Australian Garden

The finest flowering display occurs in early spring, beginning with the blooming of the acacias and continuing on through the flowering of the kangaroo paws, melaleucas, wax flowers, and blue hibiscus. More than 100 of Australia’s some 700 Eucalyptus species grow in the garden. The endangered Eucalyptus woodwardii has one of the most beautiful flowers of all the smaller, shrubby eucalyptus called mallees. The bottle brushes (Callistemon spp.), named for their red brush-like flowers, are relatives of the eucalyptus. The kangaroo paws (Anigozanthos) have fuzzy flowers that sit atop tall stalks. The mint bush (Prostanthera) has aromatic leaves and profuse masses of purple blossoms. Among the melaleucas represented is the chenille honey-myrtle, with snowy white flowers that bloom in early summer. Acacias range from trees to small shrubs. Most are festooned with fragrant yellow flowers in late winter.

The Australian Garden Collections

Cycads - Four of the eleven genera of cycads are found in Australia, though only Macrozamia is grown in The Huntington’s Australian Garden.

Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) - Eucalypts are perhaps the plants most associated with Australia, with over 700 species found in virtually every habitat except rainforest and some desert regions. are exclusively Australian except for a few species in New Guinea and the Philippines. The tallest flowering plant in the world is , specimens of which have been recorded at over 300 feet tall.