Castlecrag Local Guide

Sources for Native Harvest Seeds and Native Plants At present only a few local plants Lot 22, Mona Vale Road, are sourced from local material, Terrey Hills, just past Hills although some nurseries will Flower Market grow to order. Asking for locally Phone: (02) 9450 2699 indigenous plants, or for particular species, will encourage nurseries Ku-ring-gai Native Plant Nursery to grow them. Run by Ku-ring-gai Council. 430 Mona Vale Road, St Ives If your garden abuts or includes Phone: (02) 9424 0825 bushland any planting should use plants of local provenance. Tharwa Propagation Nursery Consider bush regeneration and/ 21 Myoora Road, Terrey Hills or pile burns to stimulate dormant Phone: (02) 9450 1967 seed (talk to Council about this). Toolijooa Nursery For information about Lot 57, Wattle Road, Ingleside environmental or noxious weeds, Phone: (02) 9970 8709 non-local native plants which All the above nurseries specialise may be invasive, or the BushCare in tube stock Program contact Council on (02) 9777 1000. Wirreanda Nursery 169 Wirreanda Road, Ingleside There are many more native Phone: (02) 9450 1400 plants, local and non-local, which Small selection of tube stock are suitable for Castlecrag gardens. For further information see Ideally, to preserve genetic integrity, Castlecrag Progress Association native plants for local gardens website www.castlecrag.org should be grown from local seed and cuttings (ie locally indigenous). 01

Castlecrag’s flora, ‘the cleanest most delicate and varied native ligneous evergreen perpetually blooming flora extant’* was the inspiration for Walter Burley Griffin to integrate suburban housing with bushland.

Griffin recognised its hardiness during drought and the need to respect the soil. Castlecrag soils are derived from nutrient-poor Hawkesbury Sandstone. They are richer in the gullies than on the ridgetop and slopes. Our bushland now exists mainly in reserves. Most ridgetop vegetation has been lost to housing and the bushland interface suffers from run-off and weeds. Using local plants helps maintain the bushland character of Castlecrag. It helps recreate the natural environment and habitat where it has been lost. Whether in formal, informal or cottage gardens local plants suit local conditions best. Maintenance, water use and need for fertilizer are minimised. A well-mulched native garden of appropriate plants is not onerous to maintain. However growth will vary with soil, aspect and microclimate and most respond to tip-pruning after flowering. Gardening gives visual pleasure and recreational interest. The plants in this guide are reasonably available and easy to grow. They will start you on your journey of discovery of our local native plants and give you lots of enjoyment.

Legend Sh creates shelter for fauna Note: Heights are not absolute. N nectar plants Some people are allergic to I insect attracting plants red-flowering and/or prickly Be native bee plants or spikey plants. Bu native butterfly plants * Griffin quoted in Benson et al S seed plants (1990) p148. F fleshy fruit plants H hardy 02 Large Medium Trees 03

Sydney Red Gum (Angophora costata) Lillypilly (Acmena smithii) Beautiful contorted limbs. Smooth pink Cinnamon coloured bark. Dense foliage. bark shed in summer exposing salmon Shiny dark green leaves, tapering to colour. Leaves opposite and aromatic. a point. Pink new growth. Clusters of Creamy blossoms in October-January. whitish flowers in Spring. Attractive pink- Ribbed fruit. Sun. Fast-growing. Sandy soil. purple fruit in Winter. Sun to shade. Moist To 25m. N, I, S. (AK) soil. 7-12m but to 20m in rainforest gullies. Sh, S, F. (AK)

Coachwood ( apetalum) Coastal () Erect of rainforest gullies. Smooth Erect tree with rough grey bark. Dark grey bark mottled with lichen. Large green leathery leaves, whitish and hairy on serrated green leaves, pinkish new growth. under-surface. Lemon-yellow flower spike Small white flowers in Spring followed by mainly January-June, followed by woody showy red calyx early Summer. Sheltered cone. Sun. Sandy soil. Tolerates salt spray. position. Moist soil. To 25m. I. (AK) To 16m. N, I, S. (AK)

Grey Gum ( punctata) Scribbly Gum () Beautiful gum with matt steel-grey bark Smooth white to yellowish bark with with patches of pink, orange or cream. grey mottling and ‘scribbles’ from moth White blossoms December-April. Sun. larvae. White blossoms Autumn-Spring. Sandy soil often on clay interface. Sun. Fast-growing. Sandy soil. To 15m. 10-25m. I, S. (AK) I, S. (AK)

Silvertop Ash () Peppermint (Eucalyptus Coarse dark bark on trunk, smooth white piperita) Graceful tree with grey rough- upper branches, young branchlets red. barked trunk, smooth white limbs, White blossoms September-December. dangling strips of bark. Leaves have strong Sun. Well-drained soil. 6-25m. I, S. (AK) peppermint smell. White flowers early Summer. Sun. Sandy soil. To 15m. I, S. (AK)

Red Bloodwood (Corymbia gummifera) Cheese Tree (Glochidion ferdinandi) Tree with rough scaly brown bark on Tree of sheltered gullies. Soft shiny dark all limbs. Produces red resin (kino) from green leaves, minute green flowers, pale injured parts. Large cream ‘perfumed’ green to pink lobed fruit resembling tiny blossoms Summer-Autumn. Large cheeses, ripe December-April. Sun/shade. urn-shaped ‘gumnut’. Full/partial sun. Fast-growing. Moist sandy soil. 8-15m. Poor sandy soil. To 25m. N, I, S. (AK) S, F. (JM) 04 Small Trees 05

Black She-Oak (Allocasuarina littoralis) Black Wattle (Callicoma serratifolia) Graceful tree with fissured, corky bark, Attractive large spreading rounded fine grey-green foliage. Male and female or small tree. Leaves dark green, toothed, flowers on separate trees. Cylindrical whitish below, bronze young growth. flat-topped woody cone. Fast-growing. Flowers cream fluffy balls October- Full/partial sun, sandy soil. 4-10m. S. (LP) November. Sun/shade. Sheltered. Moist sandy soil. 5-10m. I, Bu. (WCC)

Dwarf Apple (Angophora hispida) Mueller’s Cyprus (Callitris muelleri) Large rounded grey-green leaves, new Slender Cyprus, dense dark green foliage. growth reddish with red hairs. Dense Woody male and female cones. Full/ clusters of large cream blossoms partial sun. Sandy soil. 3-8m. Sh, S. (AK) November-January. Sun. Sandy soil. 3-5m. N, I, S. (AK)

Grey Myrtle () Christmas Bush (Ceratopetalum Graceful, pendulous small tree. Aromatic gummiferum) Erect small tree, leaves leaves dull green, new growth pinkish, trifoliate, serrated. Tiny white flowers hairy. Small cream blossoms November- November, showy red calyxes remain December. Partial sun/shade. Sandy soil. in Summer. Slow-growing. Sun to shade. 4-10m. (MC) Well-drained sandy soil. 4-8m. (Mature trees in sheltered gullies to 25m) I. (LP)

Heath-leaved Banksia (Banksia Blueberry Ash (Elaeocarpus reticulatus) ericifolia) A beautiful rounded shrub Erect small tree, dark green toothed or small tree with dense foliage. Tiny leaves which turn red before falling. crowded dark green leaves. Large orange Pretty fringed white flowers November- perfumed flower spikes with red-black December. Attractive shiny blue berries styles April-August. Winter food for Autumn-Winter. Sun/part shade. Moist honeyeaters. Full/partial sun. Sandy soil. sandy soil. 4-10m. I, S, F. (AK) 2-5m. N, I, Be, S. (AK)

Old Man Banksia () River () Gnarled, contorted tree. Large Erect with dense drooping foliage. Leaves grey-green aromatic flower spike slender, often toothed. Flowers creamy December-March, then woody cone. white December-January. Sun/part shade. Leaves leathery, serrated, paler green Sandy soil. To 4m. N, I (JH) undersurface. Full/partial sun. Sandy soil. 4-10m. Sh, N, I, S. (AK) 06 Tall Shrubs Medium Shrubs 07 over 3m 1.5 – 3m

Pink Spider Flower ( sericea) Sunshine Wattle (Acacia terminalis) Rounded shrub. Stiff leaves with pointed A beautiful open shrub. Leaflets dark tips and fine silky hairs underneath. green. Flowers showy pale yellow balls Attractive pink flowers July-November. in clusters late Summer and Winter. Full/partial sun. Well-drained sandy soil. Attractive red-brown seed pods. Full/ 2-4m. I, H. (JH) partial sun. Sandy soil. 1.5-2 or 3m. I, S. (AK)

Finger () Prickly Moses (Acacia ulicifolia) Attractive rounded tall forest form has Wiry rounded shrub with small fine narrow stiff grey-green leaves. Tiny white prickly foliage. Solitary cream flower flowers in clusters in leaf axils September- heads. Autumn-Winter. Partial sun. October. Woody fruit. Full/partial sun. Sandy soil. 1.5-3m. Sh, I, S. (AK) Sandy soils. To 4m. S, H. (JH)

Tick Bush (Kunzea ambigua) Hair-pin Banksia () Tall spreading shrub. Tiny crowded leaves. Rounded shrub. Tough narrow leaves Fluffy white flowers October-November. finely toothed at apex. Golden-yellow to Full/partial sun. Sandy soils. Typical ridge- orange flower spikes with red-black styles. top plant. 2-4m. Sh, N, I, Bu. (JH) March-September. Sun to shade. Sandy soil (prefers moist). To 2m. N, I, Be, S. (AK)

Graceful Bush-Pea ( flexilis) Narrow-leaved Bottlebrush Beautiful erect tall shrub, leaves small flat (Callistemon linearis) Erect with and soft. Showy small yellow pea flowers stiff rough narrow leaves. Bright red with red markings August-October. Part bottlebrush flowers in October. Full/ shade. Sandy soil. To 4m. I, Be, Bu. (JH) partial sun. Moist sandy or clay soils. 1.5-2m. N, I, S. (AK)

Pine-leaf Geebung ( pinifolia) Eggs and Bacon (Dillwynia retorta) Spreading shrub with crowded -like Erect or spreading shrub. Short fine leaves. Golden-yellow flowers along twisted leaves. Yellow pea flowers with stem at ends of branches which droop red markings July-September. Full/partial gracefully March-May. Branches of edible sun. Sandy soil. 1.5-2m. 1.5-3m. I, Be, Bu. green (tart) to purple fruit. Full/partial sun. (WCC) Sandy soil. 2-4m. I, Be, F, H. (LP) Grey Spider Flower () Scaly Phebalium (Phebalium squamulosum) Erect shrub, small stiff hairy grey leaves. Lovely erect or spreading shrub. Leaf form Beautiful flowers, grey (rusty hairs outside, variable, shiny above, brownish scales and grey inside) in dense terminal heads at silvery hairs below. Scented cream-pale end of stems. August-November. Sun. yellow flower heads in Spring. Full/partial Sandy soil. To 1.5m. N, S. (AK) sun. Sandy soil. 1.5-2m. (AK)

White Spider Flower (Grevillea Large-leaf Bush-Pea (Pultenaea linearifolia) Graceful spreading shrub daphnoides) Erect shrub, wedge-shaped with long narrow leaves, silky hairy below. leaves with pointed tips. Dense heads of White pendulous flowers July-October yellow pea flowers with red markings, (but most of year). Very hardy. Sun. Spring-early Summer. Partial sun/shade. Sandy soil. To 2m. N, H, S. (JM) Sandy soil. 2-3m. I, Be, Bu. (AB)

Red Spider Flower () Fine-leaf Bush-Pea (Pultenaea stipularis) Erect to spreading shrub. Variable leaf A most beautiful erect shrub, crowded colour grey to mid-green, hairy below. long slender leaves. Brown stipules on Drooping bright crimson flowers June- stem. Dense terminal heads of yellow September. Sun. Sandy soil. 1.5-2m. pea flowers August-October. Partial sun/ N, H, S. (JH) shade. Sandy well-drained soil. To 2m. I, Be, Bu. (JH)

Drumsticks ( anethifolius) Woolly Pomaderris (Pomaderris Erect shrub with thin finely-divided leaves. lanigera) Erect or rounded shrub. Yellow flower head (of tiny flowers Leaves dull green, silvery hairs above, surrounded by ) September- rusty below. Rusty hairs on branches, November. Round woody cones. Sun. leaf stalks and . Tiny yellow Sandy soil. 1.5-2m. I, H. (AK) flowers borne in clusters above leaves. August-September. Partial sun/shade. Moist sandy soil. 2-3m. I, Bu. (AK)

Mountain Devil ( formosa) Common Hop Bush (Dodonaea Open, spreading shrub. Stiff slender triquetra) Erect shrub with broad soft olive-green leaves with sharp points. mid-green leaves. Very attractive three- Spectacular terminal cluster of red tubular winged fruits, red or (mostly) green in flowers attractive to Eastern Spinebills. Spring and Summer. Full/partial sun. September-May (and most of year). Sandy soil. To 2m. S. (AK) Woody fruit with two horns. Sun/part shade. Sandy soil. 1.5-2m. Sh, N, H. (AK)

Paperbark Tea-tree (Leptospermum Everlasting, Paper Daisy (Ozothamnus trinervium) Beautiful tea-tree with flaky diosmifolium) Erect shrub with small bark. Small mid-green leaves. Large white dark green leaves. Dense clusters of flowers in Spring. Woody . Sun/ tiny white flowers surrounded by white part shade. Sandy soil. To 3m. I, Be. (JH) papery bracts. Spring-Summer. Sun/light shade. Sandstone and clay soils. Good . To 2.5m.Bu, Be, H. (AK) 10 Herbs and Shrubs 11 to 1.5m

Sweet-scented Wattle (Acacia Dampiera (Dampiera stricta) suaveolens) Slim, open shrub, grey-green Scrambling or erect herb, leaves thick foliage with angular stems, scented cream rough and slightly toothed, mauve to fluffy balls in Winter. Attractive blue-green blue flowers with yellow throat. Suckers. seed pods. Full/partial sun. Sandy soil. Spring-early Summer. Partial sun/shade. To 1.5m. I, S. (JH) To 40cm. (JH)

Flannel Flower (Actinotus helianthi) Native Fuschia ( longiflora) Attractive grey-green divided leaves. Graceful shrub with small tough heart- Tiny flowers in centre knob surrounded shaped leaves, sharply pointed. Beautiful by white -like bracts. Whole plant red tubular flowers with white tips hang in covered with fine hairs. Spring flowering. rows from stem. Spring-Summer. Sun/part Treat as an annual. Sun. Dry sandy or shade. Attracts Eastern Spinebills. Moist rocky soil. 0.5-1m. I. (AK) sandy soil. To 1.5m. N, Be. (JH)

River Rose (Bauera rubioides) Rusty (Lasiopetalum ferrugineum) Dense shrub, small dark green leaves hug Small erect shrub with dense rusty hairs tangled stems. Flowers mostly bright pink beneath dark green leaves sheltering (can be white, pale or deep pink). Spring- clusters of cream flowers. The petals are Summer. Sun/part shade. Moist sandy soil. covered with rusty hairs outside and To 1.5m. I. (LP) cream hairs inside. Spring. Full/partial sun. To 1.5m. (AK)

Pinnate Boronia (Boronia pinnata) Rice Flower (Pimelia linifolia) Dark green, divided aromatic leaves, lovely Graceful erect shrub, soft thin leaves, tiny pale to deeper pink flowers (4 petals), white flowers in dense terminal heads. Spring. Sun/part shade. Moist sandy soil. July-October. Sun. Sandy soil. 50cm-1m. To 1.5m. I. (AK) I, Bu. (JH)

Crowea ( saligna) Black-eyed Susan (Tetratheca ericifolia) Small slender erect shrub, leaves aromatic, A small rounded shrub with linear leaves shiny mid-green. Pretty rose-pink flowers in whorls around stem. Pretty, drooping (5 petals). January-June. Full/partial sun. rose-pink flowers with dark centre, Spring. Well-drained sandy soil. To 1.0m. S. (MC) Partial sun. Sandy soil. To 50cm. (AK) 12 Climbers (fences) 13 and Scramblers (ground cover)

Apple Berry (Billardiera scandens) Golden Guinea Flower (Hibbertia A light climber with pale green hairy scandens) Vigorous climber or scrambler. leaves. Cream bell-like flowers in Spring. Mid-green slightly fleshy leaves, large Green oblong furry fruits ripening to golden yellow flowers in Spring and purple. Partial sun/shade. Sandy/clay Summer. Red fruits. Resists salt spray. soils. N, S, F. (LP) Full sun/shade. Rich or sandy soils. I, Bu, F, H. (JH)

Native Grape (Cissus hypoglauca) Dusky Coral Pea (Kennedia rubicunda) Vigorous woody vine with large waxy Vigorous climber, with rusty hairs on dark green leaflets. Tiny yellow flowers underside of leaflets. Large bright red pea in Summer. Black edible grape-like fruit. flowers in Spring and Summer. Full sun/ Suit fences, pergolas. Partial sun/shade. shade. Sandy soil. Suit fences, or ground Moist soils. Sh, S, F, H. (AB) cover. N, I, Be, H. (JH)

Wombat Berry (Eustrephus latifolius) Wonga Wonga Vine (Pandorea A light climber with zigzag wiry stems, pandorana) Vigorous climber with woody light green leaves. Insignificant white stems, for fences, pergolas. Dark green flowers in Spring. Bright orange berries. divided leaves. Beautiful sprays of creamy Partial sun/shade. Moist sandy soils. tubular flowers with mauve throats. Partial F, H. (JH) sun/shade. Sandy soil. Sh, I, H. (LP)

False Sarsaparilla (Hardenbergia violacea) A scrambler or climber with tough dark grey-green leaves and small deep purple pea flowers in Spring. Best in full sun on sandy or clay soils. Suit fences. Sh, I, Be. (AK)

Twining Guinea Flower (Hibbertia dentata) A beautiful weak climber, dark green leaves which are bronze when young. Bright yellow flowers in Spring and early Summer. Sheltered position on sandstone and clay soils. I. (AK) 14 Tufted Plants Grasses and 15 ground covers

Blue Flax Lilly (Dianella caerulea) Not all Ground Covers are prostrate. (local species, var. producta, has dark See also Ferns, Tufted Plants and green leaves arising from sprawling woody Scramblers. Some shrubs are also stems). Long flowering stems bear dark dense to the ground. blue flowers with yellow , then deep blue berries. September-November. Sun/shade. Sandstone and clay soils. To 1.0m. Sh, S, F. (AK)

Saw Sedge (Gahnia spp.) Kidney Weed (Dichondra repens) Large leafy sedge to 2m, sharp leaf edges. A creeping herb with kidney-shaped Tall flower spike with attractive small nuts. leaves. White flowers in Spring and G. erythrocarpa – red-brown nut in blackish Summer. Likes shady positions on a spikelet. Dry sandy soil. G. melanocarpa – range of soil types. (AB) black nut in red-brown spikelet. G. sieberana – red nut in dark brown spikelet. Both moist sandy soil. S, Bu. (AK)

Common Rush (Juncus usitatus) Weeping Grass (Microlaena stipoides) Dense clump of arching cylindrical stems. A slender grass with nodding spikelets Small cream flowers and red-brown nutty to 70cm. dark grey green with rough capsules. A range of moist soils. Full/partial feel. A lawn substitute but may become sun. To 1.0m. May regenerate naturally. invasive. Sun/shade. Sandstone and clay Sh, S, Bu. (AK) soils. S, Sh. (AK)

Mat Rush (Lomandra longifolia) Basket Grass (Oplismenus spp.) Deep green long strap-like leaves with Light green spreading grass. Very soft. rough ends. Prickly flower spikes with lots A lawn substitute but very invasive. of tiny fragrant cream flowers in Spring. Sun/shade. S, Sh. (AK) Full/partial sun. To 1.0m. Sh, I, Bu, S, H. (WCC)

Leafy Purple Flag (Patersonia glabrata) Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra A tufted herb of stiff grass-like leaves, formerly australis) Attractive tufting grass with short-lived bluish-purple iris-like to about 1.0m. Leaves slender, light green. flowers in September. Full/partial sun. Long flowering stems with clusters of 20cm. I, Bu. (JM) brown and purple spikelets. Full/partial sun. Sandstone or clay soils. Sh, Bu, S. (JM) 16 Ferns Further information

Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium Books Bookshops australasicum) Long green fronds radiating For plants and gardening books: from the centre. Ephiphyte growing on Robinson, Les. 2003. Field Guide Florilegium, The Garden Bookstore logs, tree trunks or rocks. Shady protected to The Native Plants of Sydney. (corner of Derwent and Mitchell positions. (AK) Revised 3rd edn. Kangaroo Press, Kenthurst. Streets, Glebe), and the Royal Botanic Gardens Bookshop. Fairley, Alan. 2001. Wildflowers of Sydney and Adjoining Areas. For fauna books: the Australian Bloomings Books, Melbourne. Museum Shop. Gristle Fern (Blechnum cartalagineum) See also the Sustainability Section Wrigley, John W. & Fagg, M. 2003. A harsh fern forming tufts to 1.0m high. at Artarmon Library, Elizabeth Australian Native Plants. 5th edn. Young fronds are a pretty pink. Has short Street, Artarmon. creeping rhizome. Protected positions on Reed New Holland, . sandstone. Sh, H. (AK) Peate, Natalie, Macdonald, G Garden Visits & Talbot, A. 2006. Grow What Where. 3rd edn. Bloomings Open Garden Scheme Books, Melbourne. www.opengarden.org.au Willoughby City Council Spring Benson, Doug & Howell, J. 1990. False Bracken Fern (Calochlaena dubia) Festival Phone (02) 9777 1000 Graceful soft light green fronds (Bracken Taken for Granted: The Bushland is dark green and stiff) to 1.5m. Sheltered of Sydney and its Suburbs. Kangaroo Bushland Reserves in Castlecrag, positions. Moist soils on sandstone. Fronds Press, Kenthurst. Middle Cove and Castle Cove. used by Ringtail Possums to build their Burton, Andy. 2004. Birds of dreys (nests). Sh, H. (MC) Willoughby: Survey Update 2004. Acknowledgements Willoughby City Council. This brochure has been produced by the Castlecrag Progress Websites Association, with the assistance Rough Treefern (Cyathea australis) of an Envirofund Grant from A very slow growing tree fern with a Australian Plant Society (APS) Willoughby City Council. stout dark brown trunk. Wiry projections www.austplants-nsw.org.au Information was compiled by Gay at base of stalk. A gully species. (MC) The Australian Museum Birds Spies. Plant details were sourced in Backyards Program from Robinson (2003), Wrigley et www.birdsinbackyards.net al (2003) and Peate et al (2006). Know Your Garden’s Natives Photographs supplied by Adam www.knowyourgardensnatives.org Burrowes (AB), Adrienne Kabos Rasp Fern (Doodia aspera) International Environmental Weed (AK), Jude Morris (JM), Jacqui An erect fern growing in tufts of harsh Foundation www.iewf.org Hickson (JH), Lyndall Pickering dark green fronds to 40cm high. Young , Mosman Council , The Australian Native Bee (LP) (MC) fronds are rosy pink. Short creeping Willoughby City Council . Research Centre (WCC) rhizome. Mainly protected positions. www.aussiebee.com.au Designed by Amanda Lo. Sh, H. (MC)

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