Foothills Photo: Jimmy Britton

Creating your own rainforest and Hinterland For those with more space on their property who wish to establish their own patch of rainforest, a site specific planting design and careful selection is essential. A full description of this process is beyond the scope of this Locations: book but here is a brief overview. Bangalow, Binna Burra, Booyong, Clunes, Coopers Shoot, Coorabell, Eureka, The first step is achieved by planting pioneer, fast growing trees, which can handle full sun and are generally short- Ewingsdale (Hill slopes), Federal, Goonengerry, Huonbrook, Montecollum, lived in terms of a rainforest (10-30 years). the pioneers 3-4m apart to form a canopy in 2-5 years depending Nashua, Palmwoods, Possum Creek, Upper Coopers creek, Upper Wilsons Creek, on the site and conditions. Interspersed through these pioneer trees, secondary and mature phase trees are planted. These are slower to establish but can live for hundreds of years and in time will form the rainforest habitat. Once the Wilsons Creek canopy is established, the final staged planting will contain a diverse mix of trees, shrubs, vines and groundcovers. Where possible, try to source the species that grow naturally in your area – talk to your local native nursery and ensure you are also planting species with local population genetics. By planting in this manner, you will extend the he foothills and hinterland are Endangered Ecological Community. rainforest to wet sclerophyll forest. existing habitat for local species encouraging them to move into the new areas that you have provided. located primarily in the south The Big Scrub once covered the entire Sub-tropical rainforest forms a Twest of the Shire amongst the hinterland area but now exists as dense canopy of large trees above a Over time you will notice trees and other regenerating naturally. These are brought in by birds and the wind rolling hills and valleys of the Wilson small isolated remnants that make up mid and under story layer of dense and germinate in the favourable conditions provided by the forest canopy. River catchment. The high rainfall less than 1% of its original area. lush foliage. The range of plants More information about planting a rainforest can be found in the book published by the Big Scrub Landcare Group and rich soils of the area create the present is extremely diverse and Subtropical Rainforest Restoration. This book is essential for anyone looking at undertaking this process, providing a perfect conditions for rainforest plants The elevation of the area ranges includes trees, shrubs, vines, palms, detailed overview of the many factors to consider, as well as a list of appropriate species to plant. to thrive. The original vegetation from 40m along the river flats around epiphytes, fungi and groundcovers. of this area is lowland subtropical Bangalow and Nashua, which are This structure creates a cool, moist, rainforest, commonly referred to as prone to winter frosts, up to 300m in shady microclimate by reducing Creating a Finger Lime and Midgen Berries to Mulch is an important component ‘The Big Scrub’ and remnants of this the north around Goonengerry where the light intensity, wind and rainforest garden provide food and occasional colour. If of a rainforest garden and mimics the vegetation are now protected as an the soil and vegetation changes from evaporation. you need a hedge, Scrub Cherry can humus layer found on the forest floor. Soil description: be a good choice with dense foliage The decomposing organic matter forms Deep, well-structured red/brown that can be pruned and it also provides the basis of the garden ecosystem by krasnozems, high clay content, tasty pink berries. Lomandra can form adding nutrients to the soil, holding Wildlife: often acidic - may benefit from the a dense edge that helps keep your moisture and providing habitat for soil Wompoo pigeon, Rose-crowned fruit dove, Brown cuckoo dove, Figbird, addition of gypsum or lime garden weed-free. Vines such as the microbes and invertebrates, which Currawong, Bar-shoulder Dove, Emerald dove, Fairy Wren, Silver Eye, various Bower Vine and Purple Coral Pea can in turn provide food for lizards and Honeyeater, Green Tree Frog, Perons Tree Frog, Rocket Frog, Microbat, Sooty A rainforest garden in a moist grow in a sunny spot and both have a birds. Many rainforest plants have a sheltered part of your property can showy display of . network of surface roots that rely on Owl, variety of lizards and insects produce a cool, lush oasis full of the nutrients and moisture provided by verdant foliage. Create a multi-layered The Birdwing Butterfly Vine likes the mulch. rainforest structure by grouping partial shade and provides essential together a range of trees, shrubs, palms habitat for the amazing Birdwing Examples: Booyong Nature and groundcovers sheltered from full Butterfly. In the shade shrubs such Reserve, Minyon Falls and sun, frost and prevailing winds. as Narrow- Gardenia and Hairy Protesters Falls Psychotria have distinct flowers and For a smaller garden, trees such as a can provide a shaded ground layer Macaranga or Native Frangipani and a where Native Violets will spread few large Bangalow Palms can provide rapidly and display small purple shade. If space is at a premium, flowers in summer. plant utilising the shade from your house or fence line. Within this Large feature trees include the shelter, dense, mass plantings of large Flame Tree, Coolamon and Firewheel, glossy-leaved species such as Native all of which have stunning Ginger, Cordyline and Cunjevoi look displays. Always ensure large trees are impressive, interspersed with Dianella, positioned well away from buildings.

Rose Crowned Fruit dove Sooty Owl Green Tree Snake Photo: David Taylor Photo: David Taylor Photo: Rainer Hartlieb Photo: Rainer Hartlieb

24 My Local Native Garden My Local Native Garden 25 11 6 9 8 7 4 2 1 autumn after hatching. Flowers summer/ andlarvae eat theleaves Butterfly. They lay theireggsonthe Essential habitat for Birdwing Birdwing Butterfly Vine direct sunlight grown inmoistpositionreceiving Bushfood. edible raspberries insummer. Spiky spreadingshrubproducing Native Raspberry purple flowers green leaves andsmall scrambler withshiny Unique-looking Ground Lily on thenewgrowth fern witharedflush Attractive clumping W Soft position likes amoistshady delicate foliagethat Attractive fernwith F Maiden Hair hystrix couldalsobeused. more shade. other Lomandra species preferring spring. flowers andorange capsulesin Native clumpinggrass withcream Rainforest Lomandra plant ispoisonousifingested. fruit insummer. flower spikeand showy red leaves withawhite/yellow Huge succulent,glossy Cunjevoi Lily arundelliana alsoavailable Small variety Alpinia summer.wildlife. Attracts berries. Flowers in spring/ large foliageandbrightblue Lush clumpingplantwith Native Ginger ern maller than Attracts wildlife.Smallerthan ater ttracts wildlife. Best Attracts wildlife.Best T Lomandra he largerLomandra F W ern arning: this For morespeciespleaserefertoNative SpeciesPlantingGuide Groundco Epiphytes Grasses Shrubs Vines/ Palms Trees & vers 10 (p30) 12 (p30) 3 (p18) 5 (p18) Foothills &Hinterlands 11 13 17 16 14 15 19 18 20 24 23 22 21 1 4 2 9 8 7 6 Native Ginger Rainforest Lomandra Dianella Cunjevoi Lily Native Raspberry Ground Lilly Soft W Maiden HairFern Native Violet Basket grass Birdnest Fern Vine Birdwing Butterfly Bower Vine T Broad-leaf P Gardenia Narrow-leaved Finger Lime Hairy Psychotria Bolwara Bangalow P Glossy Laurel Scrub Cherry Flame T W C 14 ree Fern ommon Name 13 alking Stick P ater Fernater ree ttracts wildlife spring. A ttracts white flower inlatewinter/ Narrow leaves andfragrant Gardenia Narrow-leaved wildlife. Frost sensitive summer. Attracts flower inspring/ showy white/pink Great climberwith Bower Vine alm alm Lilly alm Alpinia caerulea Lomandra spicata Dianella caerulea Rubus rosifolius Tripladenia cunninghammii Blechnum cartilagineum Adiantum aethiopicum Viola hederacea Oplismenus aemulus Asplenium australasicum Pararistolochia praevenosa Pandorea jasmenoides Cyanthea sp Cordyline petiolaris Atractocarpus chartaceus Citrus australasica Psychotria loniceroides Eupomatia laurina cunninghamiana Archontophoenix Cryptocarya laevigata Syzygium australe Stenocarpus sinuartus Linospadix monostachya ScIENTIFIC Name 26 My Local Native Garden Up to5m Height 2-5m 2-3m 0.8m 0.4m 0.5m 0.2m 0.1m 10m 20m 25m 25m 0.5 2m 0.2 1m 1m 1m 3m 3m 3m 3m 3m 6m T 27 My Local Native Garden weed andByronShireswww.byron.nsw.gov.au/native-plants spreading spreading spreading spreading spreading spreading spreading spreading spreading spreading Width 4-10m 2-6m 1.5m 0.8 1m 1.5 4m 1m 2m 2m 2m 1m 4m 8m Large lushleaves andbright red berryinsummer. Bird attracting fruit. Bushfood Sun ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Edible citrus,greatin salads andwithfish. F inger Lime Broad-leaf Partial shade Palm Lily ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Bushfood Shade

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ 16 15 T wet soil olerate ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ T dry soil olerate ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ and largewoody capsules sporadically throughyear. bright redfruitinautumn. Bird attractant andamust flowers inspring/summer palm withbrightredfruit for any rainforest garden Hairy PsychotriaHairy Semi-deciduous feature Classic localpalmwith Distinctive understorey Delicate white flowers edible fruitinautumn/ Bangalow Palm flower insummer and in spring.Bushfood. with delicate,shady be prunedtoshape. Edible pink/redfruit tree withshowy red as afeatureplantin Spectacular species Glossy Laurel W Scrub Cherry glossy foliageand foliage oftenused Shrubby tree with Great hedge.Can winter. Bushfood. tick alking Stick in summer. Fruit large redfruitin Heavily scented Attracts wildlife Attracts wildlife Attracts wildlife Attracts wildlife Flame T spring/summer. T attracts birds. landscaping ree F Bolwara Palm ern ree

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