Our Gardens
Araluen Botanic Park is home to many species of Australian and international flora.
Parks & Gardens
Araluen Botanic Park is 15 hectares of gardens with paths leading visitors on a walk through beautiful exotic gardens flourishing amongst 44 hectares of WA native plants.
Roses, Tulips, Hydrangeas, autumn colour and internationally recognised Camellias can be found thriving alongside the always flowing Stinton Creek. Araluen should be visited regularly to experience the four seasons
Flora
Araluen is an internationally-acclaimed garden for particular species, including Camellias and Roses. In 2022 the International Camellia Society (ICS) recognised Araluen under its Camellia Gardens of Excellence program. Similarly, Araluen’s Tea Roses drew acclaim through the highly respected US Rosa Mundi magazine.
Autumn Glory
In the cool of autumn Araluen puts on a new and colourful coat as deciduous trees become clothed in red, orange, yellow, and gold autumn tones. Autumn tones blanket the Park with splashes of colour across deciduous trees from April……
Winter Wonders
The magnificent Magnolias are prized for their large and perfumed flowers. Blooming in the cooler late winter months. The flowers are shaped like tulips and are a sight to behold near the Bennet’s Lawns along the walk to the Forest View Deck. This ancient genus is said to have appeared before the bees did and the flowers are theorised to have evolved to encourage pollination by beetles.
Trees
The dominant natural tree of the Valley, within and surrounding the Park is Marri. Other naturally occurring large trees are Jarrah and flooded gum. The Jarrah was once significant but has been logged at least twice now and plays a minor role in the bushland around Araluen.
Water
Water is a key element for the Park. The name Araluen reflects this as it is an aboriginal word from NSW that, according to the YAL was thought to mean place of running water, place of meeting waters or place of water lilies.
Roses
Araluen boasts one of the world’s finest collections of Tea Roses. Over 3,000 rose bushes delight both the eye and the nose from mid-October to May. These months are best time to stop and smell the fragrant blooms as the Park is filled with scent and colourful rose delights throughout the warmer months
Camellias
In 2022 the International Camellia Society (ICS) recognised Araluen under its Camellia Gardens of Excellence program. Araluen is recognised as an international garden of excellence for camellias, Araluen’s collection of over 230 picture-perfect varieties are not to be missed from April to October
Bird Watchers
Araluen is home to many of Western Australia’s most beautiful birds. From New Holland Honeyeaters, to Sacred Kingfishers, there are plenty of birds to see at Araluen, either zipping through the trees, or resting in the gardens.
Noongar Seasons
The six seasons in the Noongar seasonal calendar are Birak, Bunuru, Djeran, Makuru, Djilba and Kambarang. Each of these seasons has an influence on the flora and fauna of Araluen Botanic Park.
FAQS
Where is the Waratah Camellia?
Outside the Chalet Totterdell, which is now used as an administration building.
What's the oldest tree in the Park?
It is not known what the oldest planted tree is Araluen as many were planted in c1927.
We suspect the three oldest trees are the Eucalyptus pattens (Bluckbutt) in the concourse lawns, next to the Margaret Simons Pergola, the Blackbutt in the centre of the Grove of the Unforgotten, and the large Jarrah near the Lookout.
When do the tulips flower?
Between August and October each year.
Can I see other flowers in the Park?
Yes – see the downloadable list.
Where are the Autumn trees?
All across the Park. Several of the Ash (Fraxinus) which are generally the first to colour significantly with deep gold leaves.
These are closely followed by the Canadian Maples – Acer rubrum, Acer x freemanii whose bright red cultivars are found from the Entry verge and throughout the Park. Also in the Entry are the bright gold Tulip Trees (Liriodendron) and the red-toned Snowy Mespillus (Amelanchier) and then the large maples in the Entry Carpark.
From mid April to May
Look for the Chinese Pistachio, Pistachio chinensis which are found from the top of Brisbane Hill across to the Lake below Forest View; persimmons, Diospyros kaki, at the top of Lilac Hill; crepe myrtles, Lagerstroemia sp, and various ornamental plums and cherries, Prunus, and ornamental pears, Pyrus, throughout the Park
By mid-May Japanese Maple, Acer palmatum with many cultivars may be seen throughout the Park but especially on the verge below the Entry Cark, around the Margaret Simons Pergola, the adjacent lower level of Brisbane Hill, around the Log Cabin, and below Forest View as many of the younger trees are now becoming established.
The most impressive display comes from the various liquidambers, mostly around the Concourse. These are large trees dating from the early years of Araluen. One by the Margaret Simons Pergola has a plaque indicating it was planted in 1938.
What roses can I see and when?
Araluen has many varieties of roses in the Park, some that date back to the 1900’s. There is a huge variety of roses at Araluen. Near the ‘Grove of the Unforgotten’, there is a bed of the original 1930’s roses complemented with beds of Iceberg, Gruss an Aachen and Rugosas
The roses are planted in an Australian bushland setting, amongst native vegetation of jarrah, marri and grass trees, rather than as a formal rose garden. This is one of the reasons it is so unique.
Near the Roundhouse, the Felicias and Seafoam roses look spectacular. By the Chalet Healy cafe, a bed of David Austin Roses, together with many famous old heritage roses, are at their best in Spring. The bright yellow of ‘R.foetida’, an older species of rose, stands out. Kazanlik, a rose famous in the perfume industry, are here as well. The Moss roses, with their unusual and fragrant sepals, provide added interest.