Shady splendour: deep-dive into Melbourne Gardens’ Fern Gully
Melbourne Gardens’ Fern Gully is a summer sanctuary, providing the perfect microclimate for plants and visitors alike. Originally...
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Prickly Perfection: Meet Arid Garden Landscape Designer and Architect Andrew Laidlaw
From towering columnar cacti reminiscent of spaghetti western landscapes to small and jewel-like specimens boasting colourful whorls of...
A Summer Spectacle – Discover the Perennial Border
The Perennial Border is a seasonal must-see at Melbourne Gardens! Flowering throughout spring and summer, it boasts beautiful contrasting...
Picnic Perfection at Melbourne Gardens
There’s no better way to spend a lazy summer arvo than lounging in a comfy deck chair or lying on a picnic rug, surrounded by the sights,...
A Century in the Making: The Story of the Arid Garden
On your visit to the new Arid Garden at Melbourne Gardens, you’ll discover a remarkable collection of arid plants. From towering columnar...
Expert tips to Help Keep your Cacti and Succulents Looking Sharp
Be the best plant parent your cacti and succulents could ask for with these expert tips from Horticulturist Chris Jenek!
Illustrating Orchids: Meet Trace Balla
Trace Balla is an award-winning author and illustrator, known for her beautiful nature-journaling inspired children’s books. She is the...
Orchid Conservation 101
Australia is an orchid-rich country, with 95% of species found nowhere else in the world, and Victoria has arisen as an orchid hotspot,...
Life on the Line: The Rarest Orchids We’re Fighting to Save
Though every orchid species that the Orchid Conservation Program works with is endangered, some are so rare that they’re down to...
Unravelling the Hidden World of the Metallic Sun Orchid
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s Orchid Conservation team, led by Dr Noushka Reiter working with colleagues from RMIT and ANU, discovered...
Secret Sanctuary: The Orchid Conservation Program Shade Houses at Cranbourne Gardens
An abundant sea of colourful blooms, The Orchid Conservation Program’s shade houses at Cranbourne Gardens are a secret...
Keep Your Cut Flowers In Tip-Top Shape
Whether you’ve been sent a fragrant bunch of flowers as a lockdown pick-me-up, or you’ve decided to bring some vibrant spring blooms...
Meet Our Resident Wildlife Photographer, Ricardo Simao
If you’ve ever fallen in love with a photo of a cute critter on our Instagram or Facebook pages, chances are it was taken by the Manager...
Victoria Nature Festival
With Victoria Nature Festival, enjoying nature can still be part of each day from home! There are plenty of free, nature-based virtual...
We Have Liftoff! How the Team has been preparing the Gardens for Visitors
It’s not just flowers that are blooming throughout Melbourne and Cranbourne Gardens this spring; it’s hope. The weather is warmer, the...
Flower Pressing 101
Flower pressing is a fun, creative way to preserve your favourite spring blooms so that you can enjoy them year-round! All you need are...
Heavenly Herbs
From an in-depth look into the fascinating history of Melbourne Gardens’ aromatic Herb Garden, to tips and tricks for growing herbs at...
While Visitors are Away, the Animals Play at Cranbourne Gardens
While Melbourne and Cranbourne Gardens are temporarily closed, the cute critters that call Cranbourne Gardens home are enjoying the peace...
Help Your Garden Welcome Spring
The days are getting sunnier, the breeze is getting warmer, and it’s time to help your garden say hello to spring! Most of our gardens...
Get Creative with Plant Dyeing
Plant dyeing is an all-natural method of dyeing fabrics using pigments found in plants. All you need are some kitchen staples and fresh...
Why Houseplants are Great for Mental Health
Many studies have shown that humans as a whole are less stressed and generally healthier when we are close to plants. Houseplants can boost...
Build your own Terrarium
Terrariums are a low maintenance and eye-catching way to bring a little slice of nature indoors. Comprised of small and intricate plants...
Veggie Patch 101
More time at home is a great opportunity to get into the garden. Why not start producing some of your food, saving money and getting some...
Camellia Season has Arrived
As we enter July, camellia season has well and truly arrived at Melbourne Gardens! Revered across the globe, these brilliantly-coloured...
Paw-fection: Everything you need to know to grow Kangaroo Paws
Kangaroo Paws are a bright and beautiful staple of Cranbourne Gardens, with many of us growing these glorious Western Australian natives in...
Houseplant 101: Top Five Plant Parenting Tips
Spending more time at home has meant many of us have developed a newfound love for houseplants! As well as beautifying your living space,...
Home Brew: How to Make Tea from Your Backyard Herb Garden
For centuries, herbs have been grown for their delightful scent, delicious flavours and medicinal properties. If you’ve got a herb...
Plant With Us: A Step-by-Step Planting Guide from the Cranbourne Team
Join John Arnott, Manager Horticulture at Cranbourne Gardens, for a step-by-step planting of Eremophila ‘Murchison Magic’ in the Future...
New Board Members Appointed to Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria
Four new board members have been appointed to the Royal Botanic Gardens Board Victoria, by the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate...
Behind the Garden Gates: An interview with Tim Entwisle
We chatted to Head of the Gardens, Tim Entwisle, about exciting new developments, favourite species and conservation projects, and...
Nature Play at Home
Plant-dyed Playdough Easter eggs Try your hand at using plant pigments to colour playdough eggs this Easter, using ingredients from your...
Conserving The Queen of Sheba
Orchid researchers at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (RBGV) and Kings Park and Botanic Garden (KPBG) in Perth have together made a major...
Gardens to the Rescue! Saving the Exceptionally Rare Bog Willow-herb
Confined to a tiny section of moist, moss-covered rock and receiving just the right amount of backsplash from a subalpine waterfall on the...
Arid Garden Revival
An extensive rejuvenation project is underway for one of the most popular Living Collections at Melbourne Gardens, the Arid Garden.
Virtual Garden
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria is open
Melbourne Gardens October – March Daily, 7.30am – 7:30pm April – September Daily, 7.30am – 5.30pm Closed: drinking fountains...
Book Launch: Landing with Wings
Enjoy the launch of award-winning author Trace Balla’s latest book, Landing with Wings.
Managing Melbourne: An Interview with Clare Hart, Manager Horticulture, Melbourne Gardens
As part of our celebration of International Women’s Day, we sat down with Manager Horticulture, Melbourne Gardens Clare Hart. Clare is...
SEASONS in Blak Box
Melbourne Gardens and Cranbourne Gardens are closed to all visitors until further notice. All public, schools and events programs are now...
Get on the Bandi-wagon: Saving the Southern Brown Bandicoot
In honour of World Wildlife Day this Tuesday, we’re celebrating one of the wonderful native species that call Cranbourne Gardens home,...
Help Your Garden Beat the Heat
Here are some expert tips which will help make sure your garden survives the hot weather!
Forest Therapy – Cranbourne Gardens
Unwind with a Forest Therapy experience, set within a native landscape.
How Climate Change Is Affecting the Plants We Grow
According to Dr Dave Kendal from the University of Tasmania, in the next 50 years, 20-50% of current plant species in botanic gardens and...
On the Hunt for Hibiscus
Hibiscus-hunter extraordinaire Dr. Todd McLay, a recent addition to the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria team, has been poring over thousands...
Fighting pests with… pests? Getting creative with Integrated Pest Management
Pests are inevitable in any garden. For Melbourne Gardens however, a proximity to the city and large numbers of visitors creates something...
How to transform your backyard into a wildlife-friendly habitat
If you’re looking for a simple way to create a beautiful, low maintenance garden which provides precious Australian fauna with a cozy...
Subtle Charm: The Terracotta Spoon-Drains of Melbourne Gardens
Some of the heritage gems dotted across Melbourne Gardens aren’t always obvious to passers-by. Entering the Fern Gully, it takes a keen...
All things grow: Unexpected art from nature meeting conflict
Artists Charles Green, Lyndell Brown, Paul Gough and Jon Cattapan have harnessed their experiences as war artists to create remarkable...
From England, to Toorak, and Finally Melbourne Gardens: The Well-Travelled Nareeb Gates
The intricate Nareeb Gates might have caught your eye while strolling through Melbourne Gardens D Gate entrance – highly decorated, they...
The Fascinating Origin of the Temple of the Winds
There are few celebratory items in the Gardens, other than commemorative trees, but one exception is the Temple of the Winds, designed and...
Captivating Carnivore: Introducing Nepenthes erucoides
Meet Nepenthes erucoides, a newly discovered (and very hairy) Pitcher Plant species!
The Bizarre and Brilliant Rock Work of Charles Robinette
Melbourne Garden’s charming Gate B rockery, built in the style of a grotto (small cave) around 1887 boasts a special claim to fame -...
Meet Ornamental Lake’s cutest new residents
Congratulations to proud parents Francis and Louise who are raising 6 beautiful cygnets on Ornamental Lake!
In Pursuit of Australia’s Murderous Flora
Did you know that the Australian continent is the single richest region of carnivorous plant diversity in the world?
What’s in a name? Talking Nomenclature of Fungi with Mycologist Tom May
The International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants is the law for naming all algae, fungi and plants
Safekeeping is an Ode to Nature’s Preciousness
Artist Cara Johnson’s new installation in the Indigenous Grassland on Observatory Lawn is an ode to the fragility and preciousness of...
Why everyone should get on the Urban Greening bandwagon
The mitigation of urban heat island effect is one of the most significant impacts of the abundance of flora in Melbourne Gardens, and...
Wimmera orchid introductions thriving
With orchids comprising 17% of our most rare and threatened native flora, ensuring these species survive is more important than ever before.
950,000th specimen record added to the Herbarium collections database
Congratulations to our National Herbarium of Victoria team who have added their 950,000th specimen record to the collections database!
Melbourne’s Grand Old Trees
Large old trees are biological treasure troves. The many unique characteristics that they develop as they age including hollows, bark...
A Day in the Life of Learning Facilitator Lenka Vanderboom
Lenka Vanderboom, a multi-cultural Yawuru woman, has been a Learning Facilitator at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria since 2016, and gave...
Helping Plants Keep Their Cool
The majority of home gardeners probably haven’t tried their hand at bulb and seed chilling or freezing, but it’s a great way to have...
Apollo 11 Gardens eNews Competition Terms and Conditions
Terms & Conditions The prize consists of one double pass to see Apollo 11. 1. The Competition is conducted by Royal Botanic Gardens...
Apollo 11 Gardens eNews Competition
Sign up to the Gardens eNews for your chance to win a double pass to see Apollo 11 directed by Todd Douglas Miller. Celebrate the 50th...
Talking Trees and Tools with Will Jones
There are almost 6000 trees growing in the Melbourne Gardens, and the arboriculture team, made up of Manager Will Jones and his two...
Eureka Skyeck Gardens eNews Competition
Sign up to the Gardens eNews for your chance to win a family pass to visit the Eureka Skydeck 88 and a family ride on the Garden Explorer....
Eureka Skydeck Gardens eNews Competition Terms and Conditions
Terms & Conditions The prize consists of one family pass (2 Adults + 2 children) to visit the Eureka Skydeck 88 and one family trip on the...
Branch Out: Music to Play to Plants
Welcome in the spring with music entwined with nature.
The Race to Save Ballantinia antipoda
This tiny native herb, Ballantinia antipoda (Southern Shepherd’s-purse), is a member of the mustard family and one of Victoria’s rarest...
Stored Seed Could Save Grevillea barklyana
Known only from small populations located in and around Bunyip State Park, fires have potentially entirely exhausted the soil seed store of...
How the Victorian Conservation Seedbank is Saving Caladenia audasii
Known from just a handful of plants in the wild, Caladenia audasii (Audas’ spider orchid) has long been one of Victoria’s most...
Helping Nematolepis wilsonii Rise from the Ashes
The only known Victorian population of Nematolepis wilsonii was completely eradicated in 2009 as Black Saturday Bushfires tore across the...
Mountaintop Mission to Save Plants in Peril
Queensland’s Wet Tropics World Heritage Area is a temperate refuge for the tropical plant species. Sheltered from human impact at more...
Tecoma Pavilion to be Restored to Former Glory
The Tecoma Pavilion is being restored to its former glory thanks to the help of generous donors. The restoration project has been...
140 year old Bunya Bunya Pine nominated for Victorian Tree of the Year
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria launches meditative Wellbeing Gardens to encourage inner peace
1600 New pots of Variegated Coastal Rosemary planted in the Cranbourne Gardens Red Sand Garden
48°C Heat and Snow in Summer: What it’s like to collect rare flora specimens for the Botanic Gardens Seedbank
The Devoted Botanist – Helen Isobel Aston
From her first role as a temporary Technical Assistant through to numerous published works and impressive award honours, Helen Isobel Aston...
A Melbourne Gardens Icon: The Lions Head Tree
You Are What You Eat: Red Algae Specimens Illustrate Odd Insights into Gut Health
The Joy of Collecting – Alice Eastwood (1859 -1953)
When Alice Eastwood first visited the California Academy of sciences in 1891 she arrived unannounced ready to consult with renowned...
Step back 200 million years in the Gondwana Garden at Cranbourne Gardens
The Gondwana Garden at Cranbourne is a lush haven of ancient plant families which have existed since Australia was part of Gondwana and...
A Great Collector – Mary Harriet Bate (1855-1951)
When Mary Harriet Bate began collecting in 1881 she made quite a salubrious start. That very same year, Victoria’s first Government...
The Essence of Insult – Flora Campbell (1845-1923)
Historically, women in natural history have often been relegated to the rank of amateurs, but many 19th-Century female plant collectors and...
Wellness Experiences
Forest Therapy (Shinrin-yoku) Slow down, immerse your senses and move through a range of beautifully calming and healing activities in this...
Guilfoyle’s Volcano Tour
Explore the unusual volcano sprouting from Melbourne Gardens.
Welcome to Wareeny
Join a First Nations guide to gain a deeper understanding of wareeny (wombat) season.
School Holidays
Cranbourne Gardens Seek and Find Nature Cards Set your little ones on an adventure exploring the wonderous scenery, plants and creatures of...
Garden Plot
Enjoy contemporary performances exploring the theme of climate change.
The Botanist, the Distiller and the Chef
Dive deep into the world of gin in an evening of sensory discovery.
Six Seasons of the Kulin (Koolin) Nation
Journey through the Gardens with a First Nations guide and learn about the importance of different seasons.
Pathways for Change: Landscape Master Planning for Botanic Gardens
Hear about Melbourne Gardens Master Plan and its evolutionary process to date.
Our Extraordinary Eucalypts
Celebrate National Eucalypt Day with a free guided tour.
Break it Down: A Composting Workshop for Families
Uncover composting techniques in this earthy workshop for families.
Raising Rarity is using a new approach to help rare native flora
The Raising Rarity project team have been working on an exciting project which has the potential to save rare and threatened species from...
Saving the Leafy Anchor Plant from Extinction in Orbost
Discover the amazing work David Robbins and his team are doing to save the Leafy Anchor Plant from Extinction in the Orbost region.
Happy Birthday Darwin!
A rare specimen collected by Charles Darwin himself has been discovered in the depths of the Herbarium.
Working together to help an extinct species
From Melbourne to Montreal, seeds from an extinct Toromiro tree have crossed the globe to give an extinct tree a new lease on life!
Discover the hidden colours beneath these beautiful native flowers
Discover the hidden world of biofluorescence and how it creates such stunning, alien-like flowers.