Green Corner

Graham Robinson

5 August 2008: Each month University of Canberra grounds supervisor Greg Dowd will feature selected plants. He will describe each plant and its properties and advise whether it can be grown in a domestic garden.

Greg Dowd heads the grounds team with 15 years experience at the University. The team comprises of qualified Horticulturalists Daniel Stedford, Richard Carne and Mike Vanderzwart, Matthew Moore who is studying a certificate in Horticulture as well as Eric Warton, Graham Carpenter and Kim Koenig. All are involved in a variety of work on the campus including maintenance of irrigated turf, ovals, plants and trees and control of noxious weeds.

The University of Canberra has a commitment to sustainable plants on its campus which is achieved through the dedication of the University’s garden staff.

UC Gardening Staff

University grounds staff have taken pride in keeping the campus green during this time of drought due to the selection of native species of plants suitable to Canberra’s climate. The majority of the plants on campus have been propagated from existing plants with between two and three thousand propagated each year.

Recycling is also of paramount importance at the University and all plant material that needs to be removed is recycled through a wood chipper so that anything that comes out of the ground goes back in to the ground.

This month Greg Dowd features the following two Plants:

Hardenbergia violacea. Common name: False Sarsaprilla

This fast growing hardy plant can vary from a light climber to a trailing plant that covers 2m or more. The sprays of pea-shaped flowers can come in colours of purple, white or pink, and appear in winter and spring. The plant will grow in most soils and aspects, but a sunny position provides better flowering.
 
The plant will climb where possible and is suitable for training up pergolas or fences and looks great trailing over embankments or in rockeries.
 
This photograph was taken east of the amphitheatre between Buildings 2 and 8.

Rhodanthe anthemoides. Common name: Chamomile sunray.

A small perennial that grows to 30cm high and 50cm wide, the flowers have white petals with a yellow centre and appear in winter and continue through to summer.  The plant prefers a semi-shade position in well-drained soil.
 
These plants look great when planted in groups of 3 to 5 where they will cover an area of about 2m.They also grow well in tubs or containers.
 
This photo was taken at the western end of the lawn between Buildings 2 and 3. 

The University’s garden staff will be happy to answer any of your questions about the plants and trees on campus, just ask?