Online Australian Natives II Course

There are 8 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction
   • Review of the system of plant identification, general characteristics of the group, information contacts (ie: nurseries, seed, clubs, etc.)
2. Growing Conditions
   • Planting, staking, mulching, watering, pest & disease, feeding, pruning, propagation, protection from wind, salt air, environmental zones, etc.
3. The Heaths and similar plants
   • Myrtaceae family, etc. Thryptomene, Bauera, Astartea, Grevilleas, Telopea, Leptospermum, etc.
4. The Daisy Family
   • Identification and growing needs Helichrysum, Helipterum, Celmisia, Brachyscome, Olearia, etc.
5. The Legumes
   • Fabaceae, Mimosaceae and Caesalpinaceae families. Kennedya, Pultenaea, Acacia, etc.
6. Other common groups
   • Boronia, Crowea, Clematis, Viola, etc.
7. The Monocots
   • Grasses, native irises, Anigozanthus, Xanthorrhea, etc.
8. Commercial Applications

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

• Distinguish between different types of native wild flowers.
• Determine reliable information about the identification and culture of Australian wild flowers.
• Specify general cultural practices, including propagation, for different families of Australian native wild flowers.
• Explain the characteristics, including identification and culture, of heath like native wild flowers; with reference to both proteaceous and myrtaceous plants.
• Explain the characteristics, including their identification, culture and use, of wild flowers in the Asteraceae (ie. Daisy) family.
• Explain the characteristics, including identification, culture and use, of different legume wild flower genera.
• Explain the characteristics, including identification, culture and use, of different Australian native monocotyledons (ie. narrow-leaved plants).
• Prepare a planting design featuring Australian wild flowers.
• Develop a cut flower production plan, for a selected Australian wild flower.