Gardens – Page 11 – Paluma – our village in the mist

What’s Flowering in Paluma? Bat Plants

Bat Plants

Tacca chantrieri (Black Bat Plant)

The black bat plant (Tacca chantrieri) is an unusual exotic plant that is native to tropical Asia. It grows well at Paluma, most often as a pot plant in a protected shaded position away from direct sunlight. The large flowers are striking and resemble a bat in flight. The flowers are black to deep purple with ruffled edges and long, hanging filaments. Large bright green leaves surround the bloom. Several gardeners at Paluma have spectacular specimens of the black bat plant. It flowers all year round, but seems to produce most flowers during the summer months.

Text and photo: Michele Bird

Tacca integrifolia (White Bat Plant)

The White Bat Plant (Tacca integrifolia) is a member of the yam family Dioscoreaceae. It is native to hilly regions of tropical and subtropical Asia where it thrives in the in the shady and humid understorey of the rainforest. The long, flowing ‘whiskers’ of this flower can grow to 30 cm long.

Text and photo: Colwyn Campbell

What’s Flowering in Paluma? Gordonia

Gordonia axillaris

If you take a stroll through the village of Paluma between April to May you are likely to see several beautiful specimens of the Gordonia plant in full bloom. Gordonia axillaris is an exotic shrub or small tree which is a close relative to the camellia. Although Gordonia’s are slow-growing they are well suited to the cool mountain climate at Paluma. You will recognise the Gordonia from its spectacular large white blooms with bright yellow stamens. The flowers tend to fall from the tree with their egg-yolk yellow stamens facing upwards. At first glance this has the appearance of fried eggs lying around the base of the plant. For this reason, the Gordonia is often referred to by its common name, the “fried egg plant”. Gordonia’s are a great attractant for both native bees and exotic bees. Keep an eye out for the “fried egg plant” in several gardens as you walk along Mt Spec Road.

Text and photo: Michele Bird

What’s flowering in Paluma? Golden Penda

At present the spectacular Golden Penda (Xanthostemon crysanthus) is in bloom, its flowers swarming with bees while dozens of birds visit for the nectar. There are about 45 species of Xanthostemon worldwide with 13 species in Australia but this species, native to North Queensland, is the most impressive. The flowers are in densely-packed umbels, forming golden pompons the size of cricket balls which cover the tree for a few glorious weeks.

Other native flowers you may see this month are the sweetly scented Ivory Curl Flower (Buckinghamia celsissima) and White Hazelwood (Simplocos cochinchinensis). These two trees usually bloom between February and May but flowering may be sporadic. There are still a few white flowering spikes remaining on the Ivory Curl Flower trees around the village.

The White Hazelwood which can be seen along the Range Road and around the village, bears racemes of small pearly white flowers. When the tiny petals drop they form a white carpet beneath the tree.

In the village gardens colour is provided by exotics such as Tibouchina with its beautiful royal purple flowers. Many of these trees are planted in Paluma and when all are in full bloom, as they were a few weeks ago, the sight is magnificent. Camellias are blooming in a range of colour from deep pink to white and Hibiscus shrubs are also providing splashes of colour while Tropical Rhododendrons, with their rich yellow and apricot toning stand out like beacons against the surrounding greenery. Livening up many gardens is the perennial Balsam, or Impatiens as it is also known. Its bright red and pink flowers sprawl exuberantly across the ground beneath shrubbery and along garden borders.

Text & Photos: Colwyn Campbell