North American Drylands Collection: Gardens Walk

The North American Drylands collection lies along the eastern border of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, between Tecoma Gate and Eastern Gate. It represents flora spreading from southwest America to northern Mexico, where many of the endemic species has been threatened with extinction from effects of climate change including weed invasion, altered fire regimes and habitat loss.

The Gardens' collection, carefully curated by horticulturalist Jo Brennan, features many of these incredibly diverse plantings. Jo manages the plantings towards more heat-tolerant species and low water usage species whilst monitoring the effects of increasing temperatures on existing species.

Jo will guide participants through the collection, sharing her knowledge of the plantings and some of the stories of international collaboration that have occurred while working at the Gardens.