Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens

Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens Set across 13.5 hectares, we've been growing our beautiful cool-climate garden since opening in 2013.

With a mix of native and exotic areas, there's something to enjoy in every season. Be inspired by our plantings as you stroll through the gardens.

15/10/2026

One of the beautiful spring flowering trees at Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens is Cornus florida ‘Rubra’, commonly known as pink dogwood.

A member of the Cornaceae family, this deciduous tree is native to eastern North America. In spring, its branches become covered with soft pink floral bracts surrounding the small, true flowers at the centre.

As spring blends into summer, Cornus florida offers interest beyond its spring blooms, with fresh green foliage through summer, colourful autumn leaves and bright red fruits.

It’s another example of the seasonal variety here at the Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens, - there’s always something new to discover.

Come and see what’s flowering at 1 Old South Road, Bowral NSW.

Southern Highlands NSW The Fold - Southern Highlands Destination NSW

14/10/2026

Have you ever seen a contorted hazel? It’s twisted, tangled and has an unusual origin story.

This is contorted hazel, Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’, a cultivar prized for its wonderfully twisted branches and long, pendulous catkins.

Where did it come from you may ask? Rather than being deliberately bred, ‘Contorta’ was discovered as a spontaneous mutation growing in an English hedgerow in the 1860s. It was subsequently propagated for its distinctive contorted growth, making this curious mutation a much-loved garden plant.

And those long catkins? They’re the male flowers of the hazel, releasing pollen into the spring air. Look closely and you may also spot the much smaller female flowers, with their tiny red styles emerging from the buds.

A fascinating plant with a fascinating history - and it’s looking particularly spectacular at the Gardens.

Come and see it for yourself at Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens, 1 Old South Road, Bowral. Free entry and parking, open 9am-5pm daily.

The Fold - Southern Highlands

One of our favourite spring openers! Our Cercis chinensis ‘Avondale’ puts on a spectacular display, with clusters of ric...
13/10/2026

One of our favourite spring openers!

Our Cercis chinensis ‘Avondale’ puts on a spectacular display, with clusters of rich magenta-pink flowers covering the branches and creating a wonderful burst of colour at the Gardens.

One of the things that makes Cercis so fascinating is the way its flowers appear directly on the bare branches and even the trunk, this is known as cauliflory. The flowers emerge before the new leaves, making the spring flower display all the more spectacular.

Native to China, Cercis chinensis is commonly known as Chinese redbud. ‘Avondale’ is particularly admired for its many, deep-coloured flowers.

Come and enjoy the spring colour at Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens, 1 Old South Road, Bowral.

09/10/2026

Happy 90th birthday Ann Emmett, our founding SHBG president. Ann, her husband Tony, Maureen Purtell, Chris and Charlotte Webb, who were all founding members of the Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens, enjoyed the delicious Moroccan orange birthday cake baked by Chris Webb.

Thanks, everyone. we are all sold out of bulbs.A reminder that we have our Collectors' Plant Sale event on Sunday, 25th ...
08/10/2026

Thanks, everyone. we are all sold out of bulbs.

A reminder that we have our Collectors' Plant Sale event on Sunday, 25th October, 9am-1pm.

Visit NSW Southern Highlands NSW

Freshly dug tulip bulbs from Tulip Time will be available for purchase TOMORROW Thursday 8th October from 1PM at Souther...
07/10/2026

Freshly dug tulip bulbs from Tulip Time will be available for purchase TOMORROW Thursday 8th October from 1PM at Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens.
Be quick, they will not last long!
$10 for 50 bulbs. Mixed colours.

All proceeds go to the Botanic Gardens, with thanks to the generosity of Wingecarribee Shire Council.

Wingecarribee Shire Council

Visiting locals enjoying a glorious day and soaking up the sunshine 🌞 at the Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens. Why don...
06/10/2026

Visiting locals enjoying a glorious day and soaking up the sunshine 🌞 at the Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens.
Why don't you?

More locals enjoying a glorious day soaking up the sunshine at the Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens. Why don't you?
06/10/2026

More locals enjoying a glorious day soaking up the sunshine at the Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens.
Why don't you?

Little wonders at every turn, from our magnificent Bunya Pine (Araucaria budwillii)To the unusual Petalum (Trillium Chlo...
06/10/2026

Little wonders at every turn,
from our magnificent Bunya Pine (Araucaria budwillii)
To the unusual Petalum (Trillium Chloro)
To the delicate Cornus Dogwood flowers and the internal beauty of a fallen leaf.
Even our local wildlife enjoy spending time at the Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens.
We would love to see you there. ❤️

Double the petals, double the springtime glamour! These beautiful double daffodils from Drewitts Bulbs are putting on a ...
06/10/2026

Double the petals, double the springtime glamour! These beautiful double daffodils from Drewitts Bulbs are putting on a spectacular spring display at Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens.

Unlike the single daffodil, double varieties have extra layers of petals and transformed trumpet-like coronas, creating flowers that are wonderfully full and ruffled.

Daffodils have a special place in the story of our Gardens. Our National Collection includes Narcissus daffodils beneath the birches, as bred and donated by the late Tony Davis, a founding member of the Gardens and a passionate local daffodil breeder.

Spring is certainly putting on a show. Come and see all the daffodils for yourself at Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens, 1 Old South Road, Bowral.
Open daily 9am - 5pm, free entry and parking.

Drewitts Bulbs

Address

1 Old South Road
Bowral, NSW
2576

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61456752595

Website

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