North American Drylands

Explore the North American Drylands

Meander the high rocky paths of the North American Drylands Collection to discover water-wise plants suitable for Melbourne.

Significantly, a great majority hail from the California Floristic Province, one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, so declared for its species diversity and threatened status. Many species here hold great significance for North America’s First Peoples.

Connecting to Country 

This Collection is on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people. As you explore the Gardens you will see four colours and four words in Woi-wurrung language on the signs to reflect the Traditional Owners’ connection to Country and this particular place. The word narnerbunnul refers to the high points in landscape in Woi-wurrung and the signs in this area have orange highlights.

Notes from our team 

"With Melbourne projected to reach temperatures similar to many dryland regions of southern-USA and northern Mexico by 2070, the Gardens are working to transition the this collection towards more heat-tolerant species from across this broader geographic range. Keep an eye out as we trial new and interesting plants while monitoring the effects of increasing temperatures on existing species" Horticultural Curator, North American Drylands

 

Need deeper plant information?

Head to our living collections page for more from the horticultural curator of this collection.

North American Drylands
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