Gardener’s Guide for planting: LOWLAND SUBTROPICAL RAINFOREST

Subtropical Rainforest in Sea Acres, a range of canopy levels, light and shade, plus 10 degrees worth of air conditioning for free!

Why we need your help More than 90% of most of our urban areas are cleared. In Port Macquarie and other urban areas of our Local Government Area (LGA), we are fortunate to have Bushland Reserves managed for the plants and animals that our housing and agricultural land has displaced.

On the whole these reserves are small and linear: opening them up to damage from weed invasion (mostly from urban garden plants that are now environmental weeds) and edge effects whereby light, noise and wind penetrates the long edges of our narrow bushland reserves.

The bird and animal life that we value so highly in our region largely subsist in these reserves, but you can help make both the reserves stronger and the life of the beautiful and beneficial animals and plants that inhabit these refuges so much better by giving them some of your garden as a habitat.

By planting rainforest plants, you enhance your own environment, provide food, shelter and other resources for our urban wildlife and add value and amenity to your house and your own piece of Australia. Even if you live in an apartment you can still help our local animal and plant species.

The benefits of planting locally indigenous rainforest plants These benefits range from environmental and aesthetic to the practical. We have listed a few to help you decide whether you wish to participate by planting local rainforest plants:

BENEFITS TO YOU AND YOUR PROPERTY

Ambiance and aesthetics - many of the rainforest plants are readily available in local nurseries because of their usefulness for hedging, screening edging or feature plants, others have very sculptural forms (see PLANT GALLERY).

Colour - many of the plants have colourful flowers and/or foliage. In addition, the animals that are attracted can often be spectacular (see ANIMAL GALLERY).

Natural air conditioning - because rainforest plants create a canopy, they maintain an more even temperature compared to the open urban landscape. So much so that the winter to summer temperature variations can be changed by as much as 10 degrees (4-5 degrees cooler in summer and 4-5 degrees warmer in winter: John Kennedy pers. comm.).

Maintenance - Once the initial tasks of planting, mulching and nourishment to establish the plants is completed, the ongoing maintenance is minimal.

Fire resistance - Rainforests are a natural fire resistant form of vegetation. By surrounding your property in vegetation which is not susceptible to burning, you can lower the threat on your property (consult the RFS website in a high fire risk area).

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

Animal life - By attracting colourful and engaging local animals to your garden you create an aspect which many gardens lack (see ANIMAL GALLERY). Sound and movement in any garden provides interest and a sense of belonging.

Climate - As with a mature rainforest, by enclosing your property and house within a rainforest environment, you will see the benefits of removing large temperature fluctuations. Shade in summer will help keep your home cool, whilst the closed canopy of a rainforest helps avoid the extreme low temperatures of winter. If shade in winter is a problem, deciduous rainforest species can be selected to help increase solar access and winter sun. Red Cedar Toona ciliata, White Cedar Melia adzedarach, Koda Ehretia acuminata and Illawarra Flame Tree Brachychiton acerifolius are all examples of deciduous rainforest species.

Habitat restoration - Being a Critically Endangered ecological community, Lowland Subtropical Rainforest restoration has huge ecological benefits. By increasing the distribution of species, we are helping ensure their survival and spread in the local landscape. Including many Lowland Subtropical Rainforest species in your home garden also increased the habitat for native animals, providing stepping stones for movement and dispersal through the landscape. This helps to repair some of the primary functions which has become apparent in our highly fragmented urban landscape.

Lowland Subtropical Rainforest: at risk of extinction This planting guide is based on Lowland Subtropical Rainforest. The species selected for the guide are indigenous to the PM-HC LGA and can be found in vegetation communities on serpentine geologies within Port Macquarie (e.g. Sea Acres), basaltic geologies (e.g. Comboyne Plateau), lowland floodplains (e.g. Hastings River, Wilson River and Maria River), and in many of the foothill gullies (on fire-protected southern or eastern facing aspects) throughout the shire. Lowland Subtropical Rainforest tends to be most common in areas which experience moderate to high rainfall and are protected from fire. Lowland Subtropical Rainforest is

listed as Critically Endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

When undisturbed, Lowland Subtropical Rainforest have a closed canopy consisting of a high diversity of trees (NSW Government: Environment & Heritage, 2011). These trees typically form three layers within the rainforest: the emergents (oldest and largest mature trees), canopy (the majority of mature trees), and understorey/under canopy (maturing trees or smaller trees and shrubs), which create a series of layers within the forest (Figure 1). The heights of these layers are determined by the species found within the rainforest, the landscape and prevailing climatic conditions such as wind. These layers help to create a moist, shaded micro-climate, that minimises temperature changes throughout the day. Plants diversity is high in this ecological community and exhibit a variety of life-forms: trees, shrubs, groundcovers, palms, vines and epiphytes. Brush Box Lophostemon confertus and scattered Eucalyptus may also occur in this rainforest as emergents (NSW Government: Environment & Heritage, 2011).

Figure 1: Rainforest strata of a mature forest community.

It is estimated that there is now less than 1000ha of Lowland Subtropical Rainforest remaining in NSW (NSW Government: Environment & Heritage, 2012), with approximately 700ha of this occurring as remnants of the Big Scrub Rainforest of North Eastern NSW (Big Scrub Landcare, 2013). The remaining stands are small and fragmented across the landscape, often being less than 10ha in size (Australian Government: Department of Environment, 2013). The survival of these remnants and their constituent species is impaired by small population size, the low probability of seedling recruitment within the mature forest, disturbance of flower pollination , destruction of seed dispersal, and lack of genetic diversity of species within the local landscape (NSW Government: Environment & Heritage, 2011). Including a range of rainforest plants in your own backyard is one of the best ways to add genetic diversity and limiting fragmentation by providing stepping stones to the nearest remaining patches of rainforest in our bushland reserves. The habitat and food your plantings provide, will also help sustain plant dispersers and pollinators in our region (some of which come from as far away as South-east Asia.

By increasing the distribution of Lowland Subtropical Rainforest species in the urban environment, you directly contributing to the rescue of this endangered plant community and its dependent fauna. Many local species are attractive and useful as feature plants, hedges and screens and do not require closed rainforest habitats to flourish. The significant benefits of incorporating a range of local plants not only advantage the flora species you select to plant, but also the animal species which may depend on them as sources of food, shelter or as a breeding/nesting sites.

Rainforest plants at home The plant lists we have provided indicate the best uses for local rainforest plants in landscaping. These uses will still provide substantial ecological benefits even if your home or personal choice do not allow a full rainforest habitat planting. By substituting local plants for environmental weeds you also reduce the stress placed on local reserves by weed invasion. It is strongly recommended that you follow the size-based planting advice in Planting Advice Tables (below), to ensure your rainforest plants can grow to their full potential. Poor choices may mean repetitive maintenance or costly removal (particularly for trees and vines).

The habitat you choose to create in your backyard is dependent on how much room you have. The urban backyard can provide good habitat, as can even those with only a balcony. Many a frog or penny lizard would be grateful for the cool refuge your plantings will provide

in the concrete jungle. To maximise the value of your backyard rainforest habitat: include as many of the key features found in mature rainforest habitats; a range of canopy levels, year round fruiting or flowering, a variety of plants and growth forms and a closed canopy. But remember, if all you can do is a hedge or a potted balcony plant; it all helps!

You will have a lot of fun selecting and researching the species you want from our: Gardener’s Lowland Subtropical Rainforest plant species list.xlsx. This list is arranged by life-form categories: tall trees (>10m), small trees (<10m), shrubs, groundcovers, vines and epiphytes. Make sensible selections according to the room you have to plant, proximity of services and neighbours etc. Use the PLANTING ADVICE TABLES (below). You should also try to identify rainforest plants that may have already been established in the area to be planted (many may already have arrived and you weren’t aware of their presence (contact: Port Macquarie Landcare www.landcareportmac.com.au or the Council’s Ecologist if you suspect you already have some).

Site preparation Remove lawn or previous plantings and replace them with a good quality mulch consisting of leaves, twigs and larger chips. A mixed mulch of at least 10cm thick will ensure a gradual breakdown over an extended period of time. Mulch not only helps to retain moisture and cycle nutrients, but it also limits competition from weeds. If you are lucky, native ground covers will move in to colonise the site and create a “living mulch” which will reduce upkeep. Native groundcovers such as Blue Commelina Commelina cyanea and Native Violet Viola banksii can be manually introduced into the site by taking sods from established colonies in your yard. As the garden matures it will become self mulching, and it is important to leave as much of this material in place as this feeds the plants and creates cool moist soil.

Using the PLANTING ADVICE TABLES below, begin by laying out your larger plants, working down the list from largest to smallest. This will help to spread your larger trees out around the planting site and avoiding immediate competition between plants. It is important to remember that you want to close the canopy as soon as possible, so plant fast growing pioneer plants such as Bleeding Heart Omalanthus populifolius and Kangaroo Apple Solanum aviculare will help protect your other trees while they establish. Both Bleeding Heart and Kangaroo Apple are relatively short lived species which can quickly fill an empty space whilst adding colour and variety to any garden, even if you are not attempting to create a full rainforest habitat.

Because you want to close the canopy on all sides, edge sealing is just as important at closing in the planting’s ‘roof’. Western sides of the garden should be the highest priority as this will dry out your rainforest as the hot afternoon sun hits the forest floor. Planting a ladder of plants with the lowest ones on the edge with for example Mat-rushes that are hardy and fast growing. These will seal edges quickly, preventing weeds from invading. Lomandra are a very attractive bushy grass with beautifully perfumed flowers and grow to approximately 1m in diameter, which also helps make their planting quite cost effective. The next row in should be a little higher and so on.

Plan to include other landscape features such as rocks and logs which provide fauna habitat for insects, reptiles, birds and mammals, increasing sources of food or places to shelter. Once your trees increase their height and trunk width you can begin to add substitutes for mature forests by installing next boxes in the place of hollows. These will provide places for birds, mammals or micro bats to shelter or breed and add another interesting dynamic to your garden. Epiphytes such as Birds Nest Ferns Asplenium australasicum, Elk and Stag Horns Platycerium bifurcatum and P. superbum can also be added to trees, palms, posts, walls, verandas or balconies. Even colourful and bountiful mistletoes can be planted once trees mature (PLANT GALLERY).

Plant species: Consult: Gardeners Lowland Subtropical Rainforest species list.xlsx

PLANT GALLERY

Beach Lily Crinum pedunculatum Rasp Fern Doodia aspera

Cunjevoi Allocasia brisbanensis Brush Mistletoe Amylotheca dictyophlebia

Smooth Quandong Elaeocarpus obovatus Slender Palm-lily Cordyline stricta

Illawarra Flame Tree Brachychiton acerifolius Oliver’s Sassafras Cinnamomum oliveri

PLANT GALLERY

River Mat-rush Lomandra hystrix Coogera Arytera divaricata

Blue Cherry Syzygium oleosum: clipped Blue Cherry Syzygium oleosum: hedge

ANIMAL GALLERY

Blue Triangle Graphium sarpedon

ANIMAL GALLERY

Regent Bowerbird sericulus chrysocephalus Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornata

Australian King Parrot Alisterus scapularis

ANIMAL GALLERY

Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog, Littoria fallax. Frogs Australia

Green Tree Frog, Littoria caerulea. Frogs Australia

Red-eyed Tree Frog, Littoria chloris. Wikepedia

Pink-tongued Skink Cyclodomorphus gerrardii

PLANTING ADVICE TABLES: plant numbers and plant spacing for rural and urban situations

RURAL: large areas that are generally not space-constrained Planting situation

LIFE-FORM

Based on 1 ha area (100m x 100m) Maximum numbers (based on 1ha unit

area of plantable area)

Minimum spacing (m) (between plants in same life-form category)

Full restoration planting

for each ha of land (large properties:

no services)

Rural Residential (>40m from the

house or services)

Strangler figs 100m 1

Emergent trees 25m 2 2

Large-medium canopy trees 20m 100 100

Small canopy trees-large shrubs

10m 400 400 Willow Bottlebrush Callistemon salignus important in rainforest for nectar, beautiful for foliage and flowers.

Shrubs-small vines 1m to 5m 1,537 1,537

Groundcovers 0.1m-2m 7,960 7,960

Epiphytes Yes Yes Yes

TOTAL PLANTS PER UNIT AREA 10,000 9,999

URBAN SITUATIONS: small or space-constrained areas

LIFE-FORM

Based on 0.01 ha area (10m x 10m) Planting situation

Minimum spacing (m) (between plants in same life-form

category) Maximum numbers (based on 100 square metre unit area of plantable area; or fractions thereof)

Large' urban

area (>100sqm) Standard' urban area (<50sqm)

Small' urban area (<25sqm)

Unit courtyard (<15sqm) Apartment

balcony (<10sqm)

Large-medium canopy trees 20m 1 0 0 0 0

Small canopy trees-large shrubs

10m 2 1 0 0 0

Shrubs-small vines 1m to 5m 4 3 2 1 0

Groundcovers 0.1m-2m 25-100 25-50 10 5 5

Epiphytes N/a Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

TOTAL PLANTS PER UNIT AREA - 32 - 107* 28 - 54* 12 6 5

*Numbers vary and are dependent upon the dimensions of individuals plant species selected from Gardner’s Lowland Subtropical Rainforest species list.xlsx

References: Australian Government: Department of Environment; 2011; Approved Conservation Advice for the Lowland Subtropical Rainforest of Subtropical Australia; Australian Government: Department of Environment; Date viewed 11/11/2013 http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/communities/pubs/101-conservation-advice.pdf

Big Scrub Landcare; 2013; Big Scrub; Big Scrub Rainforest Landcare Group; date viewed 11/11/2013; https://www.bigscrubrainforest.org.au/big-scrub

NSW Government: Environment & Heritage; 2011; Lowland Subtropical Rainforest in NSW North Coast and Sydney Basin Bioregion - endangered ecological community listing; NSW Government: Environment and Heritage; Date viewed 5/11/2013; http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/LowlandRainforestEndCom.htm

NSW Government: Environment & Heritage; 2012; Lowland Subtropical Rainforest on Floodplain in the New South Wales North Coast Bioregion - profile; NSW Government: Environment & Heritage; Date viewed 5/11/2013; http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspeciesapp/profile.aspx?id=10497