A local plant species renowned for its grace and resilience has been selected as a companion plant for some delicate beauties due to arrive at the Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden later this year.
The Acacia pendula (Weeping Myall - wattle) belongs to the sub-family Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae. It grows to roughly 10-12m high and has a graceful, weeping habit. Its striking blue-grey foliage makes it an attractive ornamental plant.
The Acacia pendula is tough and long lived. It can tolerate heavy soils and waterlogged sites but it is also highly drought tolerant. There are excellent examples of Acacia pendula in the Biodiversity Garden and one at the north east corner of Elizabeth Park next to the mosaic.
Eleven Acacia pendulas will be planted just outside the fence on the west side of Shoyoen. They will provide shelter for new cherry trees. Three Prunus × yedoensis (the Tokyo Cherry) will be planted in Shoyoen later this year, after the Acacia pendulas have become established.
This is not the first time that wattles have been used to provide shelter for more delicate plants in the Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden. The Dubbo Christian School planted 200 local wattles in the Oasis Valley to protect the rainforest species until they became established. This has been very successful.
Globally, companion planting for pest control, pollination, shelter, providing habitat for beneficial creatures and maximizing use of space, has been practised in one form or another, for thousands of years.
One of the best ways of keeping a garden healthy is to make sure that it is as bio-diverse as possible. A broad selection of companion plants which ensure the availability of flowers all year will attract birds, pollinating insects (like butterflies, bees, and native wasps), reptiles, beetles and all sorts of helpful garden buddies.
By Ian McAlister & Karen Hagan