Summer

Is it a blackberry?

This is an indigenous plant in many areas of the Hills.

This is Forest Nightshade, Solanum prinophyllum, a small shrub growing to 50cm. It has spines to 10mm long all over the plant, including the fruit. It's got to be the echidna of the plant world.

It's quite attractive, preferring moist, shaded sites.

It's an interesting plant to show your children, the blue Summer flowers make way to the fascinating small round, striped fruit which appear in Autumn. The fruit change colour as they mature.

It's short-lived, so enjoy it while it's about.

No

This is an indigenous plant in many areas of the Hills.

This is Small-leaf Bramble, Rubus parvifolius. Often called the Native Raspberry, this plant looks very similar to blackberry but the leaves are much smaller and the plant does not become a problem.

The leaves are bright green and covered with white down underneath. The Summer flowers make way to fruit that is much smaller than a blackberry. It's edible, but an acquired taste perhaps.

Yes

This is blackberry, Rubus fruticosus. Blackberry is a declared noxious weed.

Summer and Autumn are the ideal months to be working on controlling blackberry patches. Eradicatio, even of large clumps is not impossible with a little planning. The Shire of Yarra Ranges service centres have fact sheets on controlling blackberry. Or phone them on 1300 368 333.

You may recognise these plants in your garden or local area

Bidgee Widgee, Aceana novae-zealandiae is a creeping, tangled mat-like herb with brown globular seed heads in Summer. Forms a wonderful groundcovering barrier to weeds.

Minute barbs allow seeds to cling tenaciously to socks, so perhaps keep pruned back from pathways. Great survival tactics that we could all learn by! Commonly found across the Hills

Hop Goodenia, Goodenia ovata is a spreading shrub found in both wet and damp areas. It is usually 1-2 metres high and can spread to about 3 metres.

The 5 petalled bright yellow flowers in Spring & Summer are in clusters of 1-3 growing on a long stem.

Will grow and flower in dense shade

It's small, transluscent white berries hang in small grape like clusters in Summer.

Purple flax-lily, Dianella Tasmanica, is a tufting plant. It is up to 2 metres high and spreads by rhizomes to form clumps.

It's small, purple and yellow flowers give way to beautiful purplish-blue berries that hang in drapes along the flower stalks in Summer.

A favoured food source for many birds. A hardy, attractive addition to the garden.

Hyacinth orchid, Dipodium Punctatum, has wide distribution usually in less disturbed environments. You will often see these orchids growing alongside our roadsides where they seem to like the openess that the road clearing has provided, but, this also makes them more susceptible to damage.

Autumn

Fungi.

Is it a flower? No, it's the fruting body.

Being a bit of a fungi fan, I couldn't resist putting this image in.

I have no idea what it's called...

Fungi.

Ditto.

I love the colours of this one, particularly against the leaf litter

Winter

Dusty Miller is an indigenous plant to many areas of the Hills.

The flowers and foliage are oval shaped. The dark green leaves have a dusty grey-white underside with deep veins, making it an attractive foliage plant. The dainty creamy-white flowers appear in late winter and continue into spring.

Dusty Miller grows naturally as an understorey shrub to 1-3m tall, along creeks and river valleys. It likes a damp, sheltered position and makes an attractive screening or specimen plant.

Spring

Unfortunately, these particular buttercups are an environmental weed in many areas of the Hills. They are distingushed from the indigenous varioety by their larger flower and 4 petals.

They cover large areas of damper ground very rapidly, preventing our indigenous groundcovers from establishing.

Thankfully, buttercups are relatively easy to remove with herbicides or by hand.

Replace with a locally indigenous plant that likes these conditions too. Ask your local community nursery for advise.

Forest buttercup, Ranunculus plebeius is an indigenous plant in the hills. It has a soft, hairy appearance. It's grey-green leaves are three-lobed and slightly divided.

It has a much smaller flower than the environmental weed variety (pictured above). They also have 5 petals which are held high above the foliage on long slender stems. The environmental weed has 4 petals.

It is a small to medium shrub, 2-4m tall and 2-3m wide. Soft, prickly foliage with gently arching branches. The flowers appear in Winter to early Spring.

For best results, grow where it will receive some shade, where the soil is deep and it has reliable moisture. It will even tolerate wet feet.

Your local community nursery is sure to have some in stock.

Rough Bush-pea, Pultenaea scabra, is an indigenous plant that flowers profusely in many parts of the Hills.

The shrub can grow to 2 metres. The leaves are small, with a finely roughened surface and paler underneath.

It produces vibrant yellow pea flowers with attractive red centres, followed by showy oblong shaped seedpods. Small deep green, sharply triangular leaves 1-2cm long and wide have a unique leathery texture.

For best results, grow in a reasonably dry, sunny position with well drained soil. It will also tolerate moist soils and partial shade.

Try it on a dry embankment or rockery or grow in pots to brighten a courtyard.

Hop Goodenia, Goodenia ovata is a spreading shrub found in both wet and damp areas. It is usually 1-2 metres high and can spread to about 3 metres.

The 5 petalled bright yellow flowers in Spring & Summer are in clusters of 1-3 growing on a long stem.

Will grow and flower in dense shade