A blaze of colour is radiating from the Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden as the temperatures drop.
Multiple showy conflagrations are being provided by the Kniphofias in the Sensory Gardens. Kniphofias are a genus of flowering plants in the family Xanthorrhoeaceae and are commonly known as red hot pokers, torch lilies and knofflers. There are roughly 70 species of Kniphofias and they are native to Africa.
Kniphofias are distantly related to the native grass trees (Xanthorrhoea johnsonii and Xanthorrhoea glauca) also grown in the Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden.
Those following the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil may be interested to know that the internationally famous Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx (1909 –1994) considered Knipholias useful as an architectural statement and for their colourful impact. Marx had a great influence on tropical garden design in the 20th century and his famous works include the Kuala Lumpur City Centre Park, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The flowering spikes are also a big favourite with native Blue-faced Honeyeaters. Visitors to the garden towards the end of the day may be lucky to observe the honeyeaters performing acrobatics as they position themselves upside down to sip the copious nectar from the flowers.
In Shoyoen, a flash of red foliage is being provided by the dwarf cultivar Berberis thunbergia 'Little Favourite' . Berberis thunbergia (Japanese barberry) is native to Japan and Eastern Asia.
Also in Shoyoen, blooms are appearing like glowing embers in the flowering quinces Chaenomeles japonica and Chaenomeles speciosa. Chaenomeles are part of the rose family, Rosaceae.
The genus name Chaenomeles, Greek for "split fruit, or split apple" describes the way the five celled fruit opens when ripe. The apple-shaped golden fruit is called Kusa-boke in Japanese.
Ignite your imagination at the Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden.
By Ian McAlister & Karen Hagan