Most of the plants in Centennial Park are native. This means they are plants indigenous to a given area in geologic time. This includes plants that have developed, occur naturally, or existed for many years in an area.
Native plants find their way to the spots they most enjoy – just like us. Some plants like the dry ridges and others the moist gullies. Generally speaking you won’t find a kahikatea naturally on a dry ridge and you won’t find dry ridge plants in moist gullies.
The dry ridges in Centennial have some pretty special plants including this one. It is Dracophyllum sinclairii, a relative of the large Dr Seuss plant but with much thinner leaves. This one has red flowers and was actually seen in another North Shore reserve. Mostly they have white flowers. The best place to see this plant is on the Baylis Track.
The ecosystem type is known as gumland scrub. The best place to learn more about the plants in Centennial Park is in “Just Scrub”, a wonderful booklet written and illustrated by Pat and John Morton.
You can download it here
Photo: Margi Keys
Campbells Bay Urban Sanctuary 