The Flora
The trees are without doubt the highlight of the gardens. There are several hundred specimens, many at the peak of their maturity.
Of the seventeen National Trust of Australia listed trees, these three are of special State significance:
Chilean Wine Palm, Jubaea chilensis
Coast Live Oak, Quercus agrifolia
Variegated Portugese Laurel, Prunus lusitanica variegata
There is an impressive collection of Oaks (Quercus), containing at least 13 varieties. These are not only in the Gardens, but also in the community park and along the Campaspe River walk.
There are ten varieties of elm (Ulmus), eight of ash (Fraxinus), and seven of hawthorn (Crataegus).
The Gardens boast a large range of northern hemisphere conifers. These spectacular specimens include the Atlas, Blue Atlas, Deodar Cedars, Giant and Coast Redwoods and Douglas Firs. There are also a number of Pines including several Himalayan White Pines, (Pinus wallichiana), a species uncommon in cultivation.
There are many unusual shrubs including Viburnum varieties, as well as a collection of Kniphofia, (eg. red hot pokers).
For more information, see the plant list below.
Commemorative Plantings
1863, English oak
Honouring Queen Victoria, the inaugural planting
1863, Algerian oak
Commemorating the marriage of Edward, Prince of Wales, to Princess Alexandra of Denmark
1902, English oak
Coronation of Edward VII and his Queen consort Alexandra
1947, Algerian oak
Princess Elizabeth’s 21st birthday
1986, Silver maple
State of Victoria 150th anniversary
1988, Daimyo oak
Bicentenary of Australia
1990, Golden Red Oak
125th anniversary Shire of Kyneton. The present tree is a replacement planted in 2007
2008, Wollemi pine
Kyneton Botanic Gardens 150th anniversary
2012, Willow Leaf Oak
Queen’s Jubilee
2014, Palestinian Oak
1st World War centenary
Plant list
Those in bold are National Trust of Australia Heritage Listed Trees. This list was largely collated in 1985 but now includes some later plantings. It is not exclusive due to natural attrition and ongoing additions.
Abies nordmanniana, Caucasian Fir
Acacia melanoxylon, Blackwood
Acer negundo ‘Variegatum', Variegated Lemonwood
Acer palmatum, Japanese Maple
Acer platanoides, Norway Maple
Aesculus hippocastanum, Common Horse Chestnut
Araucaria araucana, Monkey Puzzle
Araucaria bidwillii, Bunya Bunya Pine
Arbutus unedo, Irish Strawberry Tree
Butia capitata, Jelly Palm
Buxus semperivirens 'Variegata', Variegated Box
Cedrus atlantica, Atlas Cedar
Cedrus atlantica f. glauca, Blue Atlas Cedar
Cedrus deodora, Deodar Cedar
Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Fastigiata', Upright Japanese Plum Yew
Chaenomeles speciosa, Japanese Quince
Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Nivalis', Japanese Quince
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, Lawson Cypress
Cordyline australis, Cabbage Tree
Cotoneaster glaucophyllus f. serotinus, Late Cotoneaster
Cupressus macrocarpa, Monterey Cypress
Cupressus funebris, Funeral Cypress
Cupressus glabra, Smooth Arizona Cypress
Cupressus lusitanica, Mexican Cypress
Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Aurea', Golden Cypress
Cupressus sempervirens, Italian Cypress
Cupressus torulosa, Bhutan Cypress
Danae racemosa, Alexandrian Laurel
Escallonia rubra var. Macrantha
Eucalyptus radiata, Narrow-leafed Peppermint
Eunonymus japonica ‘Aureo-marginata',
Gilt-edge Japanese Spindle Tree
Euonymus japonica, Japanese Spindle Tree
Fagus sylvatica 'Atropunicea' (syn. F. sylvatica ‘Cuprea'),
Copper Beech
Fraxinus excelsior ‘Pendula', Weeping Ash
Fraxinus oxycarpa, Desert Ash
Fraxinus oxycarpa ‘Raywoodii, Claret Ash
Ginkgo biloba, Maidenhair Tree
Ilex aquifolium, English Holly
Ilex cornuta, Chinese Holly
Ilex x altaclarensis, Highclere Holly
Jasminum humile, Jasmine
Jubaea chilensis, Chilean Wine Palm
Koelreuteria paniculata, Golden Rain Tree
Laurus nobilis, Bay
Ligustrum lucidum ‘Tricolor’, Tricolor Glossy Privet
Ligustrum ovalifolium, Californian Privet
Ligustrum ovalifolium ‘Aureum', Golden Californian Privet
Liquidambar styraciflua, Liquidambar
Liquidambar styraciflua (unusual form)
Liriodendron tulipiferum, Tulip Tree
Lonicera fragrantissima, Winter Honeysuckle
Maclura pomifera, Osage Orange
Magnolia soulangeana, Saucer Magnolia
Mahonia japonica, Japanese Mahonia
Malus pumila cv., Apple
Malus sp., Apple/Crabapple
Myrtus communis, Common Myrtle
Nandina domestica, Heavenly Bamboo
Olearia paniculata, Musk Daisy bush
Osmanthus fragrans, Fragrant Olive
Phoenix canariensis, Canary Island Date Palm
Phormium tenax ‘Variegatum', Variegated NZ Mountain Flax
Photinia serrulata, Chinese Hawthorn
Picea smithiana, West Himalayan Spruce
Pinus canariensis, Canary Island Pine
Pinus ponderosa, Western Yellow Pine
Pinus radiata, Monterey Pine
Pinus radiata var. binata, Two-leaved Monterey Pine
Pinus wallichiana, Himalayan White Pine
Populus canescens, Gray Poplar
Prunus lusitanica, Portugese Laurel
Prunus lusitanica Variegata, Variegated Portugese Laurel
Pseudotsuga menziesii, Douglas Fir
Pyrancantha crenulata, Nepal Firethorn
Quercus agrifolia, California Live Oak
Quercus bicolor, Swamp White Oak
Quercus calliprinos, Palestinian oak
Quercus canariensis, Algerian Oak
Quercus cerris, Turkey Oak
Quercus douglasii, Blue oak
Quercus dentata, Daimyo oak
Quercus ilex, Holm Oak
Quercus leucotrichophora, Banj oak
Quercus macrocarpa, Mossy-cup Oak
Quercus macrocarpa var. oliviformus
Quercus palustris, Pin Oak
Quercus phellos, Willow oak
Quercus robur, English Oak
Quercus robur 'Concordia', Golden English Oak
Quercus rubra ‘Aurea', Golden Red Oak
Quercus suber, Cork Oak
Quercus virginiana, Live Oak
Rhododendron cv.
Sequioa sempervirens, Californian Redwood
Sequoiadendron giganteum, Giant Redwood
Spiraea cantoniensis ‘Lanceata', May Bush
Spiraea thunbergii, May Bush
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus ‘Variegatus', Variegated Coralberry
Syringa vulgaris, Lilac
Syringa x hyacinthiflora, Lilac
Tilia x europaea, Common Linden
Trachycarpus fortunei, Chinese Windmill Palm
Ulmus carpinifolia ‘Variegata', Variegated Smooth-leaved Elm
Ulmus glabra, Wych Elm
Ulmus glabra ‘Camperdownii', Camperdown Elm
Ulmus procera, English Elm
Ulmus x hollandica, Dutch Elm
Viburnum x burkwoodii, Burkwood Viburnum
Wollemia nobilis, Wollemi Pine
Yucca gloriosa, Spanish Dagger