A moderate-sized evergreen tree with a semipendulous, willow-like form. Good drought and wind tolerance. Fast growth rate. No significant litter drop.

Origin:

South Africa. In a narrow strip that follows the Orange River.

Habit:

Broad-domed tree with drooping branchlets. 9 metres in height with a similar or wider crown width.

Description:

Multiple leaders with smooth to flaky bark. The leaves are trifoliate with lightgreen, narrowly lanceolate leaflets. Panicles of small green flowers appear in spring/summer followed by small reddish to black berries.

Tolerances:

Grow in full sun position; tolerant of light frost. Fast growing. High tolerance of drought and wind. Tolerant of periodic water-logging.

Availability:

Unknown. Presume rare. Easily propagated from seed and cuttings.

Uses & Management:

Urban landscapes, including streets. This willow-like small to medium sized tree is ideal for small gardens due to its quick growth, non-invasive root system, and tidy and easy to maintain habit. No major pest or disease concerns. Wood has reputation for toughness and durability.

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The English Elm provides a historical link with Europe and is an integral part of the aging canopy tree population of Melbourne. The loss of these aging specimens as they enter decline spirals will change the look of the older streets and parks of Melbourne. People love this species and will mourn their loss; and unless we proactively keep this tree at the forefront of people’s minds when making decisions in regards to appropriate species selection for the replacement plantings that will inevitably be required in the near future; the famous Elms of Melbourne may all but disappear.

What do I like about English Elms?

I love the stately nature of maturing specimens; the large broad green canopies that provide excellent summer shade; and the intricate silhouette of branches throughout late autumn and winter.
I love that shade of iridescent green exhibited by the new flushes of growth in spring and the yellow glow of the leaves at the peak of their autumn brilliance.

Case for a prize for English Elm

Victoria has some of the finest examples of English Elm in the world.
The high quality of English Elms in Victoria is predominantly due to the lack of Dutch elm disease, which has impacted the European populations.

This Oak has many synonyms with a name change from Quercus ithaburensis subsp. macrolepis (Kotschy.)  The acorn caps (valonea) are high in tannins and are used in the tanning of leather.

Origin:

Italy, Balkans, Turkey

Habit:

Medium wide-spreading tree.  Broad domed graceful canopy.  Moderate growth rate, mature size ranges between10-15m high x 12-18m wide.

Description:

Buds large and hairy.  Young shoots with dense white/yellow down. Leaves ovate, angular, bristle-tipped mostly 5-8cm long, 2-4cm wide with dense white/yellow above and below at first and then persistent below.  Bark a light grey and flacking with shallow fissures when young becoming furrowed with age.  Acorns hairy and almost completely enclosed by the extremely large hairy cup with long spreading scale around the lip.

Tolerances:

Not well known but appears able to adapt to most soils. Moderate waterlogging and drought tolerance.  Does not appear seriously affected by pest or disease.  Intolerant of coastal exposure.

Root space:

Based on mature size tree would require approximately 140m2 area or 85m3 root volume (crown projection method)

Availability:

Uncommon.

Ref: Spencer, R (Ed) (1997) Horticultural Flora of South-Eastern Australia – Part 1. University of NSW Press

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Moderate to long lived species, developing as an attractive shade tree with showy autumn foliage and attractive bark.

Origin:

East Asia, Japan, Korea.

Habit:

Moderate to fast growing medium to large deciduous tree typically developing a short single trunk with ascending branches forming an ovoid to rounded canopy.  In its natural environment the species can attain heights of up to 30m. In southern Australia mature dimension of about 18-25m in height x 15-18m width can be expected.

Description:

Leaves, bright to dark green, oblong – ovate with a serrated margin, to 12cm long.  Autumn leaf colours range from yellow, coppery-bronze to red.  Flowers and fruit are inconspicuous, occurring spring.  Bark is Smooth grey, exfoliating in patches to reveal orange, brown & pink.

Tolerances:

Prefers full sun but will tolerate partial shade.  Will tolerate most soil types and varying pH levels. Tolerates heat and strong winds. Moderately drought tolerant, though intolerant of ?waterlogged soils

Root space:

Based on 75% of mature size tree would require approximately 143m2 area or 86m3 root volume (crown projection method).

Availability:

Commonly available.

Uses & management:

Adaptable to urban environments.  Moderate to long lived species, developing as an attractive shade tree with showy autumn foliage and attractive bark. Transplants easily.  Crowding of branches forming acute angled branch attachments can develop atop the trunk and when  this occurs requires formative pruning to develop good branch structure.  Generally free of any serious pests or diseases.  Several distinctive cultivars have been developed including ‘Green Vase’ developing as a tall, tree with vase shaped canopy that is available in AustraliaAfter the devastating bush fires this beauty from Queensland is our featured tree because of its fire retardant properties.

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Origin

Coastal forest edges from northern New South Wales to North Queensland.

Habitat:

Moderate to fast growing medium sized evergreen tree typically developing a single trunk and rounded to pyramidal canopy,  In its natural environment the species can attain heights of up to 40m.  In southern Australia   mature dimension of about 10-15 m in height  x 6-12 m width can be expected.

Description:

Leaves thick, ovate, dark green and glossy. above, paler beneath,to 15cm long.  Flowers white, occurring in three’s, generally inconspicuous in southern Australia.  Fruit a woody bell shaped capsule to 1cm.  Bark smooth, sometimes lustrous, beige coloured, seasonally peeling in flakes revealing  coppery orange to brown tones.

Tolerances:

Tolerates a wide range of soils growing best in a  soil pH of  between 4-6.  Moderately tolerant of drought, frosts, aerial slat spray and air pollution.

Root space:

Based on 75% of mature size tree would require approximately 254m2 area or 152m3 root volume (crown projection method).

Availability:

Commonly available.

Uses & management:

Moderate to long lived species.  Requires irrigation to establish.  Transplants easily.  Rarely requires formative pruning to develop good branch structure.   Responds well to pruning.  Fire retardant.  Generally free of any serious pests or diseases.  Flowers attract bees.  Produces a woody fruit capsule that can create trip hazard on hard surfaces.  Leaf litter slow to break down.  Good street tree or modest sized specimen tree for parks.

Featured Tree© Tree Logic Pty Ltd 2009

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Specimen of Western coolibah growing in garden bed at Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Perth.
Photograph: Jeremy Thomas. Arborist, Botanic Gardens & Parks Authority.

Origin

Western Australia and Central Australia, from Murchison River to Port Hedland and east into central Northern Territory.  Usually found on flood plains and low lying areas of red clay or clay loam.

Habitat:

Small to medium evergreen tree with a spreading form on a single trunk.  A mature height of about 5-15 m  x 5-10 m wide.

Description:

Dull light green to grey-green lanceolate foliage. Terminally held peduncles in groups of 7 with conical to rounded operculum.  Flowers creamy white, Nov–Mar.  Bark smooth throughout, white and powdery.

Tolerances:

Tolerates heavier soils and temporary inundation.  High tolerance of drought.  Generally free of any serious pests or diseases.

Root space:

Based on 75% of mature size tree would require approximately 98.5m2 area or 59m3 root volume (crown projection method).

Availability:

Uncommon in cultivation.  Seed available.

Uses & management:

Potential for use as a small specimen tree suited to dry conditions.  The startling smooth white trunk would highlight any garden.  Resistant to major pests.
Potential as street and open space tree.  ANPSA (2009) state that a dwarf form of Western coolibah can be found on the floodplains around the Murchison River and has potential for a small feature tree.  The tree grows readily from seed.

Featured Tree© Tree Logic Pty Ltd 2009
Ref:
Australian Native Plants Society (Australia) – ANPSA (2009) Eucalyptus victrix. Available at  http://asgap.org.au/e-vic.html  [Accessed 11/2/09]
EUCLID – Eucalypts of Australia. Third Edition 2006, CD-ROM, Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research in assoc. with CSIRO Publishing
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Norfolk Island Pine showing tall, tiered effect.

Origin

Norfolk Island

Description:

Specific epithet refers to the distinction between the juvenile and adult leaves.  Juvenile leaves narrow, incurved, generally softer, while adult leaves are rigid, overlapping and lanceolate.  Grey-black bark, flaking, deep pink beneath.  Branches are held in horizontal whorls of 4-7.  Ovoid to globose female cones found in small numbers held upright in the uppermost branches.   Growth rate is reported as being fast, however will be dependent on nursery production method, landscape site conditions and after-care maintenance.

Tolerances:

A large tree that can adapt to a range of soil conditions (as long as well drained) and is drought tolerant once established.  Moderate tolerance to waterlogged soils.  High tolerance of winds also salt laden winds in coastal situations. Not seriously affected by pest or disease.

Root space:

Based on mature size, tree would require approximately 176m2 area or 106m3 root volume. (Crown projection method based on 15m diameter canopy due to narrow form of species).

Availability:

Common.

Uses & management:

The most widely cultivated of the araucarias. Norfolk Island Pine is well suited to coastal situations where, in Australia, it has become an iconic species.  Possibly used in coastal towns as landmarks for shipping.  Species is suited to urban landscapes, both coastal and inland.  Also used as street tree where space allows (Zone of upheaval 4.0m to 5.0m diameter) .  Good tree for open space. Norfolk Island Pine can also be used as an indoor plant and is often seen as a Christmas tree.
Prune to central trunk otherwise little pruning is required.  Supplemental irrigation to establish trees is essential.
Roots are surface orientated and can lift hard surfaces.  Consideration will need to be given to allowing room for both upper crown development and root buttress expansion.

Featured Tree© Tree Logic Pty Ltd 2008
Ref:
Rowell, R. J. (1996) Ornamental conifers for Australian gardens. UNSW Press.
Spencer, R. (1995) Horticultural flora of South-Eastern Australia. Ferns, conifers & their allies. UNSW Press.

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