Planting
General philosophy
The selection of plants for the Master Plan reinforces the landscape structure and hierarchy.
The plant list is predominately native and indigenous, and the selection of plants has taken into consideration the success and failures of planting over the first ten year period. The drainage is poor, particularly in the areas adjacent buildings, with plants that do well on other sites near the campus failing in the University site's lower lying clay soils which become easily inundated with water. Buildings also create wind tunnels that can affect certain types of plants, in particular rainforest species. In many areas within the site the soil nutrient level is low. Because of these limitations the palette of vegetation for many areas remains limited.
Security issues and the provision of clear visibility have also been taken into consideration. For example planting adjacent car parks and along pathways is restricted to trees and low lying vegetation.
Sub-topics
Planting scheme and species:
Central Spine avenue
Entrance avenue
Cross path avenues
Waterways planting
Informal parkland
Carparks
Indigenous woodland
Indigenous list
Procurement and maintenance
Planting scheme and species
Central Spine avenue
Trees to reinforce existing planting of Eucalyptus tessellaris. Trees to be in loose staggered plantings as per existing.
Eucalyptus tessellaris. Attractive, graceful, moderately tall, erect tree to 15 metres. Trunk persistent grey bark at bottom with smooth cream to white bark on the upper trunk and branches.
 Eucalyptus tessellaris |
 Eucalyptus tessellaris |
 Eucalyptus tessellaris |
Back to top
Entrance avenue
Trees to reinforce existing planting of Eucalyptus tessellaris. Planting to be in loose staggered plantings as per existing.
Syncarpia glomulifera (Turpentine Tree). Tall upright tree to 40 metres. Brown fibrous bark. Cream flowers.
Syncarpia glomulifera planted in loose groups behind Eucalyptus tessellaris. Trees act as a dark contrast to the lighter trunk and canopy of the eucalypts.
Activity hubs
Plantings in these areas can be from a varied pallet as they are in mostly protected areas. The species selection includes more rainforest species than in the open areas.
Trees
Elaeocarpus reticulatus (Blueberry Ash). Shrub or tree to 16 metres. Dark to mid green glossy leaves with attractive white flowers followed by blue berries.
Syzigium oleosum (Blue Lily Pily). Tree to 8 metres in cultivation. Attractive shade tree. Shiny mid-green leaves with pink to red new growth. Creamy white flowers in summer.
Syzigium luehmannii (Small Leaf Lily Pily). Tree to 6 metres in cultivation. Attractive shade tree. Shiny mid-green leaves with pink to red new growth. Creamy white flowers in summer.
Lophostemon confertus (Brush Box). To 10 metres in cultivation. Brown scaly bark. Good shade tree. Insignificant flowers with hard woody fruit. To be planted on mounds to avoid problems with waterlogging.
Homolanthus nutans (Native poplar, Native Bleeding Heart). Shrub to small tree to 6 metres. Attractive leaves with occasional red leaf. Very fast growing but short lived.
 Elaeocarpus reticulatus
(Blueberry Ash)
|
 Lophostemon confertus
(Brush Box) |
 Homolanthus nutans
(Native poplar, Native
Bleeding Heart) |
Banksia integrifolia var. integrifolia (Coastal Banksia). To 10 metres in cultivation. Wide spreading tree with attractive leaves and honey coloured flowers.
Archontophoenix cunninghamiana ( Bangalow Palm). Attractive Palm to 20 metres. With striking orange fruit and tapered trunk. Can be transplanted as mature specimens. Currently good specimens on site.
Livistonia australis (Cabbage Tree Palm). Attractive palm to 25 metres. Can be transplanted as mature specimens. Currently good specimens on site. Best planted as mature specimens well above head height as leaf stems have sharp spikes.
 Banksia integrifolia var.
integrifolia
(Coastal Banksia) |
 Archontophoenix
cunninghamiana
(Bangalow Palm) |
 Livistonia australis
(Cabbage Tree Palm) |
Agathis robusta (Kauri Pine). 12–15 metres in cultivation. Suitable for larger areas as iconic planting, for example behind the Art Gallery. Tall upright native pine with attractive flaky bark and strong pointed dark green leaves.
 Agathis robusta
(Kauri Pine) |
Shrubs
Leptospermum petersonii (Lemon Scented Tea Tree)
Callistemon ‘Little John’
Baeckea frutescens (Weeping Baeckea)
Austomyrtus dulcis
Rhaphis excelsa (Lady Palm)
Strappy plants
Cordyline australis
Crinum pedulculatum
Lomandra ‘Tanika’
Lomandra confertifolia
Dianella tasmanica
Dianella caerullea – non caning hybrids
Doryanthes excelsa (Gymea Lily)
Poa sp
Ground covers
Hovea acutifolia
Hibbertia scandens
Scaevola ‘Mauve Clusters’
Gleichenia mendellii (Coral Fern)
Viola hederacea (Native Violet)
Back to top
Cross path avenues
Distinctive shade trees reinforce pathways.
Waterhousia floribunda (Weeping Lily Pily). Hardy tree to 15 metres in cultivation. Pendulous dark glossy leaf with white flowers. Provides deep shade. Grows successfully on site.
Harpullia pendula (Tulip Wood). 9 metres x 4 metres in cultivation. Medium size shade tree. Mid green glossy leaves. Pale greenish yellow fragrant flowers.
 Waterhousia floribunda
(Weeping Lily Pily) |
 Waterhousia floribunda
(Weeping Lily Pily) |
 Harpullia pendula
(Tulip Wood) |
Waterways planting
Reinforce existing planting in swales of Melaleuca leucodendron with under-planting of low strappy plants, eg Lomandra ‘Tanika’ and Lomandra longifolia. Planted in grass or river pebbles.
 Melaleuca leucodendron
with Lomandra longifolia |
 Waterway vegetation |
Areas of more permanent water planting to be more diverse. Refer to the list under Indigenous species for wetland area.
Back to top
Informal parkland
Allocasuarina littoralis (Black She Oak). To 10 metres. Good Screen tree.
Allocasuarina torulosa (Forest Oak). To 15 metres. Fissured cork bark. Ornamental pendulous needle leaves. Good as closely planted copse.
Corymbia citriodora (Spotted Gum). Stately tall gum to 25 metres, light mottled smooth bark.
Corymbia intermedia (Pink Bloodwood)
Eucalyptus pilularis (Blackbutt)
Eucalyptus robusta (Swamp Mahogony)
Eucalyptus tessellaris
Syncarpia glomulifera
Lophostemon conferta
Eucalyptus grandis (Flooded Gum, Rose Gum). Very tall gum to 45 metres. Lower trunk of dark bark changing to a smooth white straight trunk.
 Corymbia citriodora
(Spotted Gum) |
 Eucalyptus grandis
(Flooded Gum, Rose
Gum) |
Carparks
In order to achieve visual strength within the carparks, the planting should be reduced to 1-2 species of clear trunked trees within each carpark area. Understorey of low shrubs and ground covers so that there is clear visibility. Refer to list for Informal parkland.
 Planting for carparks |
Back to top
Indigenous woodland
Planting to be from indigenous species with a number of plant communities being reproduced in the area. These include Eucalypt Forest, Freshwater Wetland adjacent the lakes, Heath to compliment the inserted Translocation Zone Heath area and small pockets of Rainforest adjacent the Research/Contemplation Pavilions. Stock should be sourced from local provenance.
Indigenous list
Eucalypt Forest
Acacia falcata
Austromyrtus dulcis
Baeckea virgata
Banksia integrifolia
Corymbia citriodora
Corymbia intermedia
Corymbia racemosa
Corymbia tessellaris
Cymbopogon refractus
Dianella caerulea
Dodonaea viscosa
Elaeocarpus reticulatus
Eragrostis elongata
Eucalyptus microcorys
Eucalyptus pilularis
Eucalyptus resinifera
Gompholobium virgatum
Goodenia rotundifolia
Hardenbergia violacea
Helichrysum ramosissimum
Hibbertia vestita
Hovea acutifolia
Jacksonia scoparia
Kennedia rubicunda
Leptospermum juniperinum
Lomandra longifolia
Lobelia purpurascens
Lophostemon confertus
Melaleuca nodosa
Oxylobium robustum
Petalostigma pubescens.
Pultenaea villosa
Themeda australis
Trachymene incisa
Viola hederacea
Back to top
Freshwater wetlands
Baumea rubiginosa
Crinum pedunculatum
Callistemon pachyphyllus
Callistemon viminalis
Dianella caerulea *
Eleocharis acuta
Eucalyptus bancrofti
Eucalyptus conglomerata
Eucalyptus robusta Gahnia sieberiana
Juncus usitatus
Lophostemon suaveolens
Lomandra longifolia
Melaleuca quinquenervia
Melaleuca thymifolia
Melastoma affine
Philydrum lanuginosum
Schoenoplectus mucronatus
Viola hederacea *
Waterhousea floribunda
Heath
Acacia hubbardiana
Dillwynia floribunda
Acacia suaveolens
Acacia ulicifolia
Aotus ericoides
Aotus lanigera
Austromyrtus dulcis
Banksia aemula
Banksia oblongifolia
Banksia robur
Banksia serrata
Banksia spinulosa
Blandfordia grandiflora
Callistemon pachyphyllus
Corymbia racemosa
Davidsonia ulicifolia
Eragrostis elongata
Eucalyptus bancrofti
Eucalyptus conglomerata
Eucalyptus robusta
Gahnia sieberiana
Hakea actites
Leptospermum liversidgei
Leptospermum polygalifolium
Leptospermum speciosum
Leptospermum whitei
Lobelia alata
Oxylobium robustum
Petrophile shirleyae
Xanthorrhea fulva
Rainforest
Acmena ingens
Acmena smithii
Backhousia citriodora
Cupaniopsis anacardioides
Ficus rubiginosa
Hibbertia scandens
Lomandra longifolia
Omalanthus populifolius
Podocarpus elata
Syzygium luehmannii
Back to top
Procurement and Maintenance
General
The ultimate size and horticultural performance of each plant requires careful consideration of species selection. Additionally, careful selection of nursery stock as well as the size at planting is essential to achieving quality outcomes. Where possible it is desirable for plants to be grown to consignment. This ensures that plants are at an optimum size for their containers when planted out.
The size of trees at the time of planting also needs to be carefully considered. While it is understood as desirable for advanced specimens to be selected, this needs to be balanced with the particular soil conditions and the ability for an advanced tree to become established. In some areas where there is poor drainage, subsurface drainage is recommended. In other areas trees could be planted on low mounds to improve drainage.
In more informal plantings such as the loose lines of Eucalypts in the Central Spine and the Informal Parkland, plants of different sizes can be planted at one time. Advanced specimens provide immediate visual impact while smaller plants can become established over time. This method of planting allows for failures over time, especially of the more advanced stock, without causing major visual impacts.
As many species as possible should be obtained locally, with plants for the Indigenous Woodland being of local seed provenance.
Plantings should be mulched preferably with aged and composted mulch. Some locations such as the waterways could use pebble and stone mulch.
A management plan should be prepared to guide site revegetation.
The Master Plan calls for a gradual increase in the area of planting as the campus expands and this needs to be matched with an appropriate level of skilled human resources and budgets. Over time as areas become landscaped the level of resources needs to be assessed and if necessary increased.
Systematic monitoring of ongoing plant growth, changes to site conditions, and success or failure of plantings should be conducted and fed back into future decisions.
It is most important that grounds staff have the skills to carry out the varied requirements of successfully planting and maintaining the landscape. For example skills in planting procedures, irrigation, fertilising, weed control, turf management, tree management etc. are required with Environmental Protection Agency Guidelines being followed.
Back to top