Course CodeBHT113Fee CodeS2Duration (approx)100 hoursQualificationTo obtain formal documentation the optional exam(s) must be completed which will incur an additional fee of £30. Alternatively, a letter of completion may be requested. Be an Australian Native Plant Expert. Learn to identify hundreds of different plants Discover the potential of Australian Plants for Garden Design, Cut Flower Production, Culinary and other uses Learn the unique cultural needs for growing Australian Plants, anywhere in the world Indulge a passion, explore a whole new world in gardening, or improve your career opportunities If you want an exciting future in plant breeding, or an opportunity to create landscapes that look different to any other landscapers, consider exploring the potential of Australian plants. This course guides you along just such a pathway. Lesson Structure There are 9 lessons in this course: Introduction Scope and Nature of Native Plants Taxonomy: Botanical and Horticultural Nomenclature Binomial System Levels of Division Plant Families Species, Hybrids, Varieties and Cultivars Botanical Keys and their Use Origins of Australian Plants Continental Drift Resources for More Information Sources for Seed Information Cultural Techniques Cultivation Things that can Go Wrong: Pests, Diseases, Environmental Problems, Nutrition Soils Improving Soil Structure Soil Water Management Compost No Dig Growing Techniques Feeding Natives Pruning Temperature Planting, Staking, Mulching Special Planting Techniques Natives for Shade Controlling Weeds Propagation; seed, cuttings, etc Stock Plants Eucalypts Introduction Types of Eucalypts; gums, stringybarks, boxes, ironbarks, yates, peppermints, etc. Hybrid Eucalypts Eucalypt Cultural Requirements Review of Important Eucalypt Species Native Trees Casuarina; Casuarina and Allocasuarina, Gymnostoma and Ceuthostoma Casuarina Culture Review of Casuarina and Allocasuarina species Australian Conifers: Overview Cupressaceae: Actinostrobus, Calitris, Diselma Araucariaceae; Araucaria Podocarpaceae; Dacrydium, Microcachrys, Microstrobos, Phyllocladus, Podocarpus Taxodiaceae: Macadamias Brachychiton Angophora Lophostemon Acacias Introduction to Legumes; Papilionoideae, Caesalpiniodeae and Mimosoideae Overview of Acacia Acacia Cultural Requirements Review of Important Acacia species Elements of drawing a Landscape Plan Landscape Design Procedure Myrtaceous Australian Plants Review of the Myrtaceae Family Callistemon overview Callistemon Culture Important Callistemon cultivars and species Leptospermum overview and Culture Important Leptospermum Species Baeckea Calothamnus Calytrix Eugenia Homoranthus Kunzea Melaleuca Micromyrtus Scholtzia Syzygium Verticordia Thryptomene Grevilleas Grevillea Overview Types of flower: Erect Cluster, Toothbrush, Pendant, Cylinder McCilveray’s Classification into eleven main groups Flower and Leaf Terminology Review of Low Growing Grevilleas Banksia Type Hybrids Hybrid Parents from tropics and sub tropics Poorinda Hybrids Review of many Important Species Culture Related Proteaceae Natives: Dryandra, Hakea, Banksia, Telopea Ground Cover and Small Shrubs Overview of Fabaceae (Egg and Bacon) Plants Brachyzema Castenospermum Clianthus Gastrolobium Gompholobium Goodenia Hardenbergia Hovea Jacksonia Kennedya Oxylobium Swainsonia Viminaria Boronia; overview and culture Boronia species Prostanthera Commercial Applications Fragrant Natives Uses for Eucalyptus Uses for Grevilleas Uses for Acacia: timber, tanning, cut flowers, food, etc Aboriginal Uses for Acacias Growing Natives in Containers Bush Tucker Aims Classify most significant cultivated native plants, to the family level. Determine cultural practices to maintain healthy native plants. Explain the identification and culture of eucalypts in your locality. Explain the identification and culture of native trees. Explain the identification and culture of acacias in your locality. Explain the identification and culture of native shrubs, including species of Acacia, Melaleuca, Callistemon and Leptospermum Explain the identification and culture of different Proteaceous native plants, with particular emphasis on the genus Grevillea. Explain the identification and culture of a range of Australian Native ground covers and small shrubs. Determine commercially viable applications for different native plants. WHY CHOOSE TO GROW AUSTRALIAN PLANTS? Australia was one of the last places on earth to have its plants explored and brought into cultivation. Man has been growing and developing plants from Asia, the Americas, Europe and Africa for hundreds of years, but most Australian plants weren't even considered for cultivation until the last century. This means that Australian plants are largely undeveloped. The range of plants that come from Australia is huge and because they have not been bred and selected very much - the commercial potential for these species is on the whole, much greater than the potential you might find with plants from elsewhere. We mostly use Australian native plants as garden specimens but they have many other valuable domestic and commercial uses. In the home garden we grow native plants to attract birds and wildlife. Native plants are also grown for their distinctive flowers, foliage and fruits which are highly valued by florists and crafts people. Other useful products from native plants include essential oils, bush tucker and timber. USING NATIVES AS CUT FLOWERS While kangaroo paws and Geraldton wax have been used as cut flowers for a number of years, there are numerous other native species that are ideally suited as cut flowers. Many Australian plants have unique flower and foliage forms, quite unlike any of the traditional flowers used by florists. Plants with extraordinary flowers like the Gymea lily, waratahs, grevilleas, dryandras and banksias are now in demand for both local and overseas flower markets. The fact that many species have long flowering periods, extended vase life, strong stems, and are excellent bouquet ‘fillers’, also makes them valuable as cut flowers. The most commonly grown native plants for the local cut flower industry are kangaroo paws, Geraldton wax, thryptomene, boronia, banksia and waratah. Other plants that are in demand for flower export are stirlingia, koala fern (Caustis blakei), scholtzia, Christmas bells (Blandfordia), Christmas bush (Ceratopetalum gummiferum), flannel flower, eriostemon, riceflower, cryptandra and eucalyptus foliage. EDIBLE AUSTRALIAN PLANTS The best known edible native plants are macadamias and Davidson’s plums, both of which grow naturally in subtropical rainforests along the northern coast. The ‘bush nuts’ (Macadamia integrifolia and M. tetraphylla) once gathered by Aborigines are now rare in the wild but have been bred for a number of years (mainly in Hawaii) to produce superior varieties that are grown in large commercial plantations. The nuts can be eaten raw or roasted. Davidson’s plum (Davidsonia pruriens) is an attractive small tree that produces a sour plum-like fruit. The fruit are used to make jam, conserves and wine and as a flavouring in sauces and drinks. The tree requires shelter from winds and frost, and adequate water during the growing season. Bush Tucker Plants Some bush tucker plants are harvested from the wild but as demand is increasing more varieties are being cultivated. Most bush tucker is minimally processed or value-added (for example, as dried spices or in sauces), only very small volumes are sold and consumed as fresh produce. Lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) A rainforest tree that grows to 15m in its natural environment. The leaves have a strong lemon scent and are used to flavour a wide range of sweet and savoury foods. They are also used in non-food products such as cosmetics and household cleaners. Bush tomatoes (Solanum centrale) Also called the Desert raisin or Desert tomato, this small shrub occurs naturally in central Australia. The green fruit are toxic and must be not be eaten. The ripe fruit is dark brown and has a globular raisin-like appearance. The fruit is usually dried, either on or off the bush, then used sparingly to impart an intense piquant flavour to sauces, marinades and chutneys. Wattle seeds Although a large number wattle species have edible seeds, the Elegant wattle or Gundabluey (Acacia victoriae) is the most commonly harvested species for the bush tucker industry. A. victoriae is a spiny-stemmed shrub or multi-stemmed tree to 3-4 m tall. The glossy, dark brown seeds have a nutty flavour after roasting*. They are high in protein and are gluten-free, which makes them suitable for speciality diets. The roasted seeds are normally ground to a powder then added to breads, biscuits, cakes, sauces and icecreams. *Many raw acacia seeds contain toxic compounds and have properties that inhibit enzymes in the digestive system. Seeds that are known to be edible should be roasted before consumption. GROWING NATIVES FOR TIMBER Native trees are grown and harvested to provide building and furniture timber, fencing and pole timber, pulpwood, firewood and fodder. The best known Australian native trees, the eucalypts, are grown extensively for timber and paper pulp production, both in Australian and overseas plantations. Their main disadvantage is the long period of time required to produce a harvestable crop. For example, mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) typically takes more than fifty years before it can be harvested. Other species, though, can produce commercial timber in a shorter period; for example, spotted gum (Eucalyptus maculata) can be harvested in less than twenty years. Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) and black wattle (A. mearnsii) have potential as timber for furniture, joinery and pulp. They are also excellent for controlling erosion. Both require adequate rainfall to be suitable for use as timber. In subtropical and tropical areas, the main plantation timber is the Hoop pine (Auracaria cunninghammii), although other rainforest trees, such as red cedar (Toona australis), coachwood (Ceratopetalum apetalum) and Crows ash (Flindersia australis), are also regarded as important timber species. In drier, inland areas, valuable native timber species include callitris, casuarinas, ironbark (Eucalyptus sideroxylon), river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and acacias. Many Australian Plants belong to the Myrtaceae or Proteaceae Families. Learning more about common characteristics of a family can be a good starting point. EXTRACTING ESSENTIAL OILS FROM NATIVE PLANTS The flavour and fragrance of scented plants such as lemon myrtle, eucalypts and boronias is due to the aromatic compounds in their flowers, leaves and bark. When these are extracted by distillation, the resulting product is a volatile, colourless, oil-like material. Essential oils are used in food flavouring, and in the cosmetics, pharmaceutical and fragrance industries. Two native plants are harvested commercially for their essential oils: eucalypts and tea trees. Other native plants that yield essential oils include the brown boronia (Boronia megastigma), mountain pepper (Tasmannia lanceolata), lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) and native frangipani (Hymenosporum flavum). Who Is This Course For? Professional landscaper Nurseryman Horticulturist Passionate amateur plant collector. HOW TO ENROL Click box below on left hand side -follow instructions. IF YOU NEED ADVICE - click here to use our FREE ADVISORY SERVICE