Mount Tomah Botanic Garden
Mount Tomah Botanic Garden
Northern Hemisphere Plants
Unlike the continents of the southern hemisphere, those of the northern have always been in close contact with one another and the floras of their temperate zones are strikingly similar, whether in Europe, Asia or North America. For example, oaks, elms, ashes, maples, roses, cherries, rhododendrons, walnuts, pines, spruces and firs, to mention just a few, occur throughout.
There are many representatives characteristic of these floras in the Garden, including conifer species remaining from the Brunet’s planting, and to these are being added representatives of most of the northern conifer genera.

These may be found in the collection of conifer species which has been planted below the Rock Garden.

Northern-hemisphere conifers from the time of the Brunets (15Kb)
Northern-hemisphere conifers from the time of the Brunets
Additional species are planted in the North American Woodland, the Eurasian Woodland, and other parts of the Garden along with numerous broad-leaved deciduous trees. On the western side of the de-pot there is a collection of conifer cultivars which demonstrates the range of size, form and foliage colour existing amongst these plants.
Buddleja lindleyana, introduced to England from China by Robert Fortune in 1844 (5Kb)
Buddleja lindleyana, introduced to England from China by Robert Fortune in 1844
Another special feature is the collection of rhododendron species and hybrids. The introduction to cultivation of the American species, the collections of Joseph Hooker in the Sikkim Himalaya in the middle of the 19th century, and the subsequent revelation of the wealth of striking species in western China led to a burst of enthusiasm for this huge genus.

Many of the species are outstanding ornamental plants as are most of the thousands of hybrids which have been raised in the last 150 years.

A collection of the species has been planted to the east of the Formal Garden and others may be found along the Plant Explorers Walk, amongst other plants which have enriched our gardens as a result of the exploits of the intrepid plant hunters of the past. Many of the hybrids are present too in various parts of the Garden, some dating from the Brunets’ time.Rhododendron griffithianum (4Kb)
Rhododendron griffithianum, introduced to cultivation from Sikkim by Joseph Hooker in 1849

 

Back to Southern Hemisphere Plants

HomeOn to Other Highlights of the Garden