Raising Rarity – presentation and tours on Sunday 18 May, 2025
Raising Rarity is an RBGV program designed to engage the wider community in the conservation of threatened Victorian plant species.
“With over a third of plants in Victoria listed as threatened, we need the help of the wider community to join us in our conservation efforts. With community involvement, we can grow more plants in more locations and in climates they may be better suited to” says Dr Meg Hirst, Seed Ecologist at RBGV.
Following ground-breaking work with school students, local government, and other botanic gardens, the newest aspect of this work is the possible commercialisation of a rare plant collection. RBGV is trialling rare plants in the nursery and research beds at Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne with the aim of making these available for purchase by the public in 3 or 4 years. RBGV’s scientists and horticulturists are hoping to explore the ‘horticultural potential’ of each plant to determine whether it is suitable for inclusion in the program. The ultimate goal is to find endangered plants that are attractive and easy to grow, as possible sales will help preserve the plant for the future.
At our event, a presentation by Matt Henderson, Raising Rarity Project Officer (Horticulture), and Tash van Velzun, RBGV Education Officer, will be followed by two tours in the Australian Garden:
– to the Research Beds, to see rare plants currently being developed
– to the Eucalyptus Walk, to see wild-collected plants from which the rare plants may come.
This is your opportunity to find out more about this vital research which hopes to preserve our plants for the future; you may also wish to sign up to a special Raising Rarity newsletter.
Come and support this vital project as proceeds from this event go towards the program. Tickets are $25 for members and $30 for non-members.
For more information and to book:
Image: Olearia pannosa subs. pannosa, an endangered plant grown at Gardens nursery, Cranbourne. Photo: RBGV
