Fern Gully is named because of its many tree ferns. There are many tall trees here as well as many other plant species that can be found in the cool, moist forest of the Dandenong Ranges and the Otway Ranges. Alongside the tree ferns, some of the notable species are the Southern Beech (Nothofagus cunninghamii) and a young Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans) which is the tallest flowering plant in the world. Fern Gully is a cool oasis in the and on a hot day you can feel the temperature drop as you walk under the canopy.
Indigenous Beds
In the middle of the Botanic Gardens, alongside the lake, there are a number of gardens beds that represent many of the different vegetation types that can be found in the bushland areas around Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula. The vegetation types that are represented include, Eucalyptus Forest, Swampy Woodland, Grassy Woodland, Dry Heathland, Damp Heathland and Wetland.
Proteaceae Beds
Found in the north west corner of the gardens, the Proteaceae bed contains many representatives of the attractive and colourful Proteaceae family. These species ranges from ground covers to trees and include different Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea, Isopogon and Adenanthos. A great time to visit this area is in spring when many of the plants are in full bloom.
Foot Street Rainforest
Located at the Foot Street entrance to the garden is the Foot Street Rainforest. This area was planted in the 1980s with the help of the local Rotary group. Now more than 20 years old, it contains many mature natives from subtropical areas of Queensland and NSW.
The Terraces
The Terraces is an area of the garden designed by renowned native garden designer and author, Diana Snape. The Terraces shows off many of our attractive native plants, including many that have been bred for their showiness. This garden bed provides an example of what can be achieved in the home garden using Australian native plants.
Info Shelter Garden Bed (Flora of Melbourne Garden Bed)
The garden bed that surrounds the Information Shelter contains some of the more attractive ornamental plant species that have come from Melbourne's bushland, including many from the Frankston area. This garden bed shows the home gardener how they can use indigenous plants that are most adapted to local conditions to make a beautiful garden that requires less water and fertilisers while supporting local birds and animals.