Tamarindus indica
Common name: tamarind, dakkar
The tamarind is believed to have originated in Africa and Madagascar though it has been cultivated for so long on the Indian subcontinent it is often considered indigenous to this region. Traded extensively since the fourth century B.C, Spanish and Portuguese colonists introduced the plant to Mexico and parts of South America in the 16th century. It is now a staple ingredient in regional cuisine.
This tree was planted in the City Botanic Gardens in 1858 by Walter Hill as a potential food crop for the early colony.
Artocarpus heterophyllus
Common name: jackfruit, jack tree, jakfruit, jack, jak
Artocarpus heterophyllus has been cultivated in India for the last 3000-6000 years and is widely used for culinary purposes and wood throughout its indigenous habitats of south–southeast Asia. The popular fruit is exported internationally with varieties distinguished according to characteristics of its flesh.
The jackfruit became invasive in Brazil’s Tijuca Forest National Park around Rio de Janeiro, a second growth forest replanted in the late 19th century after extensive deforestation of the area for sugar and coffee crops. In a deliberate cull by park management over 55,000 jackfruit saplings were destroyed between 2002 and 2007 in a “war on jackfruit”.
Walter Hill first planted jackfruit within the City Botanic Gardens prior to 1871.
Jacaranda mimosifolia
Common name: jacaranda, blue jacaranda
Indigenous to South America the jacaranda has been cultivated extensively for its long lasting blue flowers across North America and the Mediterranean coastline.
Introduced to South Africa by the founding curator of the Cape Town botanic gardens, it is now considered an invasive species.
Cargo ships returning from South America are believed to have bought Australia its first jacaranda tree. The specimen was planted in the City Botanic Gardens in 1864 by Walter Hill but blown down in 1980 storm. Most jacarandas in Brisbane are from the seeds and cuttings of that first tree.
Erythrina iystemon
Common name: coral tree, lucky bean tree
The coral tree is indigenous to South Africa and is widely cultivated as a decorative plant in gardens and parks globally.
Regarded as royal trees, they are known to have been planted on the graves of Zulu chiefs.
Erythrina iyestemon first arrived at the City Botanic Gardens in 1884.
Ficus benghalensis
Common name: banyan, banyan fig, indian banyan
The Ficus benghalensis is indigenous to India and Pakistan but due to its impressive nature has been cultivated throughout the tropics in many public and private gardens.
A strangler fig, the life of a banyan begins when a bird deposits its seed onto a host. The plant eventually envelops and often kills the host tree to leave a hollow centre. Expanding outwards the fig drops aerial roots which form new trunks, supporting the branches as they continue to spread.
This tree was planted in the City Botanic Gardens during the 1870s by Walter Hill.
Colvillea racemosa
Common name: colville's glory, colvillia, glory covillea, ohai, whip tree
Originally found in Madagascar, the racemosa has been planted widely across Australia and North America for its bright orange flowers.
Colville’s glory takes its name from the British Army general Sir Charles Colville who gained prominence during the Napoleonic Wars and the Irish Rebellion of 1798. Colville would later go on to serve as commander-in-chief in Bombay and govern the British crown colony of Mauritius.
The racemosa was planted within the City Botanic Gardens in 1934.
Schotia brachypetala
Common name: weeping boer-bean, tree fuchsia, african walnut
Indigenous to South Africa the weeping boer-bean tree is now widely planted in Australia, Spain, and the southern United Kingdom.
The plant is popular for its red flowers which drip a nectar that coat the tree and surrounding earth, giving it its weeping namesake.
Schotia brachypetala was first planted in the City Botanic Gardens in 1939.
Sanchezia speciosa
Common name: sanchezia, shrubby whitevein
Indigenous to Ecuador speciosa is a member of the Acanthaceae family known for their attractive foliage and as such has seen widespread cultivation as an ornamental plant across the globe.
The shrub and its relatives have become invasive in many of the tropical environments it has been introduced to, largely throughout the pacific islands, parts of south Asia, and Australia.
A related species was planted in the City Botanic Gardens by Walter Hill prior to 1872.
Ficus benjamina
Common name: weeping fig, benjamin fig, ficus tree, ficus
The weeping fig is indigenous to Asia but has also been naturalised in the West Indies and parts of the south-west United States. It is the official tree of Bangkok.
Though the benjamina produces a small edible fruit it is used almost exclusively for landscape gardening or potted indoors. When planted in residential environments its destructive roots are known to invade gardens and lift driveways and footpaths.
An avenue of weeping figs were planted by Walter Hill in the late 1880s.
Araucaria bidwillii
Common name: bunya, bunya pine, bunya bunya
Endemic to south-east Queensland and small pockets of the state’s tropical north, the bunya pine dates back to the Mesozoic and Jurassic Era. It is the last surviving species of the section Bunya within the Araucaria genus, the fossils of which have been found across South America and Europe. Its exotic appearance fitted well with the fashions of 19th-century landscape gardening and drew interest among public and private gardens in the United Kingdom and beyond.
The bunya is of cultural significance to many Indigenous nations of Queensland who consumed the nuts and structured large gatherings around their harvesting. Prior to colonisation the bunya was spread in larger numbers throughout forested areas of the region, though the onset of European agricultural occupation and economic interest in the tree has reduced this footprint. Most notable clusters are now protected in reserves and national parks.
A row of bunya pines were planted within the City Botanic Gardens by Walter Hill between 1858 and 1867.