What’s beautiful now?

Fynbos is the South African name for the diverse heathlands in the Cape region of South Africa. The fynbos (or “fine bush” in Afrikaans) display includes approximately 50 species and cultivars of Ericas or “heaths”, which flower in September and October.

The family Myrtaceae is Australia’s largest plant family. Related genera grown at Wittunga include the grand Agonis, bright red Bottlebrush (Calothamnus), Tea tree (Leptospermum) and Paperbark (Melaleuca), which flowers in September and October.

Originally developed by Keith Ashby, this is a collection of hardy South African and Australian shrubs, including the Garden’s principal collection of Proteaceae. The only remaining old fruit trees in this area are two Japanese Persimmon (Diospyros kaki), a favourite food source for local wildlife, and a Cherry Plum Tree (Prunus cerasifera). The Terrace Beds are a riot of colour in spring, with flowering shrubs, Ericas, annuals and herbaceous perennials becoming show-stoppers.

Built in the early 1920s, Edwin Ashby developed the raised sandy garden beds to promote drainage and replicate growing conditions he’d seen in Western Australia. They were initially developed to support Australian natives, but other species such as succulents and cacti thrive here year-round. Learn More