Category: Plant of the Month

Pink Fairies Caladenia latifolia is one of many dainty terrestrial orchids in the large Caladenia genus. It is distinguished by its single hairy leaf and has 1-4 terminal pink flowers from August to November. It is common on coastal or near coastal sands and is often found forming colonies under tea-tree thickets at Venus Bay. All native orchids are protected in the wild. Read more about Pink Fairies here (PDF)

White Iris Diplarrena moraea is a tufted iris with strappy leaves and makes an excellent accent plant in the garden. Its honey-scented flowers only last one day but are produced in profusion, especially in the landscape after fire. Read more about White Iris Diplarrena moraea (PDF)

Tiny Star Pauridia glabella is a perennial tufting herb with yellow flowers. The plant is tiny as the common name suggests and is easy to miss as the flowers close up in dull weather. It is not commonly known at Venus Bay but may be underreported due to its cryptic nature. Keep a look-out for the tiny yellow star flowers in moist areas on sunny days after rain. Read more about Tiny Star Pauridia glabella here (PDF)

Climbing Lignum Muehlenbeckia adpressa is a moderately vigorous climber with thin red-brown stems growing 3-4 metres long. It occurs in Coast Banksia Woodland and along the  coastal dunes from Victoria and Tasmania to Western Australia and is common in most parts of Venus Bay. It tolerates dryness and salt spray, making it a useful climber to cover a fence or retaining wall in coastal regions. Read more about Climbing Lignum Muehlenbeckia adpressa here (PDF)

Common Spike-rush Eleocharis acuta is a semi-aquatic, rhizomatous perennial sedge with single erect stems to 60 cm high, with a purplish leaf sheath at the base. The hollow rounded stems (culms) are topped by a terminal spikelet 5-30 mm long and 3-7 mm wide, flowering from spring to summer. Common Spike-rush is found in swamps and wet areas. At Venus Bay it is common in wet pasture and along the drainage channel along the Venus Bay to Tarwin bike path….

Prickly Couch Zoysia macrantha is a prostrate, mat-forming grass that is an excellent choice for a native coastal lawn that never needs mowing! Read more about Prickly Couch Zoysia macrantha (PDF)

Scaevola hookeri Creeping Fan-flower Creeping Fan-flower Scaevola hookeri is a prostrate, matting herb that roots at the nodes, with softly hairy stems and leaves. The single fan-shaped, one-sided flowers are  white to pale blue with yellow throats from November to March. Coast Fan-flower is found scattered in coastal heathland and woodland but is more commonly found colonising bare moist ground in the alpine areas. At Venus Bay it occurs on the secondary dunes. Creeping Fan-flower is…

Coast Spear-grass Austrostipa flavescens is a fine, tufted grass that flowers from October to December in coastal locations of the southern States, including at Venus Bay. It is salt tolerant and a useful soil binder for sandy soils. Red-browed Finches love to swing on the flower heads while eating the seed. Read more about Coast Spear-grass Austrostipa flavescens here (PDF).

Bracken, or Austral Bracken Pteridium esculentum is a robust native fern with rigidly erect fronds, spreading from a vigorous rhizome or underground stem. Bracken is the most common and widespread fern in eastern Australia, often dominating the understorey in forests and woodlands. It is an aggressive coloniser of disturbed areas and is stimulated by fire. It is naturally occurring in areas of Venus Bay and Tarwin Lower. Read more about Bracken Pteridium esculentum here (PDF)