Plants in the Gardens

Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

This winter, I encourage you to enjoy the Garden as it showcases the incredible diversity and adaptability of the plant kingdom. Across this landscape, each species tells a story of resilience, evolution, and environmental harmony. Among them, the Araucarias stand tall – both literally and symbolically. These ancient trees, with their striking forms and architectural presence, draw the eye and spark curiosity. I’ve mentioned before how they dominate the skyline, but in winter, their silhouette becomes even more dramatic against the bare branches and muted tones of the season.

I invite you to take a walk to Lawn 25, where our Araucaria collection is proudly displayed. Here, you’ll find eight species, with some repeated plantings to help us showcase more than 10 significant and intriguing representatives of this remarkable genus. These conifers are living fossils – plants that have changed little since the time of the dinosaurs. During the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, Araucarias were widespread across the globe, forming vast forests and shaping prehistoric ecosystems.

Today, their range is mostly limited to the Southern Hemisphere, with species native to South America, Australia, New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea. This shift in distribution tells a story of continental drift, climate change and survival against the odds. At the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, we’re fortunate to hold one of the world’s most important collections of Araucaria, providing not just beauty and interest, but also an opportunity to connect with deep time and global biodiversity.

Speaking of prehistoric plants, the Jubaea chilensis, commonly known as the Chilean wine palm, is one of the thickest palms in the world, with trunks growing up to 1.5 metres in diameter and reaching heights of up to 25 metres. It is also remarkably tolerant of cold climates and is the only palm species endemic to Chile. Belonging to an ancient group of palms, fossils of related species have been found dating back millions of years. Once widespread across South America, it now exists only in fragmented populations due to human impact and climate shifts. We have a few of these amazing palms in the collection, and I encourage you to visit the specimens in Bed 31 (Middle Gardens) or on Lawn 46a – both are truly impressive.

Of course, I can’t write about winter without reminding everyone of our globally significant camellia collection. A couple of years on from celebrating 200 years of camellias in Australia, I encourage you to take time enjoying species linked to the Belle Époque era. The Belle Époque (French for ‘Beautiful Era’) was a period of Western European history, particularly in France, spanning from the late 19th century (around 1871) to the start of World War I in 1914. It was marked by relative peace, prosperity, and cultural flourishing – especially in the arts, science and technology.

The most notable Camellia species cultivated during this era include C. japonica, C. sasanqua, C. reticulata, and C. sinensis. I encourage you to spend time exploring the variety of cultivars from this period displayed in Bed 3.

Bed 60 also continues to thrive. The new camellias added to our collection over the past 12 months are beginning to establish themselves. These varieties are well-suited to sub-tropical conditions and are expected to flourish for many years to come. While still relatively small, these significant plants are beginning to show glimpses of the beauty to come. Recent landscape enhancements and the planned addition of a boardwalk in this area reflect our commitment to evolving this space into a vibrant and enduring feature of the Garden.

JARRYD KELLY, CURATOR MANAGER, ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, SYDNEY

Blue Mountains Botanic Garden

At Mount Tomah, winter is the time of the bulb. With one of the largest displays in Australia, the cool temperate climate is perfect for coaxing up masses of inquisitive and playful blooms from the frosty ground. This year, the bulbs have more room to have fun than ever, thanks to the tireless efforts of our horticulturists who have planted thousands throughout the gardens in preparation for this season. The Brunet Meadow alone boasts 2,000 new Daffodils, creating a bold, bright yellow display that spills over its boundaries to the Cornus tree line.

While the larger blooms may steal the show with their brightness and colour, the tiny geophytes are holding their own this year. Scattered across the Residence Lawn like stars in the Milky Way, the delicate crocus are a sight to behold. Their fragile flower is so enchanting that it's hard to decide which winter beauty is more captivating.

As the competition for attention among the blooms continues, ranunculus (adorably translated in Latin as 'Little Frog'), tulips and hyacinths can be found in unexpected pockets throughout the gardens. Their sudden bursts of colour are a delightful surprise around every corner.

In fitting with the theme of the daffodil – new beginnings – the Mount Tomah Cafe will again be open to visitors during the cooler winter visits. The cafe is the perfect location to view the rolling hues of grey over the mountains during this season from a snug and sheltered position. We look forward to seeing you there.

ASH FILIPOVSKI, CURATOR MANAGER, BLUE MOUNTAINS BOTANIC GARDEN

Australian Botanic Garden

Winter is the perfect time to experience the ancient beauty of Australian cycads at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan. As the cooler months usher in a stunning display of cone production in many cycad species, there’s no better season to witness these fascinating plants.

Several Australian cycad species, such as Macrozamia, Cycas and Bowenia, are known to cone during the winter months, making this season particularly special. Notable species like Macrozamia communis, M. johnsonii, and M. macdonnellii stand out for their impressive winter cone production. These spectacular cones are a vital part of the reproductive cycle of cycads, and winter provides a unique opportunity to observe them in full display. At Mount Annan, you can see these iconic plants in action, with cones that add a striking touch to the winter landscape. The season offers a rare glimpse into the cycads’ seasonal rhythms, showcasing their resilience to Australia’s harsh conditions – especially given that many of our cycads grow outside their natural ranges at the Australian Botanic Garden under the careful curation of our Conservation Horticulturist.

This winter, we are also continuing our efforts to deepen our understanding of the cycad collection. Our team is conducting a thorough stocktake to assess and record details around the sex of individuals, population representation from wild collection which will infer gaps in our collection. This will allow us to prioritise how we undertake future collection building of this amazing group of plants.

Our cycad collection is spread across multiple garden areas, with a particular focus within Connections. One species that has captivated both myself and the team is Macrozamia macdonnellii – the MacDonnell Ranges cycad. With its bold structure and striking blue-glaucous foliage, this plant is an incredible specimen. Currently, our male M. macdonnellii plants, located in the newly re-landscaped Arid Garden, are expected to cone again this winter.

In the winter of 2022, we collected pollen from these spectacular plants and shared it through our Living Collections exchange program to pollinate a female plant. This successful pollination has resulted in several seeds, which are now being germinated in our conservation nursery. We hope these seeds will one day produce plants that will play a key role in our ongoing conservation efforts for M. macdonnellii. This work is crucial in ensuring the future of the species in our collection and contributing to the broader conservation of these remarkable plants.

Winter is the ideal time to explore the beauty and resilience of Australian cycads. Whether you're drawn to the winter cone production of various species, keen to discover the diversity of our collection, or simply want to enjoy the backdrop of the newly renovated Arid Garden, there’s plenty to uncover this winter.

MICHAEL ELGEY, CURATOR MANAGER, AUSTRALIAN BOTANIC GARDEN MOUNT ANNAN