Podocarpus spinulosus (Smith) R.Br. ex Mirbel

Frost-tender evergreen shrub or small tree with rigid, pointed, linear leaves, to 6cm long, and blue-black fruit, to 1.2cm across.  To 1m.  [RHSD, Hortus, FNSW, Beadle].

Added on August 09 2009

Santalum acuminatum (R.Br.) A.DC.

An erect shrub or small tree with lance-shaped leaves and bumerous small flowers in mostly terminal panicles, followed by bright red, rarely yellow, edible sweet fruit, 25mm long.  The seeds or nuts are also edible.  To 6m.  Member of the Sandalwood family from southern and more arid parts of Australia, partially parasitic on the roots of other plants. [FNSW, Wrigley].

Added on March 31 2010

Hedychium gardnerianum Ker-Gawl.

Half-hardy perennial with lance-shaped leaves, to 40cm long and spikes of yellow flowers with bright red filaments.  To 2m.  [RHSD, FNSW]. 

Added on January 16 2009

Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Ait.) Harsk.

Tender, downy, evergreen shrub or small tree with opposite, oval leaves and axillary, solitary or 2-3 clustered rose-coloured flowers, to 3cm wide, followed by purple fruit.  [RHSD, Hortus].

Added on January 18 2010

Narcissus tazetta subsp. tazetta L. dark cup

Narcissus tazetta is found in many forms and at Camden Park there are varieties that range from pure white to the vibrant colours of ‘Soleil d’Or’, and with many shapes and sizes of perianth segment and corona.  This dark-cupped variety of tazetta could well survive in the gardens.

See also the illustration with Narcissus varieties unidentified.

Added on May 21 2009

Bouvardia ternifolia (Cav.) Schldl. var. splendens

See Bouvardia ternifolia (Cav.) Schltdl.  for a description of the species.  ‘Bouvardias are grown in the greenhouse and were once very popular.  Many of the old florists kinds are supposed to be hybrids.’  [Hortus Second].  Scarlet flowers.  [JD].

Added on February 04 2009

Gladiolus (x colvilli) x (x gandavensis) [#3]

(Gladiolus x colvilli) x (Gladiolus x gandavensis) hybrid, no.3 in Macarthur’s notebook no.5 in an entry dated 1846.  ‘Very robust scape, large flowers, much paler than No.1 [Hero], purple orange blotches on lower lobes.  Good variety.’  [MP A2948-5].

Added on October 22 2009

Improvements to Hortus Camdenensis

The Hortus software has been upgraded. This led to some minor errors in the layout of plant names, particularly in the headings of Plant Profile pages but these have now been largely overcome. Improvements are also progressively being made to the content of the Hortus in three main areas, botanical and horticultural history, cross referencing and illustrations. Some enhancements will be done as the opportunity arises but most will be completed family by family. This will take at least two years to complete.

Published Sep 14, 2010 - 04:06 PM | Last updated Aug 12, 2012 - 04:36 PM

Sir William Macarthur on Vines and Vineyards

Sir William Macarthur wrote extensively on vines and Vineyards. It is our intention to publish all his writings in the Hortus.

Published Aug 01, 2010 - 04:58 PM | Last updated Oct 04, 2010 - 04:47 PM

Working Bee dates

Working Bee dates for 2012.

Published Jun 29, 2010 - 02:59 PM | Last updated Jan 10, 2012 - 05:19 PM

Open House and Gardens

Camden Park House and Gardens will be open to the public on Saturday 22nd September, 2012, from 12.00 noon until 4.00 pm, and Sunday 23rd from 10.00 am until 4.00 pm.

Published Dec 30, 2009 - 02:58 PM | Last updated Jan 09, 2012 - 05:31 PM

Some Account of the Vineyards at Camden

The vineyards of Camden Park are widely considered to be the first commercial vineyards in Australia. James and William Macarthur were certainly not the first to sell wine for profit or the first to export wine but were pioneers in the development of vineyards intended to produce a profit from the sale of quality wine. Prior to this wine was produced from small vineyards planted primarily for home consumption, with excess sold and sometimes exported.

The first vineyard was small, only one acre in extent, and largely experimental, but the second and third were on a much grander scale. As the closing words of this pamphlet demonstrate, James and William certainly had a vision of what was possible for Australian wine production, as they had previously for fine Merino wool.

‘Whether these Colonies can also hope to provide for the benefit of every class here at home, and at an equally moderate rate another exportable product, remains yet to be seen — so that even the tired artizan, in his hours of relaxation from toil, may not unseldom exclaim, “Go Fetch me a quart of (Australian) Sack.” ’

This short pamphlet outlining the Camden vineyards was produced to accompany samples of wine to the Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace in 1851.

Published Jan 10, 2011 - 04:54 PM | Last updated Jan 10, 2011 - 05:07 PM

The Fuchsias of Camden Park

The first fuchsia introduced to English gardens in 1788 was a variety of Fuchsia magellanica Lam.  This new plant soon attracted the attention of florists and, stimulated by the regular introduction of new species and varieties from South America, selection and hybridisation saw a rapidly increasing number of named varieties available through the nurseries.  The first record of a fuchsia at Camden Park is Fuchsia conica, which arrived on board the ‘Sovereign’ in February 1831.  By 1857 fifty-eight species, cultivars and hybrids had been recorded as growing in the gardens.

Published Mar 14, 2010 - 10:50 AM | Last updated Jun 24, 2011 - 02:45 PM

Camden Park Nursery Group

We are a small voluntary group helping to maintain and preserve the historic Camden Park gardens. There are regular meeting days, currently Tuesday and Saturday but this can be varied, but most members contribute through Working Bees held typically every third Sunday.

Published Jun 27, 2010 - 04:16 PM | Last updated Jun 27, 2010 - 04:32 PM

Colonial Australian Wines

The following article appeared in The Gardeners’ Chronicle of Saturday, November 25th, 1854. It includes a review of seven wines sent to the proprietors of The Gardeners’ Chronicle from Camden Park by William Macarthur, together with his notes on the wines, the vineyards in which they were produced and the economic conditions pertaining to wine production and sale in Australia. Macarthur’s brief notes, when read with the more detailed essay Some Account of the Vineyards at Camden, extends our knowledge of wine production at Camden but most importantly provides an external (but not necessarily unbiased) view of the quality of the wines.

Published Jun 30, 2011 - 02:12 PM | Last updated Jul 04, 2011 - 09:00 AM