Wildflowers in bloom

Heath Teatree

(Leptospermumn myrsinoides) and
Love Creeper
(Comesperma volubile)

The Heath Teatree forms a soft, snowy carpet across most of the site. Beneath this, are the many shades of golden yellow and amber of numerous species of pea plants in flower, and the myriad colours of scattered treasures like lilies, Sundews, Greenhoods and other orchids. As you wander you will also find the stunning combination of the Heath Teatree acting as a climbing pole for the Love Creeper, a twining herb with few leaves but masses of delicate blue flowers.

Wedding Bush

(Ricinocarpos pinifolius)

A delightful spring highlight in the RBG Cranbourne is the Wedding Bush, a small shrub that produces masses of delicately scented flowers from September to mid November. The only one of Australia’s fifteen native Ricinocarpus species found in Victoria, the Wedding Bush has narrow leaves 40mm long and grows up to three metres tall with a spread of two metres. The plant produces many more male flowers than female, offering a superb extended floral display. The flowers have 4-6 pure white petals, which are rosy pink-tipped. Male flowers have a rich yellow centre of many stamens while females have a pale green ‘ball’ in the centre (the ovary).

You will find several fine specimens beside the paths in the Stringybark Picnic Area and many others are clearly visible from the tracks as domes of white blooms throughout the dryer heathland areas, almost all the way up to the Trig Point Lookout.

Eastern Bronze Caladenia

(Caladenia transitoria)

The Eastern Bronze Caladenia (Caladenia transitoria)is so named for its striking iridescent bronze colours. One plant of this spring-flowering orchid was first discovered at RBG Cranbourne in 1993 in dense heathland and was not sighted again until 2000 when five plants were found in the woodland. The following year over one hundred plants were found in the woodland area.

Considered uncommon in areas east of Melbourne, the Eastern Bronze Caladenia (Caladenia transitoria), is one of fifty orchid species so far found growing at Cranbourne - this represents 17% of the total number of Victorian species. Spring is the best time to find many of the orchids in flower at Cranbourne.

Naked Sun-orchid

(Thelymitra circumsepta)  

The Naked Sun-orchid (Thelymitra circumsepta) is a rare orchid that grows in wetlands at RBG Cranbourne. DNA research indicates the plants are genetically different from other isolated populations in Victoria, and the Cranbourne plants are subject to ongoing investigation to map their extent on the site.