When is a hibiscus not a hibiscus?

Alyogyne hakeifolia

When it is an Alyogyne. This genus is closely related to the hibiscus, and used to be included with them. 

They are only found in Australia, with Alyogyne hakeifolia usually found in the desert conditions of Western and South Australia. However, as you can see, it is growing very happily near the drinking fountain at Peacehaven.

Close up of flower

 According to the Australian Native Plant Society it has no general common name, but I have heard it called Red-centred Hibiscus. It has a long flowering season from November to March. There are mauve, yellow and pink forms. The flowers are tulip-shaped, not opening like a true hibiscus, and the leaves needle-shaped like a Hakea. Hence its name, hakeifolia.  


A well drained, sheltered, sunny spot would be a perfect place in your garden for this medium-sized shrub.

What's flowering this week?

This attractive flowering bush is covered in blooms at the moment. It is the lovely Crinkle Bush, Lomatia siaifolia. You'll find it along the eastern fence flanking the dry rainforest section beyond the Old Dairy. 

It has grevillea like leaves and is of the same family, Proteaceae. It is long-lived and is ideal for an informal hedge, flowering all through summer. It can be pruned to make it bushier. It grows naturally in the Hampton-Pechey area. 

Crinkle Bush, Lomatia silaifolia

Flower spike

Individual flowers

It can be propagated from seed or cutting. Is tolerant of dry periods, light frosts and recovers after bushfire.


There are a few young plants in the nursery just ask for them.


More can be found about this shrub here: http://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/2010/12/crinkle-bush.html

Australian Harebell

The Australian Harebell, Isotoma axillaris. 

Look what's available in the Peacehaven nursery this week: the Australian Harebell, Isotoma axillaris. 

It is one of my favourite wildflowers, flowering as early as October, right through to May.

Here are some tips from the Australian National Botanic Gardens website: It grows in damp crevices or shallow soil in rocky areas, and is particularly suitable for planting in rockeries, containers and native cottage gardens. Isotoma axillaris is easily propagated and requires minimal maintenance, yet flowers profusely and for many months. The plants thrive in well-drained, humus-enriched soil and full sun, but will tolerate dappled shade. They give lasting flower displays in return for very little work. http://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2008/isotoma-spp.html  

Be careful when preparing cuttings. The stems exude a white latex that may cause irritation to sensitive skin. However the sap seems to be equally distasteful to potential herbivores.

Isotoma: from iso, meaning equal, and toma, meaning a section, referring to the equal lengths of the corolla segments, helping to distinguish Isotoma from the genus Lobelia.


axillaris: borne in the axil, referring to the position of the flowers in the axils of leaves.

Crows Ash

The Crows Ash Flindersia australia is one of the Park's iconic trees. It is a wonderful specimen that stands alone in the south-west section of the park.

The Crows Ash in Peacehaven Botanic Park

It gives a wonderful amount of shade and is an ideal tree for a large block. However it takes some time for it to grow as large as the one in Peacehaven which is estimated to be about 150 - 200 years old.
The Park's botanic logo is based on the lovely capsule. 

Crows Ash capsule

It is also a host plant for the beautiful Orchard Swallowtail Papilio aegeus caterpillar.

 

Orchard Swallowtail larva

Male Orchard Swallowtail

Native Plumbago

The Native Plumbago, Plumbago zeylanica, is flowering in the Dry Rainforest section of the park after being hit hard this winter. This delightful little plant is very similar to the plumbago we grow in our gardens, the introduced Plumbago auriculata. Like many exotic species the South African plumbago can become a nuisance with its the spreading suckers. 

Plumbago zeylanica

The Australian plumbago has a lower, less invasive growing habit. In the wild it will grow in dappled to fairly heavy shade, so is good for a ground cover around shrubs and trees in your garden.

For those who like to attract butterflies to their garden the Native Plumbago has other advantages. It is a host plant for our little Plumbago Blue Butterfly. The flowers are the food  for the larvae (caterpillars), and many butterflies are attracted to their nectar.

Plumbago Blue Butterfly, 
Leptotes plinius

The caterpillars of the Plumbago Blue are very cryptic and difficult to find, but the butterflies are usually fluttering around any plumbago plant. The male butterfly has a bluish sheen which is usually only seen when flying. The female has a slight wash of blue but more distinctive brown and white markings which may be the cause for their other name, Zebra Blue. The beauty of this butterfly is their underwings, as you can see by the picture taken in a Toowoomba garden. (Remember to right click on the image if you want to see an enlargement in a separate tab.)

If you want to know more about either the plant or the butterfly, please click on either of these links:

Brisbane Insects, Plumbago Blue  

Native Plumbago in Franke Scrub

Spring is here

Scaly-breasted Lorikeets at their hole

The lorikeets are very active in the park at the moment. The mature trees are a haven for breeding birds. A pair of Scaly-breasted Lorikeets regularly use a hollow in the eucalypt on the eastern side of the lake.


These little birds have to compete with the more bumptious, and therefore more noticeable, Rainbow Lorikeets. They are doing well at Peacehaven.

National Tree Day

A great success

Enjoying National Tree Day