Gardening Without Water Waste - Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens

1. 1. Start at the Visitor Centre doors and walk 6. Walk along the path above the conservatory, two
north (right) 10 metres towards the Lily Pond: thirds along the building:
Casuarina (Allocasuarina monilifera) Heather ( Calluna vulgaris ‘Silver Queen’) Gardening
This plant is native to dry areas in Tasmania and This European native has very small grey leaves
Victoria. Its leaves are barely visible, but covered in fine hairs.
without
you can feel them as ridges along the water waste
needle stems. 7. Continue to beyond the end of the building. Look to
the upper bed on your right:
2. Stay on this path until you come to the steps Hairpin Banksia (Banksia spinulosa)
on your right. Walk down and follow the curve of the Native to Victoria, New South Wales
garden bed at the front of the restaurant. At the edge and Queensland.This large shrub (grows 1-4 A self-guided tour of selected plants in the
of the bed, on either side of the concrete path you will metres) produces russet-yellow flowers that Botanical Gardens
find: resemble hair rollers.
Mexican Bush Sage (Salvia leucantha). Water is the world’s most valuable resource. In
Native to Mexico and tropical America. This 8. Walk around the Syme Fountain to the curved Australia gardening is one of our most popular
low bush has purple and mauve flowers and hairy stone seat, turn left and walk 3 metres towards the pleasures and we need to make sure that we
foliage. Cactus House (a great source of drought tolerant garden in ways that don’t over-use or waste water.
plants in its own right). On your right: There are many attractive plants, both native and
3. Continue past the building to the small narrow bed Gazania (Gazania ‘Variegata’). exotic, that will grow well with minimal watering.
with a low wall behind it: This South African ground cover is another tightly You can use the map over-leaf to locate just a few
Large flowered tea tree packed, prostrate variety. It has small, blade-like of the drought-resistant shrubs and ground-covers
(Leptospermum grandiflorum) grey leaves with white underleaves. The planted in the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens.
A plant native to Tasmania and easy to underleaves are very hairy and help the plant
recognise due to its soft, grey foliage. Over conserve water. This walk begins at the entrance to the Visitor
summer it is covered in large white flowers. Centre and will take around 20 minutes to
9. Continue towards the Cactus House to the new Rain complete.
4. Continue towards the Conservatory. At the Garden – opened in 2005. On your right:
junction of the two main paths outside the Along the way, look out for other plants that
White Kunzea (Kunzea ambigua) possess drought tolerant characteristics, such as:
Conservatory, you will find a triangular garden bed. This attractive shrub is native to
At the point furthest from the Conservatory: • Needle-like stems with barely visible leaves
Tasmania, Victoria and NSW. It grows in
Golden Thyme (Thymus serpyllum (the smaller the surface area of leaf, the better
coastal areas and has copious amounts of
the plant’s efficiency in dry conditions).
‘Aureus’). creamy, honey scented flowers in late Spring.
This tightly packed ground cover is native to • Grey, hairy foliage and leaves with hairy under-
Northern Europe. Its prostrate form protects it sides.
10. To conclude this walk, retrace your steps and • Tightly packed foliage, often prostrate
from harsh winds and the under leaves are able continue to the Herb Garden behind the Subantarctic
to retain moisture successfully. (horizontal on the ground).
Plant House. Go to the raised square garden bed in
• Species that originate from dry climates such
the centre:
as Africa and the Mediterranean.
5. Go into the Conservatory Garden, turn right and Italian Lavender (Lavandula stoechas), a • Many conifer species.
take the path around the upper side of the native of the Mediterranean is circling the roses.
building. On the raised terrace bed to the right: • Plants that have water storing capacity in the
The hairy stems and leaves evident are similar to
form of bulbs, corms or rhizomes.
Josephine’s Lily (Brunsvigia josephinae) many plants in the herb garden, many are also
Native to South Africa, this striking, winter excellent in dry conditions.
dormant bulb produces tall flowering stems in
late summer. These are followed by impressive Revised October 2005
green straplike leaves.

2. 10m
Lily GARDENING WITHOUT WATER WASTE
Pond 2
Visitor Centre Fuchsia
3
FF F House
1
Epacrids 4
Friends
Cottage
5
Conservatory
1 Allocasuarina monilifera
2 Salvia leucantha Rain Garden
3 Leptospermum grandiflorum Cactus House
4 Thymus serpyllum 'Aureus'
5 Brunsvigia josephinae 6
6 Calluna vulgaris 'Silver Queen'
7 Banksia spinulosa
8 Gazania 'Variegata' 9
Pete's Vegie Patch
Ma
9 Kunzea ambigua 7
10 Lavandula stoechas
8 Training Centre
in G
Main
Lawn Easy Access Garden
ate
AdministrationShadecloth
Area
Glasshouse
10 Glasshouse
Glasshouse
Subantarctic
Herb Plant House
Office