The cool forests surrounding the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden may not seem like the perfect place to grow plants only found in tropical Far North Queensland, however, thanks to a climatic quirk and the care of dedicated volunteers, Australia's native rhododendrons have found a new home for themselves here in Victoria.
While there are more than 1,000 species of rhododendrons found throughout the world, there are only two species of native rhododendrons found in Australia (Rhododendron lochiae and Rhododendron viriosum), and both are at the centrepiece of the Australian Cloud Forest Collection, the newest feature garden at the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden.
A rhododendron is a flowering shrub known for its vibrant blooms and evergreen leaves. Rhododendrons produce clusters of colourful flowers in spring, attracting a range of pollinators and are commonly found in temperate regions around the world.
What makes Australian rhododendrons special?
Photo: The vibrant red flowers of Australia's native rhododendrons are a sight to behold.
Both of Australia's native rhododendrons have elongated red flowers, and are found in extremely isolated areas, in the cloud forests of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, high up on the summits of the tropical mountains surrounding Cairns in Far North Queensland.
According to the Australian Rhododendron Society Victorian branch president Andrew Rouse, while replicating the necessary climactic conditions to grow the Australian rhododendrons is difficult, the cool-temperate rainforest of the Dandenong Ranges National Park has proven to be the perfect spot.
"The native rhododendrons grow in rocky boulder fields at the summits of mountains in tropical Australia. It's a really unusual climate – it's tropical and humid, but high elevation, so it can get quite cold. It can be hot and sunny one minute, and then clouds or fog roll in with wild winds the next," Andrew said.
"So while it's a very unusual climate to replicate in Queensland, it's quite similar to the climate here in the Dandenong Ranges – and they grow really well."
"The temperate rainforest of the Dandenong Ranges ensures there's plenty of moisture and humidity in the air. It's also cooler up here than it is in Melbourne, and it's not uncommon for low-flying clouds or fog to enshroud the area, so some of the conditions are actually quite similar to where the native rhododendrons are found in the wild."
The Australian Rhododendron Society
The Australian Rhododendron Society is a volunteer group formed in 1960 as a way for people with a particular interest in rhododendrons to connect. The Victorian branch is based at the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden where it helps look after a staggering 15,000 rhododendrons, making it the largest collection of Australian and overseas raised hybrids of rhododendrons that cannot be replaced, re-bred or re-imported.
Andrew, who has been involved with the Australian Rhododendron Society for "20-something" years, said the botanic garden is now home to "one of the best collections in the southern hemisphere" and is vital for conservation as "a lot of these plants are now threatened" in the wild.
