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Visit Australia’s oldest scientific institution to learn about our latest scientific discoveries. We've been studying and documenting plant life in New South Wales and Australia for over 200 years.
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Keep up with our latest discoveries, breaking news and stories about the people and plants in the Garden.
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Discover all the tours, walking trails, plant displays and natural areas at the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden.
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The Garden's panoramic views and stunning Mountain location make this an unrivalled location to celebrate your wedding or proposal, birthday party, or gather with friends and loved ones over a picnic or BBQ.
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Foundation & Friends
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Through the Smoke, Through our Eyes
Through the Smoke, Through our Eyes
is an exhibition showing firsthand accounts and experiences from the staff at the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden during the 2019 Gospers Mountain bushfire.
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Through the Smoke, Through our Eyes
Through the Smoke, Through our Eyes
is an exhibition showing firsthand accounts and experiences from the staff at the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden during the 2019 Gospers Mountain bushfire.
Find out more
Nature Therapy Walks
Relax with Shinrin-yoku, or Forest Therapy – a preventative health practice that improves wellbeing by immersing your senses in nature.
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Nature Therapy Walks
Relax with Shinrin-yoku, or Forest Therapy – a preventative health practice that improves wellbeing by immersing your senses in nature.
Find out more
Science
Science
Visit Australia’s oldest scientific institution to learn about our latest scientific discoveries. We've been studying and documenting plant life in New South Wales and Australia for over 200 years.
Find out more
National Herbarium of New South Wales
Herbarium digitisation project
Our work & discoveries
PlantClinic
Australian PlantBank
Daniel Solander Library
Our Science Staff
Vital Science
The Botanic Garden is a living lab. Home to some of the world's most valuable plant scientists, solving some of humanity's most vital challenges.
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Vital Science
The Botanic Garden is a living lab. Home to some of the world's most valuable plant scientists, solving some of humanity's most vital challenges.
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Branch Out
Branch Out with our new podcast and discover the surprising world of plants with science and stories from Australia’s oldest living scientific institution.
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Branch Out
Branch Out with our new podcast and discover the surprising world of plants with science and stories from Australia’s oldest living scientific institution.
Find out more
Plants
Plants
Discover the plants that call the Garden home and the people that help cultivate our amazing floral displays.
Find out more
Gardening
Plant Information
Common Diseases
Wild about Waratahs
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Wild about Waratahs
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Common Diseases
Get all the details on plant diseases such as Phytophthora, Armillaria, Fusarium Wilt, Ganoderma Butt Rot and Cypress Canker, along with methods for disease diagnosis and control.
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Common Diseases
Get all the details on plant diseases such as Phytophthora, Armillaria, Fusarium Wilt, Ganoderma Butt Rot and Cypress Canker, along with methods for disease diagnosis and control.
Find out more
Learn
Learn
Discover our primary and secondary school education that engage students with hands-on learning delivered by our skilled team of educators.
Find out more
Primary Programs
Secondary Programs
Virtual Excursions
Plan Your Excursion
Community Greening
Primary Programs
A world of discovery awaits primary students at the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah. We offer a range of unique learning activities designed to engage and delight both you and your students
Find out more
Primary Programs
A world of discovery awaits primary students at the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah. We offer a range of unique learning activities designed to engage and delight both you and your students
Find out more
Secondary Programs
Our unique secondary science programs will engage and inspire your students
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Secondary Programs
Our unique secondary science programs will engage and inspire your students
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Stories
Stories
Keep up with our latest discoveries, breaking news and stories about the people and plants in the Garden.
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The Australian Institute of Botanical Science
Discover how the new Australian Institute of Botanical Science will advance fundamental knowledge of flora and drive effective conservation solutions to ensure the survival of plants, and all life that depends on them.
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The Australian Institute of Botanical Science
Discover how the new Australian Institute of Botanical Science will advance fundamental knowledge of flora and drive effective conservation solutions to ensure the survival of plants, and all life that depends on them.
Find out more
Maple Mania
Featuring over 365 specimens, the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah houses an expansive collection made up of 198
Acer
species and cultivars.
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Maple Mania
Featuring over 365 specimens, the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah houses an expansive collection made up of 198
Acer
species and cultivars.
Find out more
Visit
Visit
Discover all the tours, walking trails, plant displays and natural areas at the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden.
Find out more
Opening Hours
Map
Things to See & Do
Eat and Drink
Our History
Regulations
Things to See & Do
Find out more about what you can see and do in the Garden.
Find out more
Things to See & Do
Find out more about what you can see and do in the Garden.
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What's On
Find out more
What's On
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Venue Hire
Venue Hire
The Garden's panoramic views and stunning Mountain location make this an unrivalled location to celebrate your wedding or proposal, birthday party, or gather with friends and loved ones over a picnic or BBQ.
Find out more
BBQs, Picnic & Garden Parties
Weddings
Filming & Photography
Contact Us
Booking Information
Weddings
Curate your own unique wedding in a romantic botanic garden setting.
Find out more
Weddings
Curate your own unique wedding in a romantic botanic garden setting.
Find out more
BBQs, Picnic & Garden Parties
Book a picnic shelter for your next birthday party or family gathering.
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BBQs, Picnic & Garden Parties
Book a picnic shelter for your next birthday party or family gathering.
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Science
Our Science Staff
Dr Susan Rutherford
Dr Susan Rutherford
Technical Officer Biodiversity Genomics
Email
Susan.Rutherford@rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au
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Research Interests
My research interests centre on evolutionary biology with a focus on the evolution of eucalypts. I am using new genetic techniques in combination with morphological, functional trait and environmental data to address questions concerning speciation, adaptation, phenotypic plasticity, hybridisation and species boundaries.
For my Ph.D., I investigated speciation in the green ash eucalypts (
Eucalyptus
subgenus
Eucalyptus
). Previously, I worked in plant ecophysiology and I continue to work with collaborators on the water relations of the wallum vegetation of the North Coast (NSW).
Current Projects
Restore & Renew
Population genomics of
Eucalyptus tetrapleura
and other closely related co-occurring ironbarks
Biodiversity Adaptation Transect Sydney (BATS)
Adaptive variation versus vicariance: what drives speciation in
Eucalyptus
?