This presentation will highlight plant conservation outcomes achieved through the collaborative efforts of Parks Victoria (PV) and the Australian Rhododendron Society (ARS) at the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden (DRBG).
Located 40 km east of Melbourne, DRBG is Victoria’s premier cool-climate garden. Formerly known as the National Rhododendron Garden, it features a significant collection of plant species, notably rhododendrons and camellias, set against the cool temperate rainforest of the Dandenong Ranges National Park.
The 2014 Dandenong Ranges Strategic Management Plan outlines key directions for DRBG, including the expansion and diversification of its plant collections, with a focus on conservation and the display of rare and threatened species.
In line with these goals, PV and ARS have forged a strong partnership, making significant strides in adopting conservation horticulture as a core practice in the garden’s ongoing management.
This presentation will showcase several key collaborative projects that exemplify this conservation work:
• The Australian Cloud Forest Collection (featured project): A major new landscape within DRBG that conserves and displays wild-collected plant species from the mountaintops of Far North Queensland. This initiative aligns with and supports the broader Tropical Mountain Plant Science (TROMPS) project.
• Rhododendron Species Conservation Collections: Ongoing efforts to conserve rare and significant Rhododendron species within DRBG.
• Care for the Rare – Victorian Alpine Collection: A conservation partnership with the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (RBGV) focusing on alpine species native to Victoria’s high country.