Royal Botanical Gardens in Cranbourne Victoria
Episode: # Waterwise Special 24th November 2007
Presenter: Neville Passmore & Melissa King
Just one hour from Melbourne is a botanical garden with a difference and it is attracting attention from all over the world. The Royal Botanical Gardens in Cranbourne showcases everything we love about the Australian landscape such as the rich colours, incredible diversity and the sheer toughness of the plants.
The watersaver garden demonstrates how Australian plants can be used to create stylish gardens that flourish whilst using less water. 70,000 litres is the amount of water used by the average Melbourne garden in a year and that has been used as a basis for comparison of each of the three levels of the garden.
At the lowest level the water moves by gravity and this area gets more moisture than the others, still a lot less than the average Melbourne garden. Some of the standout varieties growing on this level include the:
The middle terrace displays all those plants that once established require very little water to flourish. The garden consists of compact forms and there are great ideas for city gardeners. Just some of them include the:
The dry terrace says it all and this is where you will find the bomb proof plants. This semi arid garden virtually survives on no water, only natural rainfall. Some of the plants in this terrace include:
The plants used in the gardens have been sourced from right across the country and they have been used with enormous creativity. This means no matter where you come from there are ideas you can take home and use in your garden.
The gardens are also a wonderful combination of art, architecture and landscape. It is important not to overlook those plants that have been around for millions of years that have adapted to the tough Australian conditions. Seeing them used in a landscape like the Royal Botanical Gardens in Cranbourne you can see why they have become so popular.
Royal Botanical Gardens Cranbourne
Cnr Ballarto Road and Botanic Drive Cranbourne
(off South Gippsland H'way)
Melway Ref: 133 K10
Ph: (03) 5990 2200
Presenter: Neville Passmore & Melissa King
Just one hour from Melbourne is a botanical garden with a difference and it is attracting attention from all over the world. The Royal Botanical Gardens in Cranbourne showcases everything we love about the Australian landscape such as the rich colours, incredible diversity and the sheer toughness of the plants.
The watersaver garden demonstrates how Australian plants can be used to create stylish gardens that flourish whilst using less water. 70,000 litres is the amount of water used by the average Melbourne garden in a year and that has been used as a basis for comparison of each of the three levels of the garden.
At the lowest level the water moves by gravity and this area gets more moisture than the others, still a lot less than the average Melbourne garden. Some of the standout varieties growing on this level include the:
- Prostrate Buttercups (Hibbertia obtusifolia) a pretty low spreader that puts on a lovely show of yellow spring flowers,
- Long Purple Flag (Patersonia occidentalis) is often seen in the wild growing beside a creek.
- Miniature Paper Daisy (Xerochrysum bracteatum cv.) is a dazzler in a pot.
The middle terrace displays all those plants that once established require very little water to flourish. The garden consists of compact forms and there are great ideas for city gardeners. Just some of them include the:
- Native Heath (Epacris longiflora) has small leaves to reduce the area in wich water can evaporate.
- Flower Girl Wax Flower (Philotheca myoporoides ‘Flower Girl’) has curled leaves to reduce the surface area vulnerable to the hot sun.
The dry terrace says it all and this is where you will find the bomb proof plants. This semi arid garden virtually survives on no water, only natural rainfall. Some of the plants in this terrace include:
- Blue Leschenaultia (Leschenaultia biloba)
- Yellow Buttons (Chrysocephalum apiculatum)
The plants used in the gardens have been sourced from right across the country and they have been used with enormous creativity. This means no matter where you come from there are ideas you can take home and use in your garden.
The gardens are also a wonderful combination of art, architecture and landscape. It is important not to overlook those plants that have been around for millions of years that have adapted to the tough Australian conditions. Seeing them used in a landscape like the Royal Botanical Gardens in Cranbourne you can see why they have become so popular.
Royal Botanical Gardens Cranbourne
Cnr Ballarto Road and Botanic Drive Cranbourne
(off South Gippsland H'way)
Melway Ref: 133 K10
Ph: (03) 5990 2200
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