Maddingley Botanical is a horticultural project based in Victoria, Australia. It began as a way to document plants growing in real gardens — watching how they respond to soil, climate, water and time.

 

The project focuses on plant education, practical gardening knowledge and careful observation. Through writing, workshops, field exploration and plant collections, it helps gardeners understand how plants grow and respond outside controlled environments.

 

It isn’t a traditional nursery. Instead, it operates as a travelling plant showcase and education project, connecting gardeners with plants through events, workshops and seasonal road shows. These gatherings allow people to see plants up close, compare varieties and learn what genuinely works in their soil and climate.

 

A particular focus is the Proteaceae family — including proteas, banksias, waratahs, leucadendrons and leucospermums. These plants often carry a reputation for being difficult, yet much of that reputation comes from misunderstanding how they live.

 

The aim is simple: translate plant science, landscape ecology and long experience into clear guidance gardeners can use in their own spaces.

 

Michael Sinclair is the founder of Maddingley Botanical.

 

He’s spent many years growing, studying and observing proteas and related plants in real garden conditions. His work focuses on how these plants respond to soil structure, drainage, climate and management — and explaining those patterns in ways gardeners can use.

 

Alongside his horticultural work, Michael’s had a long career in journalism, marketing, communications and events management. That background shapes the way he approaches plant writing, turning complex ideas into explanations gardeners can understand and apply.

 

Through writing, workshops, field observations and plant collections, he shares what he’s learned about how these plants live and grow. Proteas Explained brings together these experiences to help gardeners better understand proteas — and grow them with confidence.

 

At its heart, the work is built on a simple idea: when we take the time to observe how plants actually live, gardening becomes clearer, calmer and far more rewarding. More resources, events and plant education can be found at maddingleybotanical.com.au.