Wittunga Botanic Garden

About

The Wittunga Botanic Garden is one of three botanic gardens in Adelaide, South Australia administered by the Botanic Gardens of South Australia, a State Government statutory authority; the other two are the Adelaide Botanic Garden, located in the inner city's parklands, and the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden. The Wittunga garden is located on Shepherds Hill Road, Blackwood, on the western scarp of the Adelaide Hills. Beginning as a formal English garden at the home of Edwin Ashby in 1901, it changed over the years assisted by the efforts of Edwin's son, Arthur Keith Ashby to include South African and native Australian plants. Wittunga’s displays of these plants are especially spectacular in spring and include rich collections of Erica, Leucadendron, and Protea, complemented by displays of exotic and unusual bulbs and colourful annuals. The majority of the South African plants in the garden come from the Cape Province district which has a climate similar to that of Adelaide. The Australian collection features plants from the Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island, southern Western Australia and includes a fine collection of eucalypts. Meandering pathways through the Terrace and Sandplain...

An annual outdoor concert occurs in March, and is coordinated by Lions Club of Blackwood Inc. The event was first held in 2003 and features live music, jazz and dance performances presented under the title of Wittunga Under the Stars. Previous performers have included the Bearded Gypsy Band, Zen Knights, New Orleans Ramblers, Studio Flamenco dancers and the St. John's Grammar School Band. 35°01′25″S 138°36′36″E  /  35.0235°S 138.6099°E  / -35.0235; 138.6099  ( Wittunga Botanic Garden )