The Christchurch Botanic Gardens

Introduction

When the first settlers from England arrived at Lyttleton in 1850, they brought with them the gardening traditions of that country. It was just thirteen years after the arrival that the initial plans were made to form the present Botanic Gardens.

On 9 July 1863, the first tree was planted in the grounds to commemorate the marriage of Prince Albert to Princess Alexandra of Denmark. This tree, an English Oak, is regarded as the foundation date of the Government Domain, later to become the Botanic Gardens.

The tropical plant collections are housed in Cunningham House. This house was built as a result of a bequest by Mr G.Cunningham and opened in 1923.
The central ground floor area, known as "The Jungle" allows for the growth of taller dominant broadleaved trees and other plants that could not otherwise be displayed in containers. Beneath these, many small shrubs and herbaceous plants flourish, all showing great diversity and colour. Because the tree conopy blocks out much of the light, this allows the ground floor area to accomodate plant groups which require low light conditions. Often plants grow on one another in their struggle to reach the light. Many can be seen here clinging onto the trunks of trees by means of aerial and twining roots, stems or tendrils. Epiphtic plants grow high on the branches of trees where they can enjoy maximum light without producing extensive root systems. The upper level of Cunningham House displays the high intensity tropical collections.

The original house, bequeathed by Mrs A. Townend, was replaced in 1955 by the present structure. This house is essentially a conservatory where flowering plants are displayed.
Keeping the house furnished with flowering plants throughout the year requires careful planning. The thousands of plants needed are raised and grown to the flowering stage in the nursery. There are approximately 25-30 different displays featured each year.

Completed in 1957 this house is named after Mr M. Garick who donated a large collection of cacti and succulents to the Gardens. The current collection consists of almost 900 species of cacti which makes it one of the most extensive public displays in New Zealand. While many caxti are grown in pots, the main feature of the house is the fine desert panorama. The large specimens of cacti have been planted here, surrounded by red volcanic rock and soil brought form Banks Peninsula to fit with the overall concept. Cacti for both North and South America are grown here, some of the principal genera being Cereus, Cleistocactus, Echinocereus, Ferocactus Mammarillaria, Notocactus, Opuntia Oreocereus and the alpine Tephrocactus .
Contrary to most people's belief, not all cacti come from hot dry desert areas. Cacti can be found growing in tropical rainforests, in sandy beach areas and some may be covered with snow for many months of the year.

Gilpin House was built in 1964 to mark the bi-centenary of Kew Gardens. It originally housed the bromeliad, carnivorous and orchid collections but now contains some 200-300 species of succulent.
The Afican continent is rich in succulent plants and most of the characteristic genera of this country are represented here. Aloe, Crassula, Haworhtia, Kalanchoe and succulent species of Senecio all show great variation in shape, size and colour.
Although no cacti grow naturally on the African continent, their place is taken by the succulent species of Euphorbia, many species of whichassume a cactus-like form.
One of the most interesting groups of plants displayed are the "living stones" which exhibit remarkable adaptations for resisting the intense heat of their native regions.

Constructed in 1955 from bequests made by Mary Rothney Orr and James Foster, the Fern House enables the cultivation of a number of New Zealand ferns which would be difficult to grow outdfoors in Christchurch.
Prominent in the fern house are the punga or "Tree Ferns". These species of Cyathea and Disksonia provide shelter for the more delicate species of Adiantum, Asplenium, Blechmun, Polystichum and Pteris.
The walls around the inside of the house are clad in punga logs on which many species of epiphytic fern grow.
The fern house is also an excellent habitat for some species of indigenous orchids which are usually found in damp shady bush.

Opened in 1967 as the "Apline House", this was renamed in 1980 after Jean Foweraker in acknowledgment of the many alpine plants donated by her. The house is designed to display native and exotic alpine plants to their best advantage.
It is impossible to name more than a few plants from the Alpine House and its surrounds as the display is constantly changing. During the spring some of the more noteworthy flowering plants include Fritillaria, Narcissus and Tulipa.
Autumn brings its share of flowering plants including a wide selection of Cyclamen, Narcissus and Oxalis. .Always on display is a collection of dwarf conifers in addition to Saxifraga which are displayed over a long period.

Ruby Coleman 3558-811 Adrianne Moore 3515-915
or contact the Botanic Gardens Information Centre on 3661-701