We are Closed
On the 23rd of March we were hit by a large and destructive wildfire. Destroying much of the property, the fire was followed by several storm events that caused major erosion. Thanks to many helpers we are are rebulidng the garden but it will take time. We look forward to welcoming guests at our reopening May 2026
About Us
How to find us
DIRECTIONS TO “CYPRESS FARM” WAROONA
(by appointment)
Enter 855 Nanga Brook Rd, Waroona into your Map finder app.
Travel to Waroona, an hour south of Perth and about 9.5 km along Nanga Brook Road turn left at Rural Number marker 855. STAY RIGHT on a gravel road; at 200m turn left (see our sign) and we are 1.2 km down this track (signs will direct you)
IMPORTANT: STAY RIGHT where the track forks ( a couple of times)
WE ARE NOT A PUBLIC GARDEN BUT IF YOU ARE REPRESENTING A GARDEN GROUP THEN PLEASE CONTACT US
(Image by Mick Barrow)
Winter Wonders are on their way
This is the time of the year when the garden starts the parade of fall colour leading up to our winter favourites such as the Daphne collection with fragrance and colour splashes. Our early purple beard iris and flowering quince along with the Formosan cherry herald spring that is just around the corner.
Image: Flowering Quince (Chenomeles winter red)
Summer is over but not forgotten
The waterlilies had their best season while the garden was a sea of blue and purple lace cap hydrangeas with the wonderful white Hydrangea paniculata adding the finishing touches. The Japanese maples that provided cooling leafy shade are now in retreat for their deep sleep.
(Image by Mick Barrow)
A bit of background Location: 855 Nanga Brook Road, Waroona, WA (Land grant in 1905). Area: 65 ha (160 acres); bounded by Lane Poole Nature Reserve Rainfall: 1200mm pa with two pristine water sources (Nyngan and Cypress Brooks) meeting at the property. Mt Riley (320m); Mt Nyngan (329m) are forested high points. Geology: 2.5 billion year old granites over dolerite which weathers to create the distinctive red soils of the valley. Vegetation: 85% original (though logged in 1900) moist Eucalypt forest of marri (Corymbia calophylla); yarri (Eucalyptus patens) and a high rainfall form of jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata). Video: Zen hardpan played by a neighbour at our main fountain, Trout Pond.
A Potted History
The formal gardens cover 12 acres. The garden has a canopy of Eucalypt forest trees with some exotic trees that survived from the 1980’s. Since taking over the property in 2015, we have planted extensively, with waterfalls, fountains, lily ponds and streams providing permanent water features Native sections are being added yearly and have attracted an amazing array of native birds including robins, honey eaters and wrens. A signature plant for the garden are the 1000 magnificent tree ferns (Cyathea cooperi) some more than 15 meters high naturalised from just three planted in the 1960’s by a former owner Peter Eaton.
This is a garden that is a ‘work in progress’ and hope you will overlook some of our ‘rough edges’.
About THE GARDEN
A major Japanese maple collection
Autumn colours are one of the highlights of the garden
Summer colour from the large Hydrangea collections
More than 50 cultivars and specimen trees including collections of weeping maples with many being the only specimens (such as Hana Matoi pictured) known in WA. Bloodgood, one of the best red Japanese maples, has been planted extensively so expect to see them throughout the garden.
Summer colour from the large Hydrangea collections
Autumn colours are one of the highlights of the garden
Summer colour from the large Hydrangea collections
With an abundance of water and cool shade, the 300 Hydrangeas thrive in our acid soils to create the most stunning blues to grape colours. We are always on the hunt for new forms with Annabel hydrangeas added for the first time in summer 2023
Autumn colours are one of the highlights of the garden
Autumn colours are one of the highlights of the garden
Autumn colours are one of the highlights of the garden
For the last week of April and first three weeks of May the garden is resplendent in vibrant crimsons, yellows and orange. We call it 'fall' as the leaves take on their autumn livery and, just as quickly the leaves fall to create coloured carpets with then becoming light-filled.
Springtime (Aug - Nov)
Springtime (Aug - Nov)
Autumn colours are one of the highlights of the garden
Commencing with the winter flowering Azaleas and peaking in October, the spring garden has an abundance of colour including the new foliage of Japanese maples (from yellow to scarlet), daffodils, tulips, wisteria, waratahs, Japanese water iris, beard iris and many more.
Japanese Teahouse
Springtime (Aug - Nov)
Japanese Teahouse
Just completed, the teahouse is built over water at the Japanese lake and is replete with authentic shoji screens and tatami mats. A small Zen garden has been installed adjacent to the teahouse. We ask that visitors please refrain from entering the teahouse to protect the hand woven tatami mats.
wild walks and news
Our Wild Walks
Cascades Walk 20 mins Easy
Cascades Walk 20 mins Easy
Beyond the garden area there is a variety of wilderness experiences from low impact walks such as The Cascades to more energetic walks to the summit of Mt Nyngan to high fitness long haul walks through the rarely visited western parts of the Lane Poole Nature Reserve, wilderness Murray River and Kyabram Falls.
Cascades Walk 20 mins Easy
Cascades Walk 20 mins Easy
Cascades Walk 20 mins Easy
Take the signed trail that is down from the barn towards the forest (you will see a signpost) which is a wilderness loop walk to The Cascades. A small bridge and bench with secluded views of tree ferns and waterfalls makes this one of our very special spots for quiet contemplation.
Mt Nyngan 30 mins Moderate
Cascades Walk 20 mins Easy
Discovery of the Lost Song Line of the Pinjarab people
For the slightly more intrepid take a return walk on the property to Mt Nyngan, 329m ASL. Follow signs to a viewpoint that has ocean glimpses and other points of interest.
Discovery of the Lost Song Line of the Pinjarab people
Discovery of the Lost Song Line of the Pinjarab people
Discovery of the Lost Song Line of the Pinjarab people
In exciting news we were thrilled to welcome to Mt Nyngan local Pinjarab elders who confirmed in November 2022 the existence of the long-lost Noongar Song Line that linked Waroona to Dwellingup. This well developed and ancient walkway was discovered by us during a covid lockdown. Out of respect, the song line can be viewed but not traversed.
Waterfall Walk Easy
Discovery of the Lost Song Line of the Pinjarab people
Cypress Form Walk 6km Moderate
And easy 20 min return walk to a secluded waterfall on the property where Nyngan Brook drops over an ancient dolerite cliff. Enjoy the mossy forest walk up to the waterfall and return on Nyngan Track.
Cypress Form Walk 6km Moderate
Discovery of the Lost Song Line of the Pinjarab people
Cypress Form Walk 6km Moderate
Taking you along the original rail spur used to log the once mighty jarrah and blackbutt forest this is a long but easy paced walk that follows Cypress Brook to its source. A few giant blackbutts remain as testimony to the extraordinary trees that once again are growing back along the Brook.
Unique Wildlife
Murray River Walk (45min - moderate);Kyabram Falls Walk Difficult 2h return
Murray River Walk (45min - moderate);Kyabram Falls Walk Difficult 2h return
With up to 45 species of birds including two nationally threatened black cockatoos (Baudins and Forest Red Tails) plus phascogales, chuditch, kwenda, echidna and wallabies, for the patient observer or those venturing out after nightfall, our forest holds many surprises.
Murray River Walk (45min - moderate);Kyabram Falls Walk Difficult 2h return
Murray River Walk (45min - moderate);Kyabram Falls Walk Difficult 2h return
Murray River Walk (45min - moderate);Kyabram Falls Walk Difficult 2h return
Taking in the wonderful valley views of the serene Falls of Kyabram Brook, this walk is difficult as you ascend from the Murray R walk (take the track out of Donkey Paddock to the banks of the Muirray and enjoy a swim or relax in the peaceful tranquility of the Murray valley before attempting the walk to Kyabram Falls. Return via the Muja Power Line)
New Collections
Murray River Walk (45min - moderate);Kyabram Falls Walk Difficult 2h return
New Collections
We are thrilled to be developing what is possibly WA’s first Auricula Theatre. Auricula is the term for a group of natural hybrid selections originally developed from the wild plants of the European alpines Primula rubra x auricula. They became such a plant craze in Victorian England that elaborate display cabinets and buildings called a ‘Theatre’ were invented to display collection for aristocratic and middle-class gardens. Coming in an astonishing array of colour combinations our collection is being grown in purpose made, 19th century hand thrown ‘Auricula’ terra cotta pots.
Major collections and things to see
Native Gardens
Orchid Collection
Native Gardens
With plants sourced from the Nuts About Natives (thanks Ben and Anouska), Friends of Kings Park, Australian Plant Nursery (thanks to Nancy and the team) and Plantrite (David Lullfitz has been very generous) the native garden is expanding each year and currently covers 3 acres with collections of waratahs, banksia and black paws (Macropidia) with 2023 being the installation of the featherflower garden (work in progress) plus a large wildlife mural. Bird life is abundant in the rich nectar filled native species .
Rose Garden
Orchid Collection
Native Gardens
2021 was a tough year with chilli thrip devastating the rose collection. However half of the collection survived the onslaught and summer/autumn 2023 has seen some spectacular flowering.
Orchid Collection
Orchid Collection
Orchid Collection
Cool growing orchids are part of our expanding collection including Pleione orchids from China (image), Cymbidiums including rare Chinese species as well as species from Assam plus Australian native orchids thrive in the humid cool environment in Cypress Valley.
Maple Garden
Maple Garden
Orchid Collection
Once covered in blackberry and bracken we have reinstated a collection of maples from Japan offset with our interpretation of an oriental pavilion.
Wilderness
Maple Garden
Wilderness
Over 80% of the property is intact, wet temperate Eucalypt forest with blackbutt, jarrah and marri with Mt Nyngan within the property and rising to 329m ASL. Wildlife is abundant with echidna, phascogale, chuditch, quokka, quenda, rikali (in the lakes) and Baudins and Forest Red Tail cockatoos. 11 species of frog occur in the lakes and ponds
Waterlife
Maple Garden
Wilderness
We have built 11 ponds that range in size from the Pond of Reflection at 12m long to lily ponds and the Terrace Pond to grow the rare waterwheel plant (Aldrovanda). All have fresh water exchange daily from the spring so are clear and algae free.
Magnolia Collection
The Waratah Collection
The Waratah Collection
Spring 2022 has been our best year for the collection with astounding first flowering of some stunners including masses of flowers on Vulcan and Royal Purple. The near-black Black Tulip along with Queen Elizabeth add interest to the collection. 2023 is shaping up as an all time winner with many plants putting on substantial growth spurts and bud formation already underway for springtime.
The Waratah Collection
The Waratah Collection
The Waratah Collection
One of Australia's best loved wildflowers and we have a collection of over 60 selections, hybrids and cultivars including our personal favourites, white Waratahs. Flowering for just 4 weeks in spring, they are dazzling with the latest addition being the newly released yellow Waratah. Our entry road is named Waratah Ave (there is an imposter road of similar name in Dalkeith) with 30 new cultivars including Esssie’s Gift in
Mini-conservatory
The Waratah Collection
Japanese Tea House
Our mild climate with lack of frosts mean our mini-conservatory produces amazing begonias, bromeliads and the newest arrivals, a collection of the ultra-fine mainden hair ferns courtesy of the Fern Society members. Limestone pyramids have spring water 24/7 percolating from their peaks which keeps the porous rocks moist and is ideal for ferns and begonias.
Japanese Tea House
Japanese Tea House
Japanese Tea House
We are excited to announce that the Tea House is completed. Based on an authentic Japanese design the building is built over water on the Japanese Lake. Shoji Screens, tatami mats and a shingle roof complete what is a welcome addition to the garden. Described as 'looking like it has always been there' the Tea House has already been filmed for a Gardening Australia episode.
Waterlily collection
Monet hardy water lilies
We learnt that our lakes have Marron with voracious appetites for waterlilies. So we have built ponds to house the collection. We have sourced some of Claude Monet's original waterlily hybrids so expect to see the same plants as you do at Giverny.