The Blue Mountains is a unique ecosystem that contains many plants that can be found no where else on earth. Many climbers know of the famous Wollemi Pine (a 200 million year old dinosaur only discovered in the last 50 years) but there are plenty of other lesser known species that are living on the cliffs and gullies that climbers frequent. Some of these plants are incredibly rare and should be treated with care if you see them. Get familiar with the species described in detail below and you never know – you may find a whole new species or population unknown to science!
This page has been created to show far more detailed photos of these important species than otherwise published by Nat Parks or Blue Mountains City Council.
What can you do to help?
- Learn about the most important plants using the guide below.
- Stick to established walking tracks when possible. Sometimes that may mean you get wet and muddy feet – be prepared for this with appropriate footwear. Never trample on vegetation along a track edge.
- Don’t light fires or flick cig butts into the bush. A rogue bushfire could exterminate an entire species. Some of the plants described below can take 9 years to reach maturity and seed – if a bushfire burns every 5 years the plants will cease to exist.
- Avoid standing on, climbing through or pulling out vegetation on climbs. Admire the plants tenacity to cling on to the cliff and leave it alone. Vegetated cracks should be left vegetated.
- Never pick flowers or seeds – these are the future generations of plants!
Video introduction with local climber Monique Forestier about the Cliffhanging 5 – a must watch!
National Parks Cliffhanging 5 – info about 5 key species found on cliffs in the Blue Mountains
Blue Mountains City Council threatened species page
NSW Gov Save Our Species – includes a searchable database for regional areas.
Eyebright (Euphrasia bowdeniae)
A semi-parasitic perennial herb to approx. 22 cm high. Confined to wet or damp vertical sandstone rock faces on major cliff-lines facing south or east, growing in small pockets of damp, sandy soil on ledges or at the cliff base. May also occur in damp sites at the top of cliffs. Flowering has been recorded from September to December, with fruits from early December. Only 60 individuals of this species are known to occur between Wentworth Falls and Katoomba.
NSW Gov threatened species app
National Park’s video & further info
Xanthosia scopulicola
Leaves are furry and have a unique shape. In larger examples a rough barked trunk is visible. Grows on overhung cliff faces usually away from obvious seep lines or waterfalls. Known only from scattered locations between Kings Tableland (Wentworth Falls) and Boars Head rock (west of Katoomba) in the Blue Mountains.
NSW Gov threatened species app
Dwarf Mountain Pine (Microstrobos fitzgeraldii)
Fletchers Drumstick (Isopogon fletcheri)
National Park’s video & further info
Australian Climbing Association (NSW) 