Arid Garden

Visit the Arid Garden

Wander the gentle curves of this masterfully designed garden.

Here, you’ll discover a variety of strong, safe and beautiful arid plants, perfectly displayed. Stand among the tall or focus on the small as you notice exquisite patterns, curious shapes, unexpected textures, and vibrant flowers.

Creative storytelling throughout the garden reveals nature’s clever design. Many of the plants in this collection have been donated by the Field family – theirs is a beautiful story about childhood wonder and the power of collecting. Plan to stay awhile for there is much to discover.

Connecting to Country 

This Collection is on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people. As you explore the Gardens you will see four colours and four words in Woi-wurrung language on the signs to reflect the Traditional Owners’ connection to Country and this particular place. The word narnerbunnul refers to the high points in landscape in Woi-wurrung and the signs in this area have orange highlights.

Young botanists 

A very dry quiz

Search the story signs in the Arid Garden to find answers to these 5 questions

1. What two things make a cactus a cactus?

2. What two things do spines do?

3. Which pollinating animals am I attracting if my flower is white and I flower at night?

4. What is the name of the oldest cactus in the Arid Garden?

5. Which cactus will eventually become the tallest in this garden?

 

Listen to Sonica Botanica: The Arid Garden 

Take a seat by the cactus, pop in your headphones and hear fascinating stories of the provenance and design of the the Arid Garden in Episode 1 of Sonica Botanica (20m 33s).

Listen to Episode 1

Want to know more? 

Discover more about the curation of the Cacti and Succlulent collection at Melbourne Gardens.

Cacti and Succulents

Explore the Arid Garden

Sculptures and stories  

Three clever sculptures (titled Safe, Strong and Beautiful) reveal the unseen and allow you to safely explore the untouchable, while dozens of short stories reveal nature's clever design to deal with unbearable heat 

Patterns in the pavement 

Get creative with paper and pencil to make rubbings of nine leaf arrangement patterns embedded in the pavement, then find the nearby plant to match each design. My Field Notes is a booklet designed especially for pattern finding and rubbing. Pick one up - they're free from the Visitor Centre.

Each spiral design funnels every drop of moisture to a plant’s roots. How beautiful and clever is that! 

View Arid Garden on map