This new book, written by architect and rainforest plant expert Ralph Bailey and myself, is now available either on Amazon or direct from the publisher in either hard or soft cover.
Wherever you live in the world, except the coldest and driest areas, you can embellish your garden or public space with plants from the rainforests of Australia.
These forests grow all down the east coast from Cape York in the north to Victoria in the south, with some specialised “dry” rainforests growing further inland where the rainfall is low.
Many different types of trees, shrubs, vines and groundcovers can be found from ocean-side sand dunes to cloud forests above 600 metres, with species adapted to meet different soil types, climate and altitude.
The photos below show only a few of the rainforest plants available in cultivation, with many more still being bred to the needs of the home garden and park.
Here are a few of their attributes:
Spectacular flowers
Foliage generally shiny, deep green and suitable for pruning
Colourful new leaves
Able to withstand both prolonged wet weather and long (three months or more) dry periods
Tough and easy to grow
Tolerant of poor soils
Attractive to birds
Both authors have spent many decades studying these plants and you’ll find quite a few on this website – along with growing information. The list expands as I find the time to photograph and write about the different species.
The book is expensive, due to today’s high publication costs, but it’s a lifetime investment in learning about and growing these plants. And I am always happy to answer questions and discuss rainforest plant issues on this site. Your comments are VERY welcome!
You can learn more about the book by going on the publisher’s website at australianacademicpress.com, where there is a short sample and a buying link.
