Australian Natives A (Introduction) Online Course
| Full Fee | $595.00 incl GST - Best Value! |
| Payment Plan | $800.00 incl GST |
Exam Optional
Tutor Support Yes unlimited by email
Qualification Certificate
Australia has one of the oldest and most diverse varieties of plants of an country. Australian natives come from tropical areas to cold temperate snow covered mountains, and from inland deserts to fertile wet rainforests. Develop your ability to identify, select, cultivate and plan a management program, for appropriate varieties of Australian native plants, in a wide variety of situations. This is relevant to not only Australia, but most parts of the world.
Course Aims:
- Classify most significant cultivated native plants, to the family level.
- Determine cultural practices to maintain healthy native plants.
- Explain the identification and culture of eucalypts in your locality.
- Explain the identification and culture of native trees.
- Explain the identification and culture of acacias in your locality.
- Explain the identification and culture of native shrubs, including species of Acacia, Melaleuca, Callistemon and Leptospermum
- Explain the identification and culture of different Proteaceous native plants, with particular emphasis on the genus Grevillea.
- Explain the identification and culture of a range of Australian Native ground covers and small shrubs.
- Determine commercially viable applications for different native plants.
Get Free Info Pack
Complete the form below and we'll send you a free info pack.
Detailed Course Outline
This course is made up of a number of lessons or units. Each of these has self assessment questions, a set task (practical homework) and an assignment which you can upload online. Click below to read about each of the lessons and what you will learn.
There are 9 Lessons in this course:
Introduction
- Scope and Nature of Native Plants
- Taxonomy: Botanical and Horticultural Nomenclature
- Binomial System
- Levels of Division
- Plant Families
- Species, Hybrids, Varieties and Cultivars
- Botanical Keys and their Use
- Origins of Australian Plants
- Continental Drift
- Resources for More Information
- Sources for Seed Information
Cultural Techniques
- Cultivation
- Things that can Go Wrong: Pests, Diseases, Environmental Problems, Nutrition
- Soils
- Improving Soil Structure
- Soil Water Management
- Compost
- No Dig Growing Techniques
- Feeding Natives
- Pruning
- Temperature
- Planting, Staking, Mulching
- Special Planting Techniques
- Natives for Shade
- Controlling Weeds
- Propagation; seed, cuttings, etc
- Stock Plants
Eucalypts
- Introduction
- Types of Eucalypts; gums, stringybarks, boxes, ironbarks, yates, peppermints, etc.
- Hybrid Eucalypts
- Eucalypt Cultural Requirements
- Review of Important Eucalypt Species
Native Trees
- Casuarina; Casuarina and Allocasuarina, Gymnostoma and Ceuthostoma
- Casuarina Culture
- Review of Casuarina and Allocasuarina species
- Australian Conifers: Overview
- Cupressaceae: Actinostrobus, Calitris, Diselma
- Araucariaceae; Araucaria
- Podocarpaceae; Dacrydium, Microcachrys, Microstrobos, Phyllocladus, Podocarpus
- Taxodiaceae:
- Macadamias
- Brachychiton
- Angophora
- Lophostemon
Acacias
- Introduction to Legumes; Papilionoideae, Caesalpiniodeae and Mimosoideae
- Overview of Acacia
- Acacia Cultural Requirements
- Review of Important Acacia species
- Elements of drawing a Landscape Plan
- Landscape Design Procedure
Myrtaceous Australian Plants
- Review of the Myrtaceae Family
- Callistemon overview
- Callistemon Culture
- Important Callistemon cultivars and species
- Leptospermum overview and Culture
- Important Leptospermum Species
- Baeckea
- Calothamnus
- Calytrix
- Eugenia
- Homoranthus
- Kunzea
- Melaleuca
- Micromyrtus
- Scholtzia
- Syzygium
- Verticordia
- Thryptomene
Grevilleas
- Grevillea Overview
- Types of flower: Erect Cluster, Toothbrush, Pendant, Cylinder
- McCilveray’s Classification into eleven main groups
- Flower and Leaf Terminology
- Review of Low Growing Grevilleas
- Banksia Type Hybrids
- Hybrid Parents from tropics and sub tropics
- Poorinda Hybrids
- Review of many Important Species
- Culture
- Related Proteaceae Natives: Dryandra, Hakea, Banksia, Telopea
Ground Cover and Small Shrubs
- Overview of Fabaceae (Egg and Bacon) Plants
- Brachyzema
- Castenospermum
- Clianthus
- Gastrolobium
- Gompholobium
- Goodenia
- Hardenbergia
- Hovea
- Jacksonia
- Kennedya
- Oxylobium
- Swainsonia
- Viminaria
- Boronia; overview and culture
- Boronia species
- Prostanthera
Commercial Applications
- Fragrant Natives
- Uses for Eucalyptus
- Uses for Grevilleas
- Uses for Acacia: timber, tanning, cut flowers, food, etc
- Aboriginal Uses for Acacias
- Growing Natives in Containers
- Bush Tucker
When you have completed the lessons of your Certificate course, you will be given the option of taking the optional exam. It's okay if you don't want the exam, we still issue your Careerline Certificate. For Advanced Certificates however, the exam is compulsory (per module) and are included in the course fee.
Course Tutor(s)
Barbara Tremain BSc. (Hons) Horticulture, RHS Adv. Cert,. RHS General, City & Guilds Garden Design, Permaculture Level 3 (UK)
Barbara brings to Careerline a wide range of horticultural experience and knowledge Barbara has a keen interest in herbalism, edible wild plants and has lead into studies of many plant based complementary medicinal systems, qualification as a Bach Flower remedy practitioner and studying Ethnobotany. Barbara has practiced and studied horticulture as well as combining it with her love of travel in many countries including the UK, US and Australia and has also studied Permaculture and runs her own horticulture business. Within the past two years she have also worked for Groundwork SW with 18-24 year old unemployed people, this work and the mentoring scheme has allowed me to teach informally. It has been a delight to nurture the interests of keen learners in horticulture and garden design. Meanwhile the business has covered a variety of Garden Design projects, from wildflower gardens to seaside situations, and has included some work with Chelsea Gold multi-winner John Moreland.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay in installments?
Yes! We offer great payment plans, however full payment up front is the cheapest. You can choose the best payment plan for you from the course page, or call us on 07 55368782 to talk to one of our course consultants for a custom plan.
Can I study from anywhere in the world?
We have many international students. Careerline's range of courses are suitable for any one, anywhere in the world.
Do I get a discount if I enroll in a second course?
Yes. You may claim a 5% fee discount when you enroll in a second course, and a further 10% off a three-course package.
Do I have to sit an Exam?
No. If you are enrolled in a Certificate course (100hrs), the exam is optional. You will be issued with a certificate which proves that you are competent in all units, if you choose not to sit the exam.
Do you have set start dates?
There are no set start dates, you may start at any time. Our courses are all self-paced. As our home page says, ‘Courses for Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime’. ‘Anytime’ includes the start time of your choice. However, we do encourage our students to submit assignments on a regular basis. Wherever possible, we suggest developing a study routine.