Natural Forest and Mangroves

Natural forests, bushland and mangroves cover about half of the 20ha area of the botanic garden.  The forest areas have been protected from intense natural fires over a long period of time so the vegetation mix is gradually changing as the more fire-sensitive plants such as gristle ferns grow in the understorey.

Eucalyptus species and related trees which are able to tolerate drier soil conditions grow on the higher slopes on the western side of the main track. Down the slope the vegetation changes with plants like the Cabbage Tree Palm (Livistona australis) and Melaleuca species able to tolerate wetter soils. The ultimate wet feet lovers, the mangroves, grow along Coffs Creek. The main path is on a transition zone between the drier and wetter forest types.

Up the slope to the west of the main path is dry open forest or dry ‘sclerophyll’ forest. Typical species found here are Blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis), Scribbly Gum (Eucalyptus signata), Pink Bloodwood (Corymbia intermedia), Red Mahogany (Eucalyptus resinifera), Turpentine (Syncarpia glomulifera) and Black She-oak (Allocasuarina littoralis). The understorey contains many species of wattles, banksias, bush peas, ferns and wild parsley (Lomatia silaifolia). Several ground orchids may be found in the area – the winter blooming pixie cap and helmet orchids, along with the swamp orchid (Phaius australis).

On the flat Coffs Creek (eastern) side of the main path where drainage is poor, the forest species vary according to the duration of waterlogging and the degree of salinity. Swamp Mahogany (Eucalyptus robusta) up to 25 m tall grow at the base of the hill, whereas the broad-leaved paperbark (Melaleuca quinquenervia) forms a forest up to 10 metres tall in areas of prolonged inundation. Swamp She-oak (Casuarina glauca) occupies a narrow band closer to the creek where there is some salt influence.

In the tidal zone there is a dense forest of Grey Mangrove (Avicennia marina var australasicum). Further upstream where the salinity is reduced by freshwater the shrubby River Mangrove with a tangle of long reddish roots (Aegiceras corniculatum) begin to dominate.