CONTENT
There are 8 lessons as outlined below:‑
Introduction
Review of the system of plant identification, general characteristics of the group, information contacts (ie: nurseries, seed, clubs, etc.)
Growing Conditions
Planting, staking, mulching, watering, pest & disease, feeding, pruning, propagation, protection from wind, salt air, environmental zones, etc.
The Heaths and similar plants
Myrtaceae family, etc. Thryptomene, Bauera, Astartea, Grevilleas, Telopea, Leptospermum, etc.
The Daisy Family
identification and growing needs Helichrysum, Helipterum, Celmisia, Brachyscome, Olearia, etc.
The Legumes
Fabaceae, Mimosaceae and Caesalpinaceae families. Kennedya, Pultenaea, Acacia, etc.
Other common groups
Boronia, Crowea, Clematis, Viola, etc.
The Monocots
grasses, native irises, Anigozanthus, Xanthorrhea, etc.
Commercial Applications
Learning Outcomes
Distinguish between different types of native wildflowers.
Determine reliable information about the identification and culture of Australian wildflowers.
Specify general cultural practices, including propagation, for different families of Australian native wildflowers.
Explain the characteristics, including identification and culture, of heath like native wildflowers; with reference to both proteaceous and myrtaceous plants.
Explain the characteristics, including their identification, culture and use, of wildflowers in the Asteraceae (ie. Daisy) family.
Explain the characteristics, including identification, culture and use, of different legume wildflower genera.
Explain the characteristics, including identification, culture and use, of different Australian native monocotyledons (ie. narrow-leaved plants).
Prepare a planting design featuring Australian wildflowers.
Develop a cut flower production plan, for a selected Australian wildflower.
Examples of Tasks in the Course
- Distinguish, using illustrations and minimum but adequate comments, between twenty different plant families within which Australian native wildflowers are commonly found, including the following: Asteraceae, Caesalpiniaceae, Dilleniaceae, Epacridaceae, Ericaceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, Haemodoraceae, Iridaceae, Lamiaceae, Liliaceae, Mimosaceae, Myrtaceae, Orchidaceae, Proteaceae, Rutaceae and Thymelaceae.
- Prepare a collection of fifty pressed wildflower specimens (or illustrations), not collected elsewhere with information included on culture and use.
- Compile a resource file of sources of information on native wildflowers.
- Develop criteria for distinguishing the accuracy of information, relating to native wildflowers.
- Determine four reliable sources, of accurately named Australian plant material, including both seed and plants.
- Develop a procedure for researching cultural information on an unfamiliar species
of Australian wildflower, listing specific information sources in order of importance.
- Explain two different ways to plant each of three, different specified wildflower plants
- Compare the use of four different types of mulch, around specified wildflowers.
- Explain appropriate techniques for watering Australian wildflowers, in a specified garden.
- Compare the pruning of two specified wildflowers, from two different taxonomic families.
- Explain why three different Australian wildflower plants have different preferences in soils.
- Compare the use of five different types of fertiliser on Australian wildflower plants.
- Propagate wildflower plants using four different techniques (eg. Seed, Cuttings).
- Identify pests and diseases afflicting at least three different Australian wildflowers.
- Discuss the culture of fifteen different Australian wildflower plants.
- Distinguish, using illustrations and minimum but adequate comments, between genera which include heath-like native plants, including:
Epacris
Micromyrtus
Thryptomene
Verticordia
Grevillea
Isopogon
Melaleuca
Pimelia.
-Prepare a poster size chart which compares the characteristics, including:
Appearance
Propagation
Lifespan
Soil requirements
Environmental requirements
Pests & diseases
- Special cultural techniques of various different genera of heath-like wildflowers.
- Describe the unique characteristics of different genera of wildflowers
-Dissect, draw and label the parts of a daisy flower, including:
Ligule
Stigma
Style
Anther
Corolla tube
Pappus
Ovary
Receptacle
Disc floret
Ray floret.
- Distinguish, using illustrations, between three different native daisy genera.
- Design a garden bed using only Australian native daisy flowers which will grow
in your locality, and will flower for an optimum period of months over the year.
- Produce dried flowers from an appropriate native plant variety in the Asteraceae family.
- Distinguish between Fabaceae, Caesalpiniaceae & Mimosaceae families characteristics.
- List fifteen of the more commonly grown native legume genera.
- Describe various uses for specific legume native genera, including:
Soil improvement
Flower colour
Weed suppression
Erosion control
Decorative foliage
Screening as a climber.
- Write an essay comparing the characteristics of four different Australian Native legume genera.
- List twenty species of low growing native monocotyledons suited to culture in your locality
- Describe various uses for monocotyledon native species listed, including:
Soil improvement
Flower colour
Weed suppression
Erosion control
Decorative foliage
Screening.
- Design a garden bed of 20 square metres, using only Australian native monocotyledons which will grow in your locality; to be colourful for an optimum period of months during the year.
- Determine applications for five different species of wildflowers, in amenity horticulture.
- Grow a combination of three different wildflower varieties in an area of four square
metres, to achieve an aesthetically attractive display of colour.
- Prepare a scale drawing for a design of a 40 square metre garden bed which features
wildflowers, and creates a high impact colourful display for a period of at least two months.
- Develop criteria for selection of a wildflower species to grow as a commercial crop.
- Determine ten different species of wildflowers which have potential as a commercial
cut flower crop, in your locality.
- Design & conduct simple trial for testing the performance of three specimens of a selected wildflower species, and summarise the trial procedure, detailing:
*What to grow *Schedule of cultural tasks *List of equipment and materials required
- Evaluate the commercial potential of the different cut flowers.
- Devise a crop production schedule for a specified cut flower crop, detailing all essential work tasks.
