Beautiful Australians
Australian native plant guide
Banksia hookerianaFamily : Proteaceae Common name : Hooker's banksia Banksia hookeriana is one of the most attractive of the large family of Banksias. The flowers are popular with florists and interior decorators because of their size, colour, and long vase life. Approximate flower size is 7-12 cm ( 3-5 inches ) long, 10 cm ( 4 inches ) wide. Their natural distribution is a small area near the coast of Western Australia, around latitude 30º South, where they grow on deep sandy soil. The area has an annual rainfall of around 600mm ( 2 feet ), the wet season being the Winter months. They grow as small spreading bushy shrubs, up to 3 metres ( 10 feet ) high and around 3-4 metres ( 10-13 feet ) wide. They require full sun and excellent drainage, and are frost sensitive. The flowering period is late Autumn to early Spring. Grows fairly easily from seed. Approximate seed count - 2800 per 100 grams. Warning : As with most other members of the Proteacea family, Banksias are super-sensitive to phosphorus in most fertilizers. It is toxic to them. Their natural growing conditions are in nutrient-poor, very well-drained sandy soil, with little or no leaf litter. Fertilize sparingly, if at all, but definitely with low-phosphorus fertilizer. This species has been grown successfully in a well-drained site in south-east Queensland, which normally experiences the wet season in Summer. Photographed 22nd May |
Brachychiton acerifoliusFamily : Sterculiaceae Common name : Illawarra Flame tree Rated as one of Australia's most spectacular flowering trees, Brachychiton acerifolius is hardy and widely grown, both in Australia and overseas, and can be found in cultivation as far south as Adelaide. It has an attractive pyramidal growth habit with large, glossy, variable lobed leaves which also make it attractive as an indoor specimen for a limited time. As a tropical tree of the east coast, they defoliate during the dry winter months. The flowers appear prior to the new foliage produced in the wet summer period, creating a spectacular show in good seasons. The 1.2cm wide waxy bell-shaped flowers are bright red, and very prolific when the weather has suited flowering. It's natural distribution is tropical rainforests from the Cape York peninsula of north Queensland down to the Illawarra area of New South Wales. They are a generally hardy tree if given adequate water and well-drained soil. It will generally tolerate light frost, In their natural rainforest environment, they grow into large trees to around 35 metres ( 115 feet ), but decrease in size in the cooler environments further south. It is propogated from seed produced in large woody seed pods around 10cms ( 4 inches ) long, or from cuttings. Take care when extracting the seed from the pods, as the bristles surrounding the seed can be quite irritating. Photographed 30th October |
Buckinghamia celsissimaFamily : Proteaceae Common name : Ivory curl flower Buckinghamia celsissima is a hardy reliable flowering tree which has proved popular as a street tree in many areas because of its adaptability. It can either be grown as a tree, or pruned to maintain a shrubby appearance. Ideal growth is achieved in full sun and deep well-drained soil, where it will develop a dense, compact, rounded crown of deep green leaves. New growth is flushed bronze/red. Moderately fast growth can be expected if well-watered and fertilized in summer. A native of northern Queensland coastal rainforests, where it grows on deep well-drained volcanic soils. In their natural rainforest environment, they grow into large trees to around 25-30 metres ( 80 - 100 feet ), but decrease in size the further south they are grown, with most garden specimens around the 5 - 8 metres ( 16 - 26 feet ). depending the care they are given. Greater sun exposure in gardens tends to keep them shrublike with more lower branches. They are frost sensitive, but grow quite readily as far south as Melbourne. The flowering period is Summer to late Autumn, depending on the location, when the entire crown can be almost entirely covered with well displayed large racemes of pendant white to cream sweetly perfumed flowers. These have a bottle-brush or catkin appearance up to 200 mm long, and are very attractive to bees. Fresh seed germinates fairly easily, producing plants that can flower within three years. Current season hardwood cuttings can also be propogated, but tend to be slow.l The flat papery brown seeds are produced in small capsules. Photographed 24th January |
Corymbia ptychocarpaFamily : Myrtaceae Common name : Swamp bloodwood
Corymbia ptychocarpa was formerly known as Eucalyptus
ptychocarpa prior to a fairly recent reclassification of those eucalypts
loosely called bloodwoods. It is a very showy tree from the tropical regions,
which is also very bird attractant. The large flowers come in various colours from white, through pink to
crimson, although pink is the most common colour. They normally occur as
umbels of up to 7 flowers in late Summer to Autumn. The flowers are followed
by large woody seed capsules, around 4 cm ( 1¾ inches ) long, and up to 3
cm ( 1¼ inches ) wide. These capsules are popular in dried flower
arrangements. It's natural distribution is the topical Kimberley region of Western
Australia and the northern area of the Northern Territory, which experience
Summer wet seasons with a yearly average rainfall around 1000-1600 cms ( 3-
5½ feet ). Temperature range is around 10ºC-40ºC. It is found in
open forest on stream banks and moist areas. It will grow to a height in
excess of 15 metres ( 50 feet ) in favourable conditions. It is readily grown from seed. Approximate seed count - 5000 per 100 grams. Although it is frost tender, it has gained wide acceptance because of its
hardiness and floral display, being grown on the eastern coast as far down as
northern New South Wales, often as a street tree. Photographed 22nd March |
Curcuma australasicaFamily : Zingiberaceae Common name : Cape York Lily
Curcuma australasica is a spectacular member of the ginger
family, and is a close relative of the Asian Curcuma variety which
produces tumeric. It's natural distribution is the tropical areas of Australia - Cape York,
Arnehm Land and Thursday Island, where it grows as a periennial herb in dry
scrub and margins of rainforests. The foliage, which can reach 1.5 metres ( 5
feet ) high, dies back in the dry Winter season, re-emerging from the
underground rhizomes with the onset of the wetter Spring/Summer season. The
annual rainfall is in the 1000-1500 mm ( 3½-5 feet ) range, mostly in
Summer. The 15-25 cm ( 6-10 inch ) long flower inflorescence usually precedes the
new leaves in Spring. It consists of rose pink bracts about 3-5 cm ( 1-2 inch
) long, shading back to green as they age, which enclose the small 1 cm (
½ inch ) yellow flowers. It's normal temperature range is 10ºC - 35ºC, although light frosts
should not kill it. Will grow in containers. It should be kept well-watered
during the Summer growing season. Too much shade will inhibit flower
production. Propogation is normally by division, generally when dormant. Photographed 11th November |
Eucalyptus erythrocorysFamily : Myrtaceae Common name : Illyarrie
Eucalyptus erythrocorys is one of the most colourful of the
Eucalyptus family. The flowers show promise for use in the floral trade. They
are distinguished by the umbels of several bright sulphur-yellow flowers, each
flower with a diameter of around 5 cms ( 2 inches ), which appear around late
Summer. The emerging flowers are covered by a red cap initially, and are a
greenish-yellow when they first emerge. They attract nectar-feeding birds and
bees. It's natural distribution is a small area near the coast of Western
Australia, around latitude 30º South, where it is usually found on
undulating limestone soils. The area has an annual rainfall of around 450-
600 mm ( 1½-2 feet ), the wet season being the Winter months. Suitable
temperature range is 5ºC-40ºC. It grows as an open-crowned tree around 3-10 metres ( 10-34 feet ) high,
although it will tolerate coppicing to give a denser form. The flowers are
followed by large flattish 4-5 cm ( 2 inch ) bell-shaped capsules, somewhat
squarish in shape, which are also used dry in floral arrangements. It is grown from seed, but care must be taken to avoid damping-off of the
newly emerged seedlings. Approximate seed count - 1000 per 100 grams. This species has been grown successfully in a well-drained site in south-
east Queensland, which normally experiences the wet season in Summer. Photographed 17th February |
Grevillea robustaFamily : Proteacea Common name : Silky oak
Grevillea robusta is not only one of the world's most
spectacular flowering trees, it is, as its name suggests, also one of the
fastest growing, as well as being particularly hardy. Additionally, its wood
is a prized cabinet timber, having a very decorative design as can be seen
below. The flowers are orange toothbrush-like racemes up to around 12 cms ( 5
inches ) long, which are borne in Spring. They produce copious amounts of
nectar, and attract many birds and bees.
It's original distribution is a coastal region of southern Queensland
down to northern New South Wales, but it has now naturalized in many other
areas. Although originally a subtropical rainforest tree, it's hardiness and
adapability has seen its use spread worldwide. It has also been grown as
plantation timber, but an auto-toxic factor contained within the roots retards
adjacent growth of the same species, making monoculture plantations generally
uneconomic. The tree can grow to a height exceeding 35 metres ( 114 feet ),
which, combined with its semi-deciduous nature, means that it should not be
planted close to a house. WARNING: Many parts of the plants contain traces of cyanide (
possibly a natural form of protection from insect attack ). Some people may
also have a reaction when working the timber. Generally, though, these factors
rarely create a problem. Approximate seed count - 7300 per 100 grams. It is readily grown from seed, although the seed should be refrigerated to
maintain viability. Photographed 28th October |
Meilcope elleryana( formerly known as Euodia elleryana ) Family : Rutaceae Common name : Pink euodia
Melicope elleryana is not a commonly seen tree, but given its
tolerance to a wide range of conditions, will become more popular. It is a
great bird attractant tree. Nectar feeders such as parrots find the flowers
irrestible, whilst seed eaters are later attracted to the seed. Its leaves
are also a food source for the caterpillar of the beautiful large black and
blue Ulysses butterfly. A native of coastal riverine rainforests and stream banks, it is
found from northern New South Wales, up the Queensland coast, northern areas
of the Northern Territory and Western Australia, and into New Guinea.
Although it is very adaptable to a range of soils, they should be well
drained. The clusters of rose pink flowers appear on the branches in Summer.
Seed matures in early Summer. It is a fast growing tree which can reach 25 metres ( 80 feet ) in its
natural environment, but normally about 6 metres ( 20 feet ) in the garden.
It's open structure results in a light shade. It can be grown from cutting or
seed. Although seedlings grow fast, and can flower after three years,
germination is very sporadic and can take up to one year. Photographed 19th January |
Stenocarpus sinuatusFamily : Proteacea Common name : Wheel of fire
Stenocarpus sinuatus is another member of Australia's proteacea
family. The red flowers are arranged in wheel-like umbels approximately 10 cm
( 4 inches ) in diameter, hence their common name. The flowers are usually
borne on older wood inside the outer foliage, so that it is much more
attractive close up. Flowering period is Summer to Autumn. It is a handsome rainforest tree, originating in coastal rainforests from
northern New South Wales to northern Queensland ( and Papua New Guinea ),
where the main rainfall is in Summer. It is an upright tree, prized for its
cabinet timber, normally to 10 metres ( 33 feet ), but which can reach 30
metres ( 100 feet ) in its natural environment. Growth can often be slow in
its early years, although ample Summer water and fertilizer can overcome this.
The dark green glossy leaves can vary from entire to deeply pinnately lobed (
divided ), and it is often grown as an indoor plant when young. It has been in
cultivation as an outdoor tree for many years in the Scilly Isles and the USA
among other countries around the world, and is hardy enough to be planted as a
street tree in some places. Approximate seed count - 2200 per 100 grams. Usually grown from seed, but can be propogated from cuttings. Photographed 9th June |
Xanthostemon chrysanthusFamily : Myrtaceae Common name : Golden penda
Xanthostemon chrysanthus is a tropical rainforest tree which
is truly spectacular when in full flower, and which has proved very hardy and
durable in cultivation, even tolerating light frost. It produces masses of
dense yellow flower heads in late Summer and Autumn, which attract
nectar-feeding birds. The reddish new growth contrasts against the shiny dark
green of the older leaves. Whilst this tree may reach up to 40 metres ( 133 feet ) in its natural
environment ( and produce a hard durable timber ), it responds quite happily
to pruning to retain it as a tall shrub in cultivation. It originated in the rainforests of coastal far north Queensland, but
its adaptability and beautiful floral display has seen its widespread use in
cultivation. It is used a great deal as a street tree in south-east
Queensland. Its natural climate has an annual rainfall of 800-4000 mm (
2½-13 feet ), mainly in Summer, and a temperature range of 5ºC-
40ºC, where it grows on well-drained fertile soil. However, it is a very
adaptable plant, and should be considered for all but the driest and coldest
areas. It can be grown from seed, although germination may be slow. Surprisingly,
it can produce flowers when only 3-4 years old. It is also readily propogated
from cuttings.
Photographed 14th March |
