WE OFTEN want a wider range of plants in our gardens and trees in our landscapes. Availability usually depends on the ability of nurseries to propagate as many species as possible, or to buy what they need from elsewhere. Community nurseries concentrate on species in their own regions, usually to meet the needs of those carrying out their own revegetation programs. For the vast majority of these plants, seed propagation is the preferred method since the resulting plants will be genetically varied. Cutting propagated plants are identical to the plant from which the cutting was taken.
If trees fail to set fruit, then seed is not available and the seedling you want when you visit the nursery won’t be available either. We can, however, help out by collecting seed from fruiting trees on our own properties. Rules apply to seed collection and one definitely does not collect in national parks, forest reserves and similar places. Some species are rare or endangered and seed should not be collected from those either. Nature needs to have a chance to use it sown dispersal mechanisms to increase the local population.
Some species are popular with birds and they get there first, or seed dispersal is random or happens over a period of time, which can make collection difficult. Fragmentation of vegetation can restrict the number of seed bearing trees available. Barung can help you with advice on what is needed and what can be collected. The nursery has a propagator’s licence.
Try to match the environmental conditions at the planting site with those of the collection location and if you are able to take seed into Barung, make sure you make a note of where you collected it. Take a specimen of the plant with you, a twig or small branch with several leaves so that its identity can be verified. Good advice relating to seed collection and storage can be found on the FloraBank website.
BARUNG NATIVE PLANT NURSERY
Nursery opening times:Wednesday, Thursday, Friday-9am-3pm
Riverside Centre office hours: 9am to 4pm.
Next to Maleny Post Office, Riverside Centre
Phone 5494 3151
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