Arid Garden

The Arid Garden is designed to display a range of species with adaptations for survival under arid (dry) conditions and to maintain, develop and display arid species as a significant component of the Royal Botanic Gardens landscape.

The Arid Garden raises awareness of the unique function and form adaptations of succulent plants to survive arid conditions and highlights their use in the landscape.

• Key plants
• Curator notes
• History

Key plants

Cereus peruvianus

Large blue/green cactus, large white flowers in early summer.

Euphorbia splendens

Medium shrub with spiny stems, red flowers most of the year, semi-deciduous in winter.

Orbea variegata

Small ground cover succulent, flowers smell like rotting flesh, pollinated by flies.

Kalanchoe beharensis Felt bush

Medium to tall tree, large grey leaves that feel like felt to touch.

Myrtillocactus geometrizans

Large blue/green cactus, growth looks like clenched fists.

Sedum x rubrotinctum

Small ground cover succulent, foliage becomes bright red in dry conditions.

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Curator notes

1. It is a misconception that all succulents thrive in arid conditions. Some succulents i.e. echeverias will tolerate but certainly not thrive in extreme dry.
2. Often cacti will flower after rainfall when there has been a long dry period.
3. Most yuccas and agave will die after flowering but will produce pups (small plants) around its base to reproduce.

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History

• 1987 - Cacti and succulent garden assessed. Plants in poor health, rotting, dead or had fallen over.
  
• 1980s - Long-term development to convert Cacti and Succulent Garden into Arid Garden.
• • Theme list drafted by Peter Lumley (RBG Melbourne Botanist) and Michael Looker (Superintendent), including Australian plants, halophytes, ephemerals and xerophytic shrubs, African and American arid plants.
    
  • Development brief was that hard landscape remains the same and above theme used.
    
  • Friends of the RBG donated funds for new soil.
    
  • Soil depth increased to 30 cm, old soil dispersed, pond filled in (this area became the halophyte zone).
    
  • Collecting trips took place to Western Port Bay and to the Sunset Country and Mildura. 
  • Specimens donated to RBG Melbourne as part of this development from Collectors Corner and Robert Fields Cactus Garden.
    
• 1995 - Arid Garden was mulched with crushed stone from Yarra Valley Quarries.
  
• 1996 - Arid Garden mapped with AutoCAD system.
  
• 1997 - Large Pyrus pashia removed from front right hand side of the garden due to Fireblight outbreak.
  
• 2000 - Phytophthera spp. Agavaceae discovered, infected plants removed.
  
• 2001-02 - Cistus rockery planted out using succulent species and mulched with crushed stone from Yarra Valley Quarries to link with Arid Garden.
  

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