Araucaria heterophylla “Hawaiian”
Syn. Araucaria excelsa Exotic
Dimensions: fast growing to 30m.
Flower: insignificant.
Fruit: cones that develop as male and female on the one plant.
Uses: suitable for coastal planting and tolerates strong winds. Young plants can grow in shade. Established plants can withstand some drier conditions.
Soil type: a variety of soils from sandy to loam.
Podocarpus elatus
Native:to eastern Australia.
Dimensions: 40m but much smaller in cultivation.
Flower: Summer.
Fruit: edible dark purple to black fruit present autumn-winter.
Uses: it has a spreading crown which makes it useful as a shade tree and has been mentioned as a larger hedge or screen. Brown Pines can tolerate mild frost.
Soil type: can grow in a variety of soils as long as water is available.
Tabebuia palmeri
Syn. Tabebuia impetiginosa
Exotic: Northern Mexico to Argentina.
Dimensions: deciduous tree to 25m but much smaller in cultivation.
Flower: light pink with barely a leaf when in flower.
Flower season: early spring.
Uses: park or street tree with a spectacular flower display.
Soil type: well drained fertile soil.
Tabebuia argentea
Syn. Tabebuia aurea
Exotic: of Brazil and Argentina coming from the dry highlands.
Dimensions: small tree to 6m.
Flower: are bright yellow trumpet shape in clusters.
Flower season: profuse display in spring.
Fruit: a capsule that splits open.
Uses: semi deciduous with a wonderful cork textured bark. They make an excellent ‘ impact specimen tree ’.
Soil type: moist and well drained.
Ficus microcarpa Hillii
Native: to Queensland.
Dimensions: evergreen tree to 15m.
Flower: insignificant.
Uses: shade tree, shelter or as a hedge plant, in certain areas it can be grown indoors. Usually frost tolerant and will tolerate exposed coastal sites. Used in parks and for roundabouts when trimmed high for view.
Soil type: will tolerate a wide range of soils and conditions.
Bird attracting
Barringtonia acutangula
Native: to Queensland, NT, WA and South East Asia.
Dimensions: small spreading tree to 7m.
Flower: pendulous sprays, bright red fluffy flowers to 30cm long.
Flower season: summer.
Uses: best suited to warm areas, great for wet ground.
Soil type: moist to boggy conditions.
Washingtonia robusta
Exotic: from north-western Mexico.
Dimensions: tall palm to 20m over a very long time.
Flower: cream colour sprays.
Flower season: summer.
Uses: will grow from Melbourne through to the tropics, excellent avenue, park, specimen tree and along driveways. Has been used as large containerised specimen in city areas.
Soil type: tolerates a wide range of well-drained soils.
Waterhousia floribunda
Native: fringing rainforest in northern NSW and QLD.
Dimensions: evergreen tree 15-30m but can be kept smaller in cultivation.
Flowers: small white fragrant flowers.
Flower season: spring to summer.
Fruit: green berries to 13mm.
Uses: graceful evergreen with a drooping habit, can be used as park trees, street trees, large screen or hedge.
Soil type: most soils and often found near watercourses.
Peltophorum pterocarpum
Native: North Queensland and coastal Northern Territory
Dimensions: medium tree generally to 9m in cultivation with a spreading crown.
Flower: yellow flowers covering the crown of the tree.
Flower season: summer.
Fruit: flat seedpods that stay on the tree until next flowering.
Uses: park tree or shade tree.
Soil type: moist fertile well drained soils.
Aloe barberae
Exotic: from South Africa.
Dimensions: in the wild it can reach 18m, in cultivation often as wide as it is tall.
Flower: orange pink flowers.
Flower season: autumn and winter.
Uses: a striking specimen plant similar to the native pandanus in habit, used as a containerised plant or planted into the ground. The outstanding long green leaves make it a feature.
Soil type: adaptable to most soil types and tolerates drier conditions.
Ficus macrophylla
Native: along the east coast of Australia from the Atherton Tablelands to southern New South Wales.
Dimensions: tall spreading tree to 30m.
Flower: insignificant.
Fruit: edible brown berries.
Uses: large tree for parks or large avenue plantings.
Soil types: moist well drained soils and tolerates saline soils.
Cassia siamea
Exotic: South Asia.
Dimensions: to 10m.
Flower: large clusters of bright yellow.
Flowering season: spring and summer.
Fruit: black pods over 30cm long.
Uses: avenue and park tree.
Soil type: fertile, moist, enjoys frequent watering and full sun.
Elaeocarpus reticulatus
Native: east coast of Australia from south-east
Queensland to Victoria.
Dimensions: slender tree to 10m.
Flower: racemes of white flowers.
Flowering season: spring and autumn.
Fruit: globular deep blue fruit.
Uses: can be pruned to form a 3m shrub, screen plant or slender street tree.
Soil: suit a wide range of soils
Tristania laurina
Native: to eastern Australia where they are found in coastal forests, rainforests and along riverbanks.
Dimensions: can grow to 10m but in cultivation much smaller.
Flower: nectar rich small yellow flowers produced in cymes along the branches.
Flower season: summer and spring.
Fruit: round capsule.
Uses: screening, small tree for gardens, street tree.
Banksia integrifolia
Native: along the coast and inland Victoria to Queensland
Dimensions: medium evergreen tree from 6 – 15m.
Flower: cones of yellow.
Flower season: autumn and winter.
Uses: street tree, park tree and for seaside planting.
Soil type: well drained soils, tolerates dryness, lime, and salt as well as coastal exposure.
Caesalpinia ferrea
Exotic: to Brazil around Rio De Janeiro.
Dimensions: medium tree to 15m.
Flower: clusters of yellow.
Flower season: spring to autumn.
Uses: the attractive mottled bark makes it an interesting street or park tree.
Soil type: well drained fertile soil.
Syzygium jambos
Exotic: to South-East Asia.
Dimensions: 9m to 12m.
Flower: sweet scented, creamy white.
Flower season: spring.
Fruit: edible green fruit that changes to a creamy yellow when ripe.
Uses: suitable for parks, street trees and avenues.
Soil type: tolerates a range of soils.
Cupaniopsis anacardioides
Native: Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Dimensions: small tree to 10m.
Flower: greenish/yellow.
Flower season: autumn and winter.
Fruit: yellow fruit in summer.
Uses: attractive small tree suitable as street trees, in parks and avenues.
Soil type: grows in a wide variety of different soils.
Harpullia pendula
Native: coastal north-eastern Australia.
Dimensions: medium tree to 20m.
Flower: panicles of pale greenish/yellow, slightly fragrant flowers.
Flower season: spring to summer.
Fruit: capsules that ripen from yellow to red.
Uses: shade tree, street tree and in parks.
Soil type: Prefers rich soils.
Lophostemon confertus
Native: Northern New South Wales and Queensland.
Dimensions: medium tree to 15m.
Flower: small white flowers.
Flower season: spring /summer.
Fruit: green/brown capsule that is bell shaped with a flat top.
Uses: the rough bark and dark green broad leaves make an interesting street tree, shade tree and specimen for avenues.
Soil type: well drained fertile soil.
Flindersia australis
Native: New South Wales and Queensland.
Dimensions: semi deciduous tree growing naturally to 30m.
Flower: creamy white in clusters.
Flower season: spring /summer.
Fruit: woody prickled seed capsules.
Uses: street tree, shade tree and avenues.
Soil type: tolerates a range of soils.