Mount Lofty Botanic Garden, Botanical garden in Crafers, South Australia
Mount Lofty Botanic Garden is a botanical garden near Crafers spread across about 97 hectares with distinct themed plant sections. Multiple walking trails wind through gullies and areas showcasing plants adapted to cooler climates.
The garden opened in 1977 as part of South Australia's botanical garden network. It joined established sites like Adelaide Botanic Garden and Wittunga Botanic Garden.
The garden's gullies are named for the regions whose plants they hold: East African, New Zealand, South American, Southeast Asian and Western Asian, alongside Fern, Magnolia and Rhododendron gullies. Magnolia Gully alone represents at least 36 species of the genus, and the National Species Rose Collection gathers a wide range of species roses and cultivars.
The garden lies on the eastern slopes of Mount Lofty in the Adelaide Hills, east of Adelaide, and is open to the public throughout the year. It can be closed when a severe, extreme or catastrophic fire danger is forecast, so check conditions before setting out on hot, windy days.
The garden's international herbarium code is AD-LO, and it is a member of Botanic Gardens Conservation International. Fern Gully is described in the sources as holding one of the country's most diverse fern collections, with tree ferns among the native Australian flora.
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