to better cope with the heavier soils. It can tolerate the occasional light frost but detests humidity. It is quite happy as a potted specimen and a container such as a wine barrel makes a perfect choice. Corymbia can also be found in shades of pink, orange and white. Simon Reid, Horticulturist
BLUE MOUNTAINS BOTANIC GARDEN
Blandfordia grandiflora are commonly referred to as Christmas Bells as they flower around Christmas time. Their cheery yellow and red bell-shaped flower is hard to miss in the sandy and sparse heathlands they often inhabit. A genus containing only four plants, Blandfordia are native to eastern Australia. They were grown widely in cultivation in the early 19th century in greenhouses and conservatories around the world and as a cut flower. They love sandy soil and spend the year appearing totally unremarkable, like a small strappy grass, until they bloom. As Christmas Bells are normally red from the base of their petals, tapering down to yellow tips, the yellow specimen pictured is quite unusual. You’ll find it in our beautiful Heath and Heather Garden. Marion Whitehead, Senior Horticulturist, Nursery
GROWING FRIENDS PLANT SALES
The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Mon–Fri 11am–2pm, Sat 10am–2pm The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan Mon–Sun 9am–4pm The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah Mon–Sun 9.30am–4.30pm
*Christmas/New Year hours may vary Growing Friends Volunteer Raoul de Ferranti
GROWING FRIENDS
As I write this piece for the summer edition of The Gardens magazine, the Growing Friends volunteers have received wonderful news.
After being locked out of our nursery activities at the Sydney, Mount Annan and Mount Tomah Gardens for four long months, we reopened Sydney Growing Friends Plant Sales on Monday 18 October and are hopeful that our Growing Friends Plant Sales operating from the Visitor Centres at Mount Annan and Mount Tomah will reopen shortly.
During the extended lockdown, the Growing Friends volunteers have been meeting regularly on-line to support one another and now we find that there is much work for us as we welcome customers back to our Sydney Plant Sales and prepare for re-openings at Mount Annan and Mount Tomah. Certainly, we have been greatly encouraged by the magnificent support received from the Gardens’ horticultural staff in caring for our stock and reporting on the quality of our sales collections.
With summer nearly here and many of our nursery stock bursting into flower, we are confident that we have wonderful offerings for our customers and we look forward to seeing you soon.
Stay tuned for news regarding the reopening of our Mount Annan and Mount Tomah nurseries via the Foundation & Friends’ e-newsletter, Facebook and Instagram posts. Raoul de Ferranti, General Coordinator Growing Friends
