NUMBERS of visitors to the nursery tent at the recent Wood Expo commented on the diversity of species available, a surprise to many. Within that diversity, there are plenty of species which will provide colour splashes at different times of the year. Why not plant them in the transition zone between garden and revegetation, or in a windbreak, or simply somewhere in view.
Flame trees, Brachychiton acerifolius, are an obvious choice. The extent of flowering is variable but they are certainly stunning when completely deciduous and in full bloom. The local white flowered grevillea, Grevillea hilliana, which grows to 20m is another as is Brachychiton discolour, Lace Bark Tree, with pink bell-shaped flowers. This one is generally found in drier rainforests.
Sloanea australis has very attractive white flowers with a dark centre and if birds are wanted as well as colour, it is hard to go past Pink Euodia, Melicope elleryana with its dense clusters of pink flowers along the branches.
The lorikeets will be delighted with any of the Elaeocarpus species. Stenocarpus sinuatus, Wheel of Fire, has a long history in cultivation due to its unusual flowers, and although it may take a long time to bloom from seed,
it is worth the wait. Everything will flower and
fruit at some stage but why not plant the more spectacular species where they can be seen and enjoyed. For those of us in frost-free zones, now is planting time and there is a wide range of species from which to choose. If your area is frost-prone, species choice is more critical and Barung can provide advice.
For the benefit of visitors to our wonderful area, that bright yellow shrubby daisy presently flowering along our roadsides is not in fact a tourist attraction! It would be nice if it was, but for those with it on their properties, it is a very unwelcome weed which completely out-competes the native vegetation. When not flowering, which is for most of the year, it is an unrelieved expanse of dusty grey green.
BARUNG NATIVE PLANT NURSERY Phone 5494 3151
Porters Lane Nursery opening times: Wednesday – Friday – 9am -3pm
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