12. On your right is Corymbia ficifolia ‘Dwarf Orange’, a small tree, with dark green foliage which blooms with brilliant orange, fluffy blooms A publication of the and then develops very attractive gumnuts (photo Friends of the Australian below left). This grafted gum, originally from the National Botanic Gardens southern West Australian flowering gum, Corymbia ficifolia, is one of the most spectacular when in full flower. 24 Mar - 6 Apr 2021 Featuring the plants of the Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, ACT. Written and illustrated by ANBG Friends Rosalind and Benjamin Walcott

Today we will take a short walk from the Visitor Centre to the Banksia Centre 13. On your right is Correa 'Snowbelle', a small spreading shrub with grey-green foliage and white bell-shaped flowers with turned up petals bred by Peter Ollerenshaw, Bywong Nursery (photo above right). 14. On your right is Banksia ‘Giant Candles’, a vigorous hybrid between the Gosford form of B. ericifolia and B. spinulosa var. cunninghamii (photo below left). This large shrub can grow up to 5 metres tall and is known for its extremely large, showy, bronzy-orange flower spikes 1. On your left as you leave the Visitor Centre is Eustrephus latifolius, or Wombat Berry, a vigorous vine, with lance shaped leaves and white or pale pink flowers with very hairy petals. The flowers are followed by orange berries containing many shiny, black seeds, which persist on the plant for many months (photo above). This plant is native to the entire east coast of , excepting Tasmania. 2. On your right, in a pot, is Swainsona 15. On your right, and also on the other side of formosa, or Sturt’s Desert Pea, with pale green the bed, is Banksia paludosa, or Marsh Banksia, leaves and bright red pea flowers with shiny with young ginger coloured cones which develop centres or bosses (photo next page top left). This into gold brushes (photo above right). This plant is iconic plant, the floral emblem of , native to central and southeastern New South is named for the English botanist Isaac Swainson Wales with an outlying population on the north and is native to all mainland states except coast near Kempsey. . 6. On your left is Grevillea insignis subsp. 9. Also on your left is Alyogyne huegelii insignis, an open, rather straggly bush with ‘Karana’ with masses of mauve flowers and blue-green prickly ‘holly’ leaves and terminal coarse green foliage (photo below). pink blooms with dark red stamens, native to southwestern (photo below left).

3. Also on your right is Eucalyptus morrisbyi, or Morrisby’s Gum, a rare and endangered eucalypt which grows only in southeastern Tasmania (photo above right). The bluish green juvenile leaves are rounded and unstalked, arranged in opposite pairs, while the long adult leaves are stalked and 10. On your right is Grevillea ‘Robyn Gordon’ arranged alternately. with deeply divided green foliage and red/pink flowers (photo below).This popular plant has 7. On your right is Banksia spinulosa been planted widely in Australia and other ‘Birthday Candles’, a dense, bright green countries and is a chance hybrid from the bush with attractive needle foliage and short garden of the late David Gordon of Myall Park, yellow cones with rusty red styles (photo Glenmorgan, Queensland and named for his above right). ‘Birthday Candles’ is a dwarf cul- daughter. tivar of Banksia spinulosa var. spinulosa de- 4. Further on your right, in a pot, is Banksia veloped by Bill Molyneux of Austraflora Nurse- vincentia, one of Australia’s rarest banksias, ries in Montrose, Victoria. native only to Vincentia, near Jervis Bay, NSW, discovered in 2008 and described formally in 2014 (photo above). This small shrub has dark green needle foliage and golden brown flowers.

11. On your left is Crowea saligna ‘Rosy Glow’ a small neat bush with pink star flowers (photo below).

8. Cross the bridge, skirt past the café and bear right towards the Banksia Centre, to see on your left Correa ‘Mannii’, probably a hybrid between Correa pulchella and C. reflexa, which first appeared as a chance 5. Again on your right is Corymbia ‘Summer Red’, seedling in Sir Frederick Mann's garden in a grafted eucalypt with dark green leathery foliage and is named after him (photo and attractive new red foliage, red fluffy flowers above). This small shrub has dark green and beautiful bud formations (photo above). leaves and long red bells.