Growing Friends Autumn Plant Sale

Australian Native Plant Sale

The sale of plants propagated and sold by The Growing Friends of the Australian National Botanic Gardens from material sourced from the Gardens. The list of plants for sale is available now.

In conjunction with the plant sale there will be a sale of books - for details click here.

Time: 8.30am – 11.00am or earlier if sold out

Where: Small car park behind the Crosbie Morrison Centre, Australian National Botanic Gardens

Cost: $3 and $5 each

Plants propagated by the Growing Friends are offered for sale to the public at very popular plant sales in spring and autumn each year. The plants are propagated by the Growing Friends from material sourced from the Garden and the proceeds are used by the Friends to support the Botanic Gardens. Plants for the autumn sale will include the following:

Lambertia formosa: Small to medium shrub often no more than a metre or so high but sometimes reaching 2 metres. The red, tubular-shaped flowers occur at the ends of the branches in clusters usually in winter and spring and attract honey eating birds. It is a popular plant in cultivation but needs some care to establish. It grows on sandstone-based soil and requires moist, well drained soil, preferably light in texture with the possible addition of sand, shell grit or lime. It appreciates some protection from the full sun but should not be grown in heavy shade. It is tolerant of at least moderate frosts and can be pruned quite hard. Its common name ‘Mountain Devil’ refers to the woody fruits which are bearded and horned.

Propagation may be carried out from seed which can be slow to germinate. Cuttings may also be slow to strike - best results are achieved using hardened, current season's growth.

Lambertia flower - ANBG photo a 4150 by R. Hotchkiss	Lambertia seed pod - ANBG photo dig 4307 by Murray Fagg

Persoonia chamaepitys – An excellent groundcover to approximately 20cm in height and 1 metre in width. Bright yellow Grevillea like flowers are seen in summer and are borne singly in the leaf axils close to the end of the branches forming a dense cluster. The flowers are followed by fruits that are cream to yellowish with reddish-brown markings and 10-12 mm long. It can grow in either full sun or part shade, and grows well under eucalypts. It can withstand periods of dry weather but dislikes humid or wet conditions as this can increase the chance of leaf drop. The soil should be well drained and there is generally a low nutrient requirement.

Usually located in dry sclerophyll forest and heath on sandstone derived soils, this species distribution spreads from the Upper Goulburn Valley through the Mellong Range and Blue Mountains to the Budawang Range in central eastern NSW. Persoonia chamaepitys can live up to 20 years and is a slow-growing but hardy plant that will survive well in low water conditions. It is an excellent plant for pots, rockeries, and retaining walls.

Persoonia chamaepitys flowers - ANBG photo dig 15211 by Murray Fagg	Persoonia chamaepitys plant - ANBG photo a 20669 by Murray Fagg