The Flora

The trees are without doubt the highlight of the gardens. There are several hundred specimens, many at the peak of their maturity.

Of the seventeen National Trust of Australia listed trees, these three are of special State significance:

Chilean Wine Palm, Jubaea chilensis

Coast Live Oak, Quercus agricola

Variegated Portugese Laurel, Prunus lusitanica variegata

There is an impressive collection of Oaks (Quercus), containing at least 13 varieties. These are not only in the Gardens, but also in the community park and along the Campaspe River walk.

There are ten varieties of elm (Ulmus), eight of ash (Fraxinus), and seven of hawthorn (Crataegus).

The Gardens boast a large range of northern hemisphere conifers. These spectacular specimens include the Atlas, Blue Atlas, Deodar Cedars, Giant and Coast Redwoods and Douglas Firs. There are also a number of Pines including several Himalayan White Pines, (Pinus wallichiana), a species uncommon in cultivation.

There are many unusual shrubs including Viburnum varieties, as well as a collection of Kniphofia, (eg. red hot pokers).  

For more information, see the plant list below.

Commemorative Plantings  

1863, English oak
Honouring Queen Victoria, the inaugural planting

1863, Algerian oak
Commemorating the marriage of Edward, Prince of Wales, to Princess Alexandra of Denmark

1902, English oak
Coronation of Edward VII and his Queen consort Alexandra

1947, Algerian oak
Princess Elizabeth’s 21st birthday

1986, Silver maple
State of Victoria 150th anniversary 

1988, Daimyo oak
Bicentenary of Australia  

1990, Golden Red Oak
125th anniversary Shire of Kyneton. The present tree is a replacement planted in 2007

2008, Wollemi pine
Kyneton Botanic Gardens 150th anniversary   

2012, Willow Leaf Oak
Queen’s Jubilee   

2014, Palestinian Oak
1st World War centenary

Plant list  

Those in bold are National Trust of Australia Heritage Listed Trees. This list was largely collated in 1985 but now includes some later plantings. It is not exclusive due to natural attrition and ongoing additions.

Abies nordmanniana, Caucasian Fir

Acacia melanoxylon, Blackwood

Acer negundo ‘Variegatum', Variegated Lemonwood

Acer palmatum, Japanese Maple

Acer platanoides, Norway Maple

Aesculus hippocastanum, Common Horse Chestnut

Araucaria araucana, Monkey Puzzle

Araucaria bidwillii, Bunya Bunya Pine

Arbutus unedo, Irish Strawberry Tree

Butia capitata, Jelly Palm

Buxus semperivirens 'Variegata', Variegated Box

Cedrus atlantica, Atlas Cedar

Cedrus atlantica f. glauca, Blue Atlas Cedar

Cedrus deodora, Deodar Cedar

Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Fastigiata', Upright Japanese Plum Yew

Chaenomeles speciosa, Japanese Quince

Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Nivalis', Japanese Quince

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, Lawson Cypress

Cordyline australis, Cabbage Tree

Cotoneaster glaucophyllus f. serotinus, Late Cotoneaster

Cupressus macrocarpa, Monterey Cypress

Cupressus funebris, Funeral Cypress

Cupressus glabra, Smooth Arizona Cypress

Cupressus lusitanica, Mexican Cypress

Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Aurea', Golden Cypress

Cupressus sempervirens, Italian Cypress

Cupressus torulosa,  Bhutan Cypress

Danae racemosa, Alexandrian Laurel

Escallonia rubra var. Macrantha    

Eucalyptus radiata, Narrow-leafed Peppermint

Eunonymus japonica ‘Aureo-marginata',
Gilt-edge Japanese Spindle Tree

Euonymus japonica, Japanese Spindle Tree

Fagus sylvatica 'Atropunicea' (syn. F. sylvatica ‘Cuprea'),
Copper Beech

Fraxinus excelsior ‘Pendula', Weeping Ash

Fraxinus oxycarpa, Desert Ash

Fraxinus oxycarpa ‘Raywoodii, Claret Ash

Ginkgo biloba, Maidenhair Tree

Ilex aquifolium, English Holly

Ilex cornuta, Chinese Holly

Ilex x altaclarensis, Highclere Holly

Jasminum humile, Jasmine

Jubaea chilensis, Chilean Wine Palm

Koelreuteria paniculata, Golden Rain Tree

Laurus nobilis, Bay

Ligustrum lucidum ‘Tricolor’, Tricolor Glossy Privet

Ligustrum ovalifolium, Californian Privet

Ligustrum ovalifolium ‘Aureum', Golden Californian Privet

Liquidambar styraciflua, Liquidambar

Liquidambar styraciflua (unusual form)    

Liriodendron tulipiferum, Tulip Tree

Lonicera fragrantissima, Winter Honeysuckle

Maclura pomifera, Osage Orange

Magnolia soulangeana, Saucer Magnolia

Mahonia japonica, Japanese Mahonia

Malus pumila cv., Apple

Malus sp., Apple/Crabapple

Myrtus communis, Common Myrtle

Nandina domestica, Heavenly Bamboo

Olearia paniculata, Musk Daisy bush

Osmanthus fragrans, Fragrant Olive

Phoenix canariensis, Canary Island  Date Palm

Phormium tenax ‘Variegatum', Variegated NZ Mountain Flax

Photinia serrulata, Chinese Hawthorn

Picea smithiana, West Himalayan Spruce

Pinus canariensis, Canary Island Pine

Pinus ponderosa, Western Yellow Pine

Pinus radiata, Monterey Pine

Pinus radiata var. binata, Two-leaved Monterey Pine

Pinus wallichiana, Himalayan White Pine

Populus canescens, Gray Poplar

Prunus lusitanica, Portugese Laurel

Prunus lusitanica Variegata, Variegated Portugese Laurel

Pseudotsuga menziesii, Douglas Fir

Pyrancantha crenulata, Nepal Firethorn

Quercus agrifolia, California Live Oak

Quercus bicolor, Swamp White Oak

Quercus calliprinos, Palestinian oak

Quercus canariensis, Algerian Oak

Quercus cerris, Turkey Oak

Quercus douglasii, Blue oak

Quercus dentata, Daimyo oak

Quercus ilex,  Holm Oak

Quercus leucotrichophora, Banj oak

Quercus macrocarpa, Mossy-cup Oak

Quercus macrocarpa var. oliviformus

Quercus palustris, Pin Oak

Quercus phellos, Willow oak 

Quercus robur, English Oak

Quercus robur 'Concordia', Golden English Oak

Quercus rubra ‘Aurea', Golden Red Oak

Quercus suber, Cork Oak

Quercus virginiana, Live Oak

Rhododendron cv.     

Sequioa sempervirens, Californian Redwood

Sequoiadendron giganteum, Giant Redwood

Spiraea cantoniensis ‘Lanceata', May Bush

Spiraea thunbergii, May Bush    

Symphoricarpos orbiculatus ‘Variegatus', Variegated Coralberry

Syringa vulgaris, Lilac

Syringa x hyacinthiflora, Lilac

Tilia x europaea, Common Linden

Trachycarpus fortunei, Chinese Windmill Palm

Ulmus carpinifolia ‘Variegata', Variegated Smooth-leaved Elm

Ulmus glabra, Wych Elm

Ulmus glabra ‘Camperdownii', Camperdown Elm

Ulmus procera, English Elm

Ulmus x hollandica, Dutch Elm

Viburnum x burkwoodii, Burkwood Viburnum

Wollemia nobilis, Wollemi Pine    

Yucca gloriosa, Spanish Dagger