October 2018


Volume 45 No 9

Calendar

Oct
Wed 10 at 10am Propagation at B idjiwong Community Nursery
Sat 20 Bushwalk: Darwin’s Walk Wentworth Falls

Nov
Wed 14 at 10am Propagation at Bidjiwong Community Nursery
Sat 24 at 2-4 pm Meeting at Gumnut Hall, Gumnut Place Cherrybrook with guest speaker Dr Michelle Leishman on “Urban Greening with Native Plants”.

Dec
Wed 12 10am Propagation at Bidjiwong Community Nursery


Darwin’s Walk Wentworth Falls

Saturday 20th October
Meet the Leader, Dr Marilyn Cross, on Wentworth Falls Station at 10:15am

The Charles Darwin Walk follows the beautiful Jamison Creek south, arriving at the top of Wentworth Falls. Walkers can enjoy the beauty of the creek as it cascades down the frequent small waterfalls.

The top of Wentworth Falls is a fantastic spot to rest, taking in wonderful views of the Jamison Valley and water tumbling over the cliffs. Well-managed and signposted, this track has bridges and boardwalk to help keep walkers’ feet dry. It is a great walk for those visiting Wentworth Falls by public transport.

The walk will take about 2 hours and is a total of 5.6km for the return to the start. It is considered a track of moderate difficulty with a descent (and ascent) of 189m.

View along Charles Darwin’s walk

Next Meeting: Saturday 24 November 2pm at Gumnut Hall, Cherrybrook.

The speaker for the November meeting will be Dr. Michelle Leishman.

Michelle is a plant ecologist with over 25 years research experience focused on invasive plants, vegetation responses to climate change, restoration ecology and plant conservation. She leads a research group in the Department of Biological Sciences at Macquarie University, where she is also Head of Department. Michelle is a Trustee of the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney and Chair of their Science and Conservation committee. She is also a Board member of Bush Heritage Australia and Council member of the Australian Flora Foundation. She currently leads a major collaborative project with Hort Innovation to facilitate urban greening under future climates, called the Which Plant Where project. (See article this newsletter P.3, A Quest for Survivors.)

Michelle has talked to us in the past about Climate Change, and particularly its effect on plants. Her insights were fascinating and informative. Our cities are certainly in need greening, as we are increasingly surrounded by ever larger expanses on glass and concrete. Come and hear her solutions.


Favourite Plants

by Elsie Bartlett*

Ed. The following article tells of Favourite Plants grown by members of APS Central Coast Group. Probably all these may be grown in The Hills.

But what do we grow as members of APS Parramatta & Hills District Group? What are your favourites? Please let us know!

The activity in APS Central Coast Group in September was an interactive session with members invited to talk about their ‘Favourite Plant’.

Boronia serrulata

Stephanie started off the proceedings talking about her favourite plant – Boronia serrulata. Stephanie likes this plant because it is dainty, not particularly common and because the flowers are such a vivid pink.

Also she likes the way the obovate leaves cling to the stem, overlapping each other for the full length of the stem. Stephanie has this one growing in a pot and it’s doing very well. It is indeed a beautiful plant and can be seen in the bush around the Central Coast in several locations.

Dot spoke about the fern Asplenium dimorphum, a favourite of hers. Dot likes this fern because it has 3 different types of frond all growing on the one plant. Its common name is the 3-in-one fern, is reasonably easy to grow and has a preference for bright indirect light in a moist spot in the garden.

Asplenium dimorphum
Grevillea synaphae

Virginia’s favourite plant was Grevillea synaphae, one she has growing in her garden. This lignotuberous shrub is from Western Australia. It has prickly foliage and bears creamy/yellow flowers from late winter until October. It’s cold hardy, a great bird refuge and makes a good container plant. It needs well drained soil in full sun or part shade and can be a ground cover or an upright shrub that grows up to a metre or a bit more..

Hypocalymma angustifolium was Barbara’s choice. It’s a popular and attractive plant that grows to about 1m high and bears pink or white flowers along the stems in profusion in late winter and spring. It’s a WA species but does quite well here on the east coast in a sunny spot or light shade in well-drained soil. It can be propagated from cutting using hardened new season’s growth.

Hypocalymma angustifolium
Lechenaultia biloba

Pat talked mainly about Lechenaultia biloba. It’s endemic to WA, grows 50-60cm high and is long flowering. It likes a full sun to part shady spot in the garden and must have perfect drainage. The green/grey foliage is soft and fine and its bright blue flowers appear in winter and spring attracting bees, butterflies and other insects. Pat has her plant growing in a container on a western facing deck.

As for me, I find it hard to choose just one favourite plant. I have many ‘favourites’ but at this time of the year I’m usually eagerly awaiting the buds of the Pomaderris lanigera to turn to a brilliant yellow. This is a plant I first saw at the Munmorah State Recreation Area about 20 years ago and was really impressed with the display created by all these bright yellow flowers.

Pomaderris lanigera

I’ve been growing this plant in my garden for about 15 years after getting the seed from our seed bank and each year I collect some of the seed and grow a few more. At the moment there are just two established plants, one of them is in the front garden in a very sunny spot and the other out the back in partial shade, both in very well drained soil but I have a few more recently planted seedlings that are looking promising.

It grows to around 2m high and the flowers appear in spring. The plant needs to be pruned when flowering has finished as soon as new shoots start appearing up the stems to keep it healthy and preventing it from becoming leggy.

*Elsie Bartlett is the long-serving Editor of the APS Central Coast Group


A Quest for Survivors

By Robin Powell. Robin is Gardening Editor for Sydney Morning Herald

A Five-Year research project, Which Plant Where, aims to identify species that can cope with climate change.

Over the coming decades our parks and gardens are likely to face longer, more frequent and more intense heat waves; unreliable rainfall tending to either drought or deluge; and unseasonably hot days. That’s our climate future, even if we manage to halt the damage now. Gardeners are already noting, with a kind of appalled fascination, how climate change is impacting their gardens.

A major, five-year, multi-partner research project called Which Plant Where aims to make greener, cooler and more liveable cities part of our future by identifying the plants that will cope best with a changing climate in the country’s five most populous cities.

“We know the importance of urban greening for human health and wellbeing, for moderating temperatures and providing a whole range of ecosystem benefits, but we are increasingly facing issues with climate change,” says the project’s chief investigator, Professor Michelle Leishman, of Macquarie University.

“The main role of the Which Plant Where project is to give plant practitioners – landscape designers, urban planners, councils, nurseries and growers, as well as home gardeners – a broader range of appropriate and climate-ready plant species, and an evidence base to maximise the benefits and reduce the risk and expense of planting species that won’t survive.”

The first part of the project collected existing data from a wide range of sources to develop a comprehensive picture of size, growth rate, canopy density, longevity, allergenicity, insect resistance, biodiversity impacts and influence on air and water quality and urban temperatures of 50 plant species. The data will also be used to develop maps of each species’ suitability to both current and future climates across Australia.

Two years into the project, the current focus is on glasshouse experiments in which 100 plants are being put to the test for their heat and drought-tolerance. The subject list includes mostly native and some exotic trees, shrubs, ground covers and grasses. On the list are well- known garden options, such as magnolia, as well as those that could be better known, such as the ivory curl tree, Buckinghamia celsissima, a rainforest tree from northern Queensland that has made a successful foray south.

Also being tested are plants that are hardly known at all, but are considered by experts as having great potential for gardens and urban greenspace. One of these is blue tongue, Melastoma affine, named for the effect of its sweet blue-black berries. It’s an evergreen shrub to two- three metres that looks a bit like a tibouchina, hence its other common name, native lasiandra.

By 2021, when the project is complete, Which Plant Where will have generated an interactive online database that will allow gardeners – and professional plant people – to identify the plants best able to cope with the environmental changes forecast for the next 50 years, offering more reliable ways of greening our cities.

This article originally appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald Spectrum on Saturday 22 September 2018.

The Ivory Curl tree, Buckinghamia celsissima, is successfully moving south.

Australian Plants for Fire Prone Areas

In recognition of the potentially severe fire season that may happen this year, the following article is adapted from one published in the March 1994 issue of “Native Plants for New South Wales”, the newsletter of the Society’s NSW Region. It resulted from numerous inquiries that were received following the disastrous New South Wales bushfires of January 1994. At that time little information was available on plants suitable for planting in areas subject to bushfire threats.

Please note that we know of no plant that is completely non-flammable. The Society cannot guarantee that the species listed in the article will not burn…they are simply more resistant than many other species.

All plants, whether they are exotic or Australian, will burn when subjected to sufficient heat. Different fire conditions have varying effects at different times on the same species. Nevertheless, trees of the type recommended in the following list, if correctly sited, conserve moisture, serve as a wind break by absorbing and deflecting radiant heat from the fire and act as a barrier to flying sparks and embers. In any area likely to be subject to bush fires, attention must be given to proper planning and regular maintenance. The following are some of the factors that should be considered.

  • Plant trees at least 5 m from house to allow clear access. Have paved sections such as paths and barbecue areas and/or a pebble garden with herbs near to the house.
  • Position pools, tennis courts, etc., between house and direct line of fire threat. A lawn is a clear space that can be used as a fire break.
  • Space trees and shrubs to avoid continuous canopy that may carry fire. Careful arrangement of plants is essential. Don’t have trees that overhang the house.
  • Use plants around the house that can be pruned when fire threatens. Trees and shrubs with lignotubers will re-sprout and recover quickly if it is necessary to cut them back hard in the face of threatening fire.
  • Monitor the growth of trees and shrubs so that pruning is maintained, dead limbs removed, leaves put into compost bins with lids.
  • Avoid combustible door mats and brush fences. Use draft sealers around doors and screens on windows.
  • Avoid growing Conifers, rough fibrous bark trees such as Syncarpia glomulifera and “candle bark” trees (loose bark hanging from tree). Eucalypts of the following type are hazardous: E. globoidea, E. viminalis and E. oreades.

If you live in an area close to the bush, you need to prepare your home. The 10/50 Vegetation Clearing Scheme gives people living near the bush an additional way of being better prepared for bush fires.

*RFS NSW – ww.rfs.nsw.gov.au

The following plant lists were compiled from various sources.

Rainforest Trees For Fire Prone Areas

Alectryon subcinereusWild QuinceSmall tree
Callicoma serratifoliaBlack WattleShrub to small tree
Canthium coprosmoidesCoast CanthiumShrub to small tree
Cassine australisRed Olive PlumShrub to small tree
Croton insularisSilver CrotonShrub to small tree
Cupaniopsis anacardioidesTuckerooSmall to medium tree
Cuttsia viburneaHoney FlowerShrub to small tree
Denhamii celastroidesDenhamiaSmall to medium tree
Diospyros australisBlack PlumShrub to small tree
Eleocarpus reticulatusBlueberry AshShrub to medium tree
Eupomatia laurinaBolwarraShrub to small tree
Glochidion ferdinandiCheese TreeShrub to small tree
Grevillea robustaSilky OakMedium to large tree
Guioa semiglaucaGuioaSmall to medium tree
Hodgkinsonia ovatifloraHodgkinsoniaSmall tree
Hymenosporum flavumNative FrangipaniSmall to medium tree
Lomatia fraseriSilky LomatiaShrub to small tree
Mallotus philippensisRed KamalaShrub to medium tree
Melia azedarachWhite CedarSmall to large tree
Petalostigma triloculareForest QuinineSmall tree
Podocarpus elatusPlum PineMedium to large tree
Rapanea howittianaBrush MuttonwoodShrub to small tree
Rapanea variabilisMuttonwoodShrub to small tree
Rhodosphaera rhodanthemaTulip SatinwoodSmall to medium tree
Sarcopteryx stipataSteelwoodSmall to large tree
Scolopea brauniiFlintwoodSmall to medium tree
Stenocarpus sinuatusFirewheel TreeMedium to large tree
Streblus brunonianusWhalebone TreeSmall to medium tree
Symplocos stawelliiWhite HazelwoodSmall to medium tree
Symplocos thwaitesiiBuff HazelwoodSmall to medium tree
From ANBG
Allocasurina verticilata

Trees For Fire Prone Areas

Acacia dealbataBlack WattleMedium tree
Acacia elataCedar WattleLarge tree
Acacia melanoxylonBlackwoodMedium tree
Alectryon oleifoliumBoonareeShrub to small tree
Allocasuarina verticillataMountain She-oakSmall to Medium tree
Angophora costataSydney Red GumLarge tree
Banksia integrifoliaCoast BanksiaMedium tree
Brachychiton acerifoliusIllawarra Flame TreeLarge tree
Brachychiton populneumKurrajongSmall to medium tree
Buckinghamia celsissimaIvory CurlMedium tree
Casuarina glaucaSwamp She-oakSmall to medium tree
Casuarina cunninghamiiRiver She-oakLarge tree
Corymbia maculataSpotted GumLarge tree
Eucalyptus alpinaGrampians GumMedium tree
Eucalyptus paucifloraSnow GumSmall to medium tree
Lophostemon confertus,Brush BoxLarge tree
Lagunaria patersoniiNorfolk Island HibiscusShrub to medium tree
Myoporum insulareBoobiallaShrub to small tree
Pittosporum sppShrubs to large trees
Syzigium smithiiLilly PillyMedium tree
Taxandria juniperinaNative Cedar (WA)Small tree
From ANBG Kurrajong Seedpods
From PlantNET NSW Flora Online Cootamundra Wattle
Acacia Howittii from Marion H Simmons
Silver Banksia illustration from PlantNET NSW Flora Online
Acacia saligna illustration from PlantNET NSW Flora Online

Shrubs & Small Trees for Fire Prone Areas

Acacia baileyanaCootamundra Wattle3-10m high
Acacia cultriformisKnife-leaf Wattleto 4m high
Acacia howittiiSticky Wattleto 9m high
Acacia iteaphyllaFlinders Range Wattle2-4m high
Acacia pravissimaWedge-leaved Wattleto 6m high
Acacia prominensGosford Wattle4-18m high
Acacia salignaGolden Wreath Wattle2-8m high
Acacia sophoraeCoastal WattleProstrate 0.5-3m
Acacia terminalisSunshine Wattleto 6m high
Acacia vestitaWeeping Boree1-4m high
Acacia spp.
Atriplex spp
Angophora hispidaDwarf Appleto 7m high
Banksia marginataSilver Banksiato12m high
Bursaria spinosaBlackthorn, Kurwanto10m high
Cassia spp.
Dodonaea spp.
Einadia hastataBerry Saltbush, SaloopProstrate shrub
Eremophila maculataSpotted Fuscia-bushto 2.5m high
Grevillea spp.
Hakea ellipticaOval-leaf Hakea2-4m high
Hakea salicifoliaWillow-leaf HakeaTall Shrub
Hakea suaveolensSweet Hakea1-4m high
Jacksonia scopariaDogwoodTall Shrub to 12m
Maireana spp
Rhagodia baccataCoastal Saltbushto 4m high
Acacia pravissima – Wedge leaved Wattle
Ajuga australis – Austral Bugle
Acacia vestita – Weeping Boree Illustration from NSW Flora OnLine
Einadia hastata – Berry Saltbush Illustration from NSW Flora OnLine

Groundcovers for Fire Prone Areas

Ajuga australisAustral Bugle
Carpobrotus glaucescensPigface
Dichondra repensKidneyweed
Einadia nutansClimbing Saltbush
Eremophila debilis (syn. Myoporum debile)Winter Apple
Hardenbergia violacea (will climb)Purple Coral Pea
Kennedia prostrataScarlet Coral Pea
Kennedia rubicunda (will climb)Dusky Coral Pea
Myoporum parvifoliumCreeping Boobialla
Pelargonium spp
Pultenaea prostrataSilky Bush-pea
Scaevola spp.
Myoporum parvifolium
Creeping Boobialla Illustration
from NSW Flora OnLine
Einadia nutans – Climbing Saltbush Illustration from NSW Flora OnLine

12th FJC Rogers Seminar

Showcasing Goodeniaceae at the 12th FJC Rogers Seminar

to be held in Horsham, Victoria.

For details visit:

apsvic.org.au/fjc-rogers-seminar

Keynote speaker Dr Kelly Shepherd, Senior Research Scientist based in Perth, whose interests include the ‘salt-loving’ samphires.

Guest speaker Brendan Lepschi from Australian National Herbarium talking about his interests in Melaleuca, Santalaceae and Goodeniaceae. Guest speaker Neville Walsh, Senior Conservation Botanist at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria.

Sunday includes garden tours to Wartook Gardens

Goodeniaceae Dampiera marifolia, from Annuello, Victoria

As a member of both the volunteer team organising Lifeline Book Fairs, and ParraHills APS, Trevor Brown would like to offer to provide interested members a list of available titles via a monthly email. Books are priced well below online book retailers prices. All proceeds go to Lifeline.

If you would like to receive emails contact Trevor Brown at trevorb5@bigpond.com. If you are interested in particular titles, topics or authors please let Trevor know.

There will be Giant Book Fairs on 12th 13th and 14th of October at Oakhill College and Macquarie University on 3rd and 4th of November.


Parramatta and Hills District Group

SECRETARY: Caroline Franks

Email: apsparrahills@gmail.com