Acacia genistifolia
Spreading Wattle
("genistifolia" means leaves like a gentian)
Flowers are creamy yellow balls which appear from August to October, followed by pods which mature to a light reddish brown. Collect seed as it ripens, from late November through December. Watch carefully as seed is released 1-2 days after ripening. Cover seed with boiling water, and leave for 24 hours before sowing. Expect germination 2-5 weeks.
This open, spreading shrub likes the drier, well-drained soils away from the Creek. Foliage consists of modified leaves, or phyllodes. These phyllodes are sparse, rigid and needle-like, sometimes slightly curved, up to 3cm. long. The Spreading Wattle provides nectar and pollen for insects and birds, with its prickly foliage providing refuge for smaller species.
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Acacia paradoxa
Hedge Wattle or Kangaroo Thorn
("paradoxa" means unexpected, referring to the spines)
Bright golden-yellow flowers appear from August to November, followed by seed pods covered in whitish hairs. Seed is ripe late December to early January, and must be monitored closely as seed is released within a few days. Cover seeds with boiling water and leave for 24 hours before sowing. Expect germination 2-5 weeks later.
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Acacia verticillata
Prickly Moses
This open, spreading shrub or small tree with a slender trunk can grow up to 6m in height. It likes moisture with good drainage, so tends to grow close to, but not right on Watsons Creek. The arching branches are angular and ribbed, with the modified leaves or phyllodes growing straight off the branches in whorled groups of six. These sharply pointed phyllodes are 1-2cm. long, dull green and rigid, with a prominent central vein.
Prickly Moses flowers are light yellow and cylindrical, appearing from June to November. Dark brown seed pods ripen in December, and must be watched as seed is released within a few days. Cover seed with boiling water and leave for 24 hours before sowing. Expect germination 2-5 weeks. This is a great refuge plant for small birds.
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Acrotriche serrulata
Honey Pots
These slow growing shrubs have a prostrate habit, forming mats up to 75cm. across. Their small population is scattered through the drier areas. Leaves are narrow and hairy, up to 1cm. long, tapering to a point. Tiny green tubular flowers appear May to October clustered on old wood, mostly concealed by new leaf growth. The flowers produce copious quantities of nectar, which was used by the Wurundjeri for food and drink. Seed is produced in a tiny fleshy fruit about 5mm. across, which falls to the ground when ripe. This species of Acrotriche sets very little viable seed, and this only seems to germinate around the parent plant. Honey Pots can be propagated from cuttings of new growth.
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Cassinia aculeata
Common Cassinia or Dogwood
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Davesia leptophylla
Narrow Leaf Bitter Pea
This open, wiry shrub of 1-2m. in height, thrives in the drier, more open areas with plenty of sun. The leaves are long and narrow, up to 10cm. Yellow and red “egg and bacon” flowers appear in early to mid spring, followed by triangular seed pods. The seed pods turn brown and brittle with maturity, and are shed from the plant soon after ripening. Harvest when one or two pods have opened, monitoring plants from mid-December. This seed can be stored for long periods, and is suitable for direct sowing. Seed must be soaked in near boiling water for several hours before sowing. Expect germination in three to four weeks.
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Dillwynia glaberrima
Smooth Parrot Pea
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Gompholobium hueglii
Common Wedge Pea or Karalla
This open, spreading shrub grows in well-drained sunny positions around the School. Bluish-green leaves are divided into three pointed leaflets up to 25mm. long. Large, bright yellow pea-type flowers up to 4cm. across appear from September to February. The buds and the underside of the petals are olive green. Swollen oblong pods 10-15mm. long contain 3-6 small seeds which become hard and black with maturity. Most of the seed ripens from late December through January. It must be monitored carefully for collection, as it is released from the plant as soon as it is ripe. Soak seed in near boiling water for several hours before sowing.
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Kunzea ericoides
Burgan
The burgan is a coloniser of cleared or disturbed sites with plenty of moisture and sunshine. This dense shrub grows to 5m. high, with weeping branches. Dull green leathery leaves are about 5mm. long and 1-2mm. wide, with pointed tips. White flowers are borne in profusion from November through to February, followed by tiny woody seed capsules about 5mm. long and 3mm. wide. Unlike the tea-tree which holds its seed for many years, the Burgan releases its seed soon after maturity with the capsules falling off by the following flowering season. Collect seed as the capsules open, in late February and March. Surface sow, and expect germination 3-5 weeks later.
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Leucopogon virgatus
Common Bearded Heath
This low, heath-type shrub grows in well-drained, sunny locations either side of the Main Road. It has wiry red-brown branches, with spiky thick leaves 3-20mm. long. Flowers grow in dense clusters at the end of branches from July through to November. Each is about 3mm. long and 8mm. across, white to pinkish, tubular, with five hairy lobes.
The edible fruits are about 3mm. across, succulent and fleshy, turning from green to pale pink or yellow when mature. This species of Leucopogon has low seed set, and has proved very difficult to propagate due to its need to pass through the digestive system of a bird to break the dormancy. Once this is done, it must be grown in soil from under the parent plant.
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Pimelea humilis
Common Rice Flower
This small shrub of less than a 1m. in height can be either upright or prostrate. It grows in fairly moist, shady conditions. Young stems are hairy. Green to grey-green leaves are narrow and about 15mm. long. Flower heads appear from September to December. These consist of clusters of tubular creamy white flowers which are borne on the end of the stems. Although seed is produced, this plant tends to grow from suckers. It may require the heat and smoke from a bushfire to break seed dormancy, but experiments to duplicate these factors have met with little success. The Common Rice Flower can be grown from cuttings, which are slow to strike.
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Pomaderris aspera
Hazel Pomaderris
This tall shrub can grow up to 8m. high in moist locations near Watsons Creek. The bark is dark grey and smooth, with the young branches covered in fine hairs. Leaves are 6-14cm. long, 2-5cm. wide, dark green and wrinkled on top, pale green and furry with raised veins below. The leaves often show signs of being eaten by insects. Long, loose bunches of dull greenish-yellow flowers are born October through to December. Seed capsules 2mm. across develop in the flower tubes. Cut the clusters of capsules when brown and dry, in late December through to early January. Monitor carefully as the seed is released on maturity. Soak seed in boiling water for 10 minutes before sowing. The Hazel Pomaderris can also be successfully propagated from cuttings. Many insects breed on this plant, including the endangered Yellow Spot Jewel Butterfly.
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Olearia phlogopappa
Dusty Daisy Bush
Masses of daisy flower heads are produced from August to November. These are usually white, and occasionally pink, yellow or blue, with yellow centres. Check for seed ripeness from the end of November through December by shaking the branches. If it is mature, it will fall out. Collect by shaking over a bag, avoiding wet or windy conditions. Sow the fresh seed from autumn to spring by sprinkling on top of growing medium. Expect germination in 3-5 weeks. The Dusty Daisy Bush can also be grown from cuttings.
This fast growing shrub needs plenty of moisture and grows in the vicinity of Watsons Creek. It can reach a height of 3m. and a width of 2m. Oblong leaves are grey-green on top, and white and hairy underneath, with toothed edges and sunken veins, up to 8cm. long.
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