One question I hear quite often about local Illawarra plants, particularly down on the coastal plain, is the lack of red flowers. And it's true; there are fairly few red-flowering plants in the region, with a couple of obvious and honourable exceptions such as the Illawarra Flame Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius), or the NSW Christmas Bush (Ceratopetalum gummiferum, and its taller relation the Coachwood (C. apetalum). The Red-flowering Gum (Corymbia ficifolia), much loved and much grown around the region, is actually from south-west Western Australia, so doesn't count.
Thankfully though, what the local plants lack in red flowers, they make up for in foliage. Reds, crimsons, roses, scarlets, they're all there on different plants and different times of year. Here are just a couple. A large tree of the Illawarra escarpment, the Pigeonberry Ash (Elaeocarpus kirtonii)'s foliage can be seen from a long way away. There's a good-sized tree at Wollongong Botanic Garden, near the Murphy's Avenue entrance.
A small tree, the gorgeous White Bolly Gum (Neolitsea dealbata), is another escarpment specialist that can be seen at the Illawarra Rhododendron and Rainforest Gardens.
And finally, down in the understorey, the Prickly Rasp Fern (Doodia aspera, now known as Blechnum neohollandicum) is one of the toughest and most common of the local fern species, widespread in forests across the region.
And these are just a few of the most colourful options. You could also check out Maiden's Blush (Sloanea australis), which can be seen at the Mount Keira Scout Camp, on the walk to the chapel. Or the shrubby small tree Native Cascarilla (Croton verreauxii), which always hosts a few cheerful orange-red leaves among its yellow-green foliage. Keep an eye out!
