The Bog Gum (Eucalyptus kitsoniana)

As you descend towards the Red Sand Garden, you'll see the Bog Gum (Eucalyptus kitsoniana) emerging proudly through the decking. This critically endangered species is only found in fragmented locations on Victoria’s coast including between Yarram and Cape Otway, Mt Richmond near Portland and a few locations on Wilson's Promontory.  Its disparate distribution and distant relationship to all other eucalypts, make it a rare and unique treasure in Victoria’s flora. 

The Bog Gum is just one of the hundreds of threatened species that have found a home at Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne. The Australian Garden features over 100,000 plants from over 2000 plant varieties. Here you can see plants from the Australian Alps, the Grampians, temperate rainforests and even Mallee country, many of which are threatened in the wild.

With your support the team at the Gardens works tirelessly to protect Victoria’s unique flora to ensure threatened species like Eucalyptus kitsoniana have a fighting chance.  

Meet the Southern Brown Bandicoot

At Cranbourne Gardens we are lucky to be the custodians of a large population of endangered Southern Brown Bandicoots.

Fifty years ago, residents of south-east Melbourne would have often seen the long, pointy nose, humped back and stumpy tail of the Southern Brown Bandicoot, snuffling around searching for bugs and fungi to eat. As Greater Melbourne has grown, our now nationally endangered bandicoots are getting harder to find.

With a few small actions, we can all improve their chances of surviving and thriving in South-East Melbourne. Learn what we're doing and how you can help:

Southern Brown Bandicoot | Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

Raising Rarity

Extinction directly threatens more than 1500 Victorian plant species. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria can provide scientific and horticultural expertise to reduce this number, but sustainable plant conservation solutions can only be achieved through the engagement and involvement of the broader community.  Through Raising Rarity, its community -based outreach program, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria aims to achieve just that.

Raising Rarity works with volunteers, school groups, regional botanic gardens, local councils and members of the nursery industry to grow and display rare and threatened Victorian plants in accessible horticultural settings. The initiative aims to increase public knowledge, awareness and hands-on involvement in plant conservation.

Victorian Conservation Seedbank

In a pair of three-door freezers in the basement of the Herbarium at Melbourne Gardens is the Victorian Conservation Seedbank - Victoria’s primary facility for the conservation of the state’s most threatened plants. Its unassuming appearance belies its importance as a repository for seeds from Victorian plants for conservation and research.

The seedbank is our insurance policy, in case plant numbers in the wild are threatened. Indeed, it forms an important part of Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s bushfire response activities, which aim to prevent the extinction of fire-affected species and restore ecosystem biodiversity.

Orchid Conservation Program

Orchids have long captivated and intrigued plant lovers and researchers for their beauty and fascinating biology: all rely on a particular type of mycorrhizal fungi to germinate and they’re often pollinated by only one species of insect. Australia is home to more than 1,800 species of orchid with over 400 of those Victorian. Many occur nowhere else on Earth but sadly 17% of Australia’s threatened plants are orchids, more than any other plant family.

The Orchid Conservation Program’s award-winning team undertakes critical research on all aspects of orchid ecology, including pollination, mycorrhizal associations, propagation,  and reintroduction science. Learn more and support the program here:

Orchid Conservation | Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria