WET HEATH PLANTS

Baloksion tetraphyllum (Swamp Foxtails)

Baloskion tetraphyllus300x400 150x150_Baloskion tetraphyllum 1

Form/Size: Herb 1 to 1.5 metres tall by 1 metre spread

Aspect: Full sun/filtered sun

Soil: Moist

Description:

Bright green, erect stems with dense tufted foliage.

Male flowers are long brown spikes, female flowers are compact miniature cones – on separate plants.

Fantastic for cut flower arrangements.

Excellent understorey species in moist sandy soil.

Family: RESTIONACEAE

 

 

 

Banksia oblongifolia (Dwarf Banksia)

150x150_Banksia oblongifolia 27 Banksia oblongifolia

Form/Size:  Shrub from 0.5 to 1.5 metres tall

Aspect:  Full sun, part shade 

Soil:   Moist, well drained

Description:

Low spreading  shrub with green serrated leaves & spectacular yellow-green cylindrical flowers to 10 cm tall

in Autumn/Winter.

Young foliage is rusty brown.

Bird attractant.

Flowers produce nectar which is Bush Tucker.

Fantastic small coastal garden shrub.

Family: PROTEACEAE

 

 

 

Banksia robur (Swamp Banksia)

 

banksia-robur-a-1894-sm 150x150_Banksia robur 3 Banksia robur

Form/Size: Shrub 1.5 metre tall, 1 metre wide

Soil/Conditions: Adaptable

Aspect: Full sun

Description:

Upright spreading habit.

Serrated leathery leaves to 30cm long

Blue-green to lime coloured flower spikes to 20cm long in Dec/May

Prefers wetter areas.

Frost hardy.

Family: PROTEACEAE

Special Features: 

Interesting seed cones that remain on the shrub.

Iconic architectural plant.

Bird attracting.

Flower produces nectar that is bush tucker

Fantastic coastal garden shrub

 

 

Dillwynia floribunda (Showy Parrot Pea)

320px-Dillwynia_floribunda_(6018253544) Screen shot 2015-08-12 at 10.39.56 AM

Form/Size:  Shrub to 1.5 metres

Aspect: Full sun/filtered sun

Soil:   Adaptable

Description:

Dense shrub with thin bright green leaves which gets covered in lovely yellow flowers late Winter to Spring.

Responds well to pruning after flowering.

Excellent gap-filler or flowering feature shrub.

Family: BAUERACEAE

 

 

Hakea actites (Wallum Hakea)

Hakea actites 150x150_Hakea actites 3 150x150_Hakea actites 2

Form: Shrub 2.5 metre tall & 1 metre wide

Soil: Adaptable

Aspect: Full sun/part shade

Description:

Erect, multi-branched dense shrub.

10 cm long needle-like foliage.

White to pink Grevillea-like flowers in Winter/Spring

Unusual woody pods.

Hardy special and excellent screening plant.

Family: Proteaceae

 

Leptospermum liversidgei (Lemon-Scented Teatree)

Leptospermum liversidgei Screen shot 2015-08-19 at 10.44.58 AM

150x150_Leptospermum liversidgei 10 Ground Parrot

Form: Shrub 1-2.5 metre tall & 1 metre wide

Soil: Adaptable

Aspect: Full sun

Description:

Attractive erect shrub.

Bright green strongly lemon-scented leaves,

Small white or sometimes pink flowers in Summer.

Seeds become woody & remain on plants for
years.

Tolerates poorly drained soils & frost hardy.

Family: Myrtaceae

Special Features:

Great small dense garden shrub.

Suitable near coast.

Ground Parrot habitat.

 

 

Melaleuca nodosa (Prickly-leaf Paperbark)

150x150_Melaleuca nodosa 2  Melaleuca nodosa 1  150x150_Melaleuca nodosa 3

Form: Spreading shrub or tree to 7 metres (usually less)

Aspect: Full sun

Soil/Conditions: Adaptable

Description:

Shrub with papery layered bark, drooping stems and pointed leaves.

Masses of creamy-yellow flowers in spring and summer.

Popular screen plant for areas exposed to salt spray.

Very hardy & frost tolerant.

Important pollen source for bees.

Family: Myrtaceae

 

 

Melaleuca thymifolia (Thyme Honey Myrtle)

Melaleuca thymifolia Melaleuca thymifolia

Ground Parrot Melaleuca thymifolia

Form: Shrub 1 metre tall 

Soil: Adaptable

Aspect: Full sun

Description:

Very popular flowering shrub.

Bright pink, sometimes purple flowers in Spring.

Very hardy, good seaside plant.

Tolerates wet feet.

Family: Myrtaceae

Special Features:

Bird attracting
Bee attracting
Ground parrot habitat
Rockery plant

 

Melaleuca pachyphylla (Wallum Bottlebrush)

Melaleuca pachyphylla Melaleuca pachyphylla

Form: Shrub 1-1.5 metres tall 

Soil: Adaptable

Aspect: Full sun

Description:

Very hardy small shrub for home gardens.

Bright red flower brushes to 10 cm long in Spring/Summer/Autumn.

Green form also available  

Prune for more compact and smaller plant.

Family: Myrtaceae

Special Features:

Good seaside plant

Flowers produce nectar which is bush tucker

Fantastic small coastal garden shrub

Tolerates wet feet

Attracts birds, bees and butterflies. 

 

 

Mirbelia rubifolia (Wallum Mirbelia)

Mirbelia rubifolia 

Form/Size:   Small shrub to 50 cm tall

Aspect: Full sun

Soil Sandy

Description:

Open shrub with pretty pink-purple flowers 8mm wide in late winter to early summer. 

Excellent small shrub for edging, colour, and as an in-fill plant. 

Family: Fabiaceae

 

 

Schoenus calostachys (A Bogrush)

Schoenus Scheonus calostachyus Scheonus calostachyus2

Form: Sedge to 1 metre tall

Aspect:

Soil: Wet, swampy

Description:

Long, rigid, deeply grooved stems.

Nuts blackish brown.

Family: Cyperaceae

 

 

Sowerbaea juncea (Vanilla Lily)

150x150_sowerbaea juncea 3 150x150_Sowerbaea juncea 2

Form: Lily to 40 cm tall

Aspect: Sunny

Soil: Moist

Description:

Leaves form blue-green, grasslike clumps rather like chives.

The roots are fibrous-fleshed and lack any tubers.

Flowers are borne in dense heads of more than 20 individual flowers on a single, unbranched stem.

Delicate mauve shade with pink bracts, and have a delicious vanilla perfume.

Flowering occurs in spring, and a field of vanilla lilies is a sight to behold!

Special Features: It can be grown as a container plant, or in a rockery, or a terrarium, and is useful around the edges of a pond. Unfortunately it is only rarely seen in cultivation.

Family: Asparagaceae

 

 

 

Trachymene incisa (Wild Carrot, Wild Parsnip)

150x150_Trachymene incisa 1 100_1705trachymene_incisa600

100_1698trachymene600

Form: Perennial herb to 8o cm tall

Aspect: Open sunny

Soil: Sandy, Wet, Rock crevices. 

Family: Apiaceae 

Description:

Thick perennial rootstock and is sparsely hairy to almost hairless.

The leaves mostly emerge form the base of the plants to 13 cm long.

Flowers are produced in umbels. Petals 0.9–2.2 mm long, white or rarely pink.

Fruit broad ovate, 2.4–3.6 mm long, and brown

Special FeaturesBush food: thick juicy taproots edible, raw or cooked.

 

 

 

Xanthorrhoea fulva (Wallum Grass Tree)

c218_12 Xanthorrhoea fulva

Form:  Grass tree to 2 metres tall without trunk

Soil / Conditions: Adaptable/Moist

Aspect: Full Sun

Description: 

Attractive long green shiny foliage.

Flowers late winter to spring.

Grows as a large tuft in sandy soils without a trunk.

Great for smaller gardens in a sunny position.

Flower spike still gets to 2 metres tall. 

Family: Xanthorrhoeceae

Special Features: 

Attracts birds & bees. 

 

 

WET EUCALYPT FOREST

Acacia disparrima (Hickory Wattle)

150x150_acacia_dispar_mangrove_078 acacia_disparrina 150x150_acacia_dispar_johns

Form:   Tree 2 to 15 metres tall.

Aspect: Full sun/part shade

Soil:  Adaptable

Description:     

Dark grey bark, blue/green foliage, masses of cream or yellow flower spikes in Jan-May. 

Flowers attract birds, Fiery Jewel & Common Imperial Blue butterflies &  supply pollen for bees.

Seeds attract parrots. 

Hardy, fast growing and adaptable.

 

 

Acacia melanoxylon (Blackwood)

Acacia-melanoxylon-41-226x226 Acacia-melanoxylon-4-226x226 Screen shot 2015-06-24 at 1.36.25 PM

Acacia-melanoxylon-2-226x226 Screen shot 2015-06-24 at 1.41.51 PM

Form: Tree to 20 Metres Tall

Aspect: Full sun/ Semi-shade

Soil/Conditions: Adaptable, prefers Moist

Description:

Rounded Habit            

Cream flowers in Spring  

Unusual coiled / twisted seed pods

Family: Mimosaceae

Special Features:

Good for Erosion Control and Revegetation

Frost Tolerant

Long invasive root run

Valuable Timber Tree

Host tree for indigenous Butterfly Larvae

Aboriginals used bark and twigs for fish poison as a means of fishing 

 

 

 

Alpinia caerulea (Native Ginger)

Alpinia caerula 150x150_Alpinia caerulea 4 150x150_Alpinia caerulea 1

Form: Perennial herb to 2 metres tall by 1.5 metres wide 

Aspect:  Full Shade/ Filtered Sun

Soil: Adaptable

Description:

Erect stems, large light green leaves, white flowers in Summer followed by bright blue edible fruit.

Attracts birds. 

Young rhizome  tips, buds & roots eaten raw taste like ginger.

Good understorey feature plant, creekside plant, or around a pond. 

Clumping.   

Family: Zingiberaceae     

 

 Carex apressa (Tall Sedge)

Carex_appressa Carex apressa

Form: Sedge to 1.5 tall by 0.8 metres wide

Soil / Conditions: Adaptable

Aspect: Full sun / Filtered Sun

Description:

Long narrow leaves.

Minute greenish-brown flower on spikes similar to foxtails.

Likes moisture & will tolerate roots in water.

Frost resistant, drought tender. 

Family: Cyperaceae

Special Features:

Good pool side plant. 
Attracts butterflies.

 

 Cordyline rubra (Red Palm Lily)

150x150_cordyline_rubra_small_4_047 150x150_Cordyline rubra 3 150x150_Cordyline rubra 1

Form: Palm lily 2 to 3 metres tall.

Aspect: Full shade/ Filtered sun

Soil: Moist, well drained

Description:

Erect stems with leaves up to 60cm long, small, white-purple flowers on long sprays in Spring/Summer & bright 

red berries. 

Excellent indoor plant.

Hardy.

Butterfly host.  

Grows in full shade.

Family:  Asparagaceae

 

 

Cryptocaria glaucescens (Jackwood)

150x150_cryptocarya glaucescens 1 Cryptocarya glaucescens 150x150_Cryptocarya glaucescens 2

Form: Tree to 30 metres tall

Aspect: Full sun, part shade

Soil: Adaptable

Description:

Glossy aromatic leaves, small creamish-green flowers in October-December & black berries March-June which attract birds.

Hosts Blue Triangle & Macleay’s Swallowtail butterflies.

Great feature rainforest tree with foliage growing low to the ground. 

For bigger yards.

Family:  Lauraceae

 

Eucalyptus robusta (Swamp Messmate)

150x150_Eucalyptus robusta 3 eucalyptus robusta-flowers

Form: Tree to 25 metres tall.

Aspect: Full sun 

Soil:  Adaptable, moist

Description:

Primary food source for Koalas. 

Grows close to the coast. 

Bark rough and persistent to the smaller branches. 

Drooping foliage & white flowers in autumn & winter. 

Pale-headed Rosellas eat seed. 

Koala & glider food & shelter tree.  

For the large backyard.

Family: Myrtaceae

 

Glochidion ferdinandii (Cheese Tree)

glochidion-ferdinandi_cheese-tree_007 glochidion-ferdinandi_cheese-tree_004

 

glochidion-ferdinandi_cheese-tree_006

Form: Bushy shrub or tree to 10 metres

Aspect: Full sun.

Soil:Adaptable, moist.

Description:

Dark green canopy of foliage.

The bark is light coloured and slightly flaky in appearance.

Flowers appear between July and December, they are small and greenish –yellow in colour .

Fruit is a characteristically pumpkin shaped or “edam” cheese shaped up to 20mm in diameter, splitting when ripe to reveal seeds covered in a bright red- orange aril within.

Maybe semi-deciduous in winter.

Family: Phyllanthaceae

Special Features

Fruits are eaten by several bird species, including the, Lewin’s Honeyeater, Olive-backed Oriole, rainforest pigeons and doves, and parrots.

Food source for butterfly larvae of the Shining Pencil-blue, and the Common Oak-blue

 

 

 

 

Glochidion sumatranum (Umbrella Cheese Tree)

Glochidion_sumatranum_RBG_Sydney  150x150_Glochidion sumatranum 3   150x150_Glochidion sumatranum 1

Form: Tree 10-15 metres tall

Aspect: Full sun/filtered sun

Soil/Conditions: Moist

Description:

Graceful habit, umbrella shaped canopy, attractive glossy foliage with pink new growth.

Green-yellow perfumed flowers in Oct/Dec.

Pink rounded fruit shaped like a European cheese wheel. 

Very fast growing. 

Excellent pioneer tree for revegetation. 

Attracts Lewin’s Honeyeater.

Family: Phyllanthaceae

 

 

Gymnostachys anceps (Settler’s Flax)

Settlers Flax 2 Screen shot 2015-09-09 at 10.37.53 AM Settlers Flax1

Form:  A tufted herb up to 2m tall with creeping rhizome.

Aspect: Low sun to dappled light

Soil:  Dry betweeen watering to constantly moist

Description:

Leaves are basal, tough, linear, strap-like 1-2m long and 25mm wide. The leaves are strongly veined and channelled.

Flowers are small, green, stalkless and 4-lobed, arranged in slender spike 15cm long. The spikes are grouped in clusters at the tips of erect flattened stems 1-2m high.  The stamens have bright yellow anthers. The flowering stems are longer than the leaves.  Flowers mainly October-December.

Fruit is blue-black, shiny, ovoid berry, 1-1.5cm long.

Family:  Araceae  Subfamily: Gymnostachydoideae

 

Hymenosporum flavum (Native Frangipani)

hymenosporum-flavum17Main  hymenosporum-flavumwsMain

Form:   Tree to 20m – less in cultivation

Aspect: Full sun/filtered sun

Soil/Conditions:   Moist, adaptable.

Description:

Very fast growing tree with fragrant yellow flowers in Spring. 

Upright growth habit, responds well to pruning.

Excellent tree for narrow areas, such as between buildings and along fence lines.

Family: Pittosporaceae

 

 

Linospadix monostachya (Walking Stick Palm)

Linospadix_monostachya Linospadix_monostachya04 L.mono_usual_leaf

Habit: Palm to 3 metres

Aspect: Filtered sun.

Soil: Adaptable/ Moist

Description:

Small palm that has a mature form closer to a cordyline shape. 

Uncommon. 

Distinctly ringed trunk, used by physically disabled service people as walking sticks after the First World War. 

Edible red fruit to 10mm on spikes.  

Prefers sheltered position.  

Family: Arecaceae

 

 

Kennedia rubicunda (Running red pea)

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Form:  Vine – climbing or prostrate to 2 metres

Soil / Conditions: Adaptable / Well-drained

Aspect: Full Sun/Part Shade

Description:

Scrambling or prostrate plant.

Slender stems & patterned, dark green leaves.

Masses of attractive red flowers in Winter and Spring. 

Family: Fabaceae

Special Features:  Fruit is silky, hairy pods.

 

Livistona australis (Cabbage Tree Palm)

Livistona_australis Liv_aust_costa_pja livis_austr51_small

Form: Palm 10 to 30 metres tall

Aspect: Full sun/filtered sun

Soil: Adaptable

Description:

Single grey trunk.

Shiny green, fan shaped leaves to 1.8m wide & 4m long.

Creamy white flowers & black fruit. 

Tolerates full sun, salt air, and a variety of soils including sand.

Family: Arecaceae

Special features:

Attracts birds & butterflies.

 

 

Lophostemon confertus (Queensland Brushbox)

Queensland Brushbox LophostemumConfertusCu700Main

Form: Medium tree 10-15 m in height  x 6-12 m width

Aspect: Full sun

Soil: Adaptable

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.

Special Features:

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.

 

 

 

Macaranga tanarius (Macaranga)

220px-Macaranga_tanarius_Tree_1  150x150_Macaranga ternaries 4

Form:   Small tree to 6 metres tall by 4metres wide

Aspect: Full sun/Filtered sun    

Soil/Conditions:   Adaptable

Description: Pioneer plant in areas of regrowth, very fast growing with large heart-shaped leaves. 

Male and female flowers on separate plants. 

Sticky green fruit capsules with black fruit that birds love. 

Excellent for revegetation and filling bare areas to provide cover for other plants.

Family: Euphorbiaceae

 

 

Pandorea jasminoides (Bower of Beauty)

pandorea_jasminoides_3 Pandorea jasminoides

 

Form: Vine up to 6 metres long

Aspect: Full sun/ Filtered sun

Soil: Adaptable

Description:

Hardy, vigorous plant with dark green bushy foliage & showy pink flowers (sometimes white) Spring & Summer.

Seed pods attract birds.  

Used as a nesting site by small birds. 

Tolerates salt spray.

Family: Bignoniaceae

Special Features:

Suitable for trellis, groundcover,  wall overhang, or pergola. 

 

 

Pilidiostigma rhytispermum (Plum Myrtle)

Plum Myrtle 2 Plum Myrtle 1

Form:  Shrub 3 to 5 metres tall

Aspect: Full shade, filtered sun 

Soil: Adaptable, Moist

Description:

Bushy habit, dark green foliage with attractive new growth, pretty white flowers in Winter & Spring, followed by purplish-black succulent berries.

Suitable for growing along creek banks. 

Excellent shade loving shrub.

Family: Myrtaceae

 

Psychotria loniceroides (Hairy Psychotria)

Psychotria loniceroides Psychotria loniceroides

Form: Shrub 5 metres tall 

Soil: Moist/Adaptable

Aspect: Shade/Semi-shade

Description:

Open rounded habit.

Evergreen perennial.

Light green hairy elliptical leaves.  

White flowers to 11 mm in Spring. 

Yellow or white fruit to 8mm.

Family: Rubiaceae

Special Features:

Fruit-earing bird attracting

Understorey shrub

Edible but unpalatable fruit.

 

 

 

Syzygium oleosum (Blue Lilly-Pilly)

oleosum1  Oleosum2

Form: Small Tree or Large Shrub to 6 metres tall by 3 metres across.

Aspect: Full sun/Filtered sun

Soil/Conditions: Sandy/Adaptable

Description:

Ornamental & fast growing, glossy dark green to yellow foliage, leaves smell lemony when crushed, creamy-white flowers in Summer.

Tasty edible purplish-blue fruit in March-May makes good jam. 

Good windbreak or  street tree specimen.

Tolerates south-east winds and  salt spray.  

Family: Myrtaceae

Special Features:

Fruit is nice as a jam.

Attracts birds.

 

 

Tabernaemontana pandacaqui (Banana Bush)

150x150_Tabernaemontana pandacaqui 4 150x150_Tabernaemontana pandacaqui 2 Tavernaemontana pandacaqui

Form: Shrub to 3 metres tall

Aspect: Full shade, filtered sun 

Soil: Adaptable, Moist

Description:

Attractive semi-deciduous bush, leaves have milky sap.

Pretty scented white flowers in Spring & Summer, and fascinating but inedible (toxic) orange, banana-shaped fruit.

Dense shrub for shady areas of the garden. Can be pruned.

Family: Apocynaceae

 

RAINFOREST

Abrophyllum ornans (Native Hydeangea)

150x150_Abrophyllum ornans 1 150x150_abrophyllum_ornans_68_s 150x150_Abrophyllum ornans 16 218

Form/Size:  Shrub or small tree to 5 metres tall

Aspect: Full sun/filtered sun

Soil:  Moist

Description:

Large leaves to 20cm long, toothed at tips, sprays of tiny perfumed greenish-yellow flowers in Spring.

Black berries.

Suitable for heavy shade.

Grown for its attractive foliage.

Good indoor plant.

Family:  Grossulariaceae

 

Acmena smithii var minor (Small-leaved Lilly-Pilly)

Acmena_smithii1  Acmena_smithii2

Form: Shrub to 4 metres tall by 1.5 metres across.

Aspect: Full sun/part shade 

Soil/Conditions:  Adaptable

Description:

Lovely bushy habit, glossy medium-green leaves with pink flushes, tiny white fluffy flowers in Summer and attractive
edible pink fruit.

Frost tolerant and salt spray resistant.

Tolerates South-East winds.

Excellent screening and hedging plant.

Family: Myrtaceae

Special Features:  

Fruit is nice raw or as a jam.

Attracts birds.
 

 

Alocasia brisbanensis (Cunjevoi Lily)

Alocasia-brisbanensis-2 Alocasia brisbanensis

Habit: Lily up to 2 metres tall by 1 metre wide

Aspect: Full shade/ Filtered sun

Soil: Moist

Description:

Very ornamental habit, large (up to 70cm long) “elephant ear” light green leaves on long fleshy stems.

Highly fragrant creamish flowers followed by red berries. 

Plant sap is toxic.

Family: Araceae

Special Features:

Reputed remedy to the effects of the Stinging Tree.

 

 

Araucaria cunninghamii (Hoop Pine)

220px-Araucaria_cunninghamii_bark 220px-Araucaria_cunninghamii Jewel Beetle

Form: Tree 40-50metres tall

Aspect: Full sun/filtered sun 

Soil: Moist

Description:

Stately connifer with straight trunk & open crown, rough bark and seed cones to 10cm long. 

Cones attract birds.

Wood is habitat for Jewel beetles. 

Slow growing, excellent timber tree for indoor joinery, plywood and furniture. 

Drought & salt-spray resistant.

Family:   Araucariaceae

 

Archontophoenix cunninghamiana (Bangalow Palm)

Bangalow Palm1 Bangalow Palm2 Bangalow Palm3

Form: A large-sized palm generally reaching 20-25 meters in height.

 

Aspect: Full sun/ Part shade

Soil: Moist

Description:

New leaves of the bangalow palm are often in pink/red tones.

It small red fruit is inedible.

The name bangalow is aboriginal for ‘water carrying basket’; the crown-shaft can be fashioned, with a few deft folds and tucks into a watertight vessel, the petiole used as the handle.

Propagation is by seed.

Family:  Arecaceae

 

 

Breynia oblongifolia (False Coffee Bush)

breyniap2104870 breyniaP1012000

Form: Shrub to 3 metres tall

Aspect: warm low sun to dappled light

Soil: Moist

Description:

Leaves are soft, elliptical (oblong) to 2 cm.  New growth rust coloured.

Flowers are inconspicuous, on the undersides of the stems at the leaf axils, each with a diameter of about 3 mm. Flowers in May to July.

The fruit are round berries, diameter to 0.5 cm. Initially whitish green they turn red then black as they ripen. Resemble tiny apples. Edible.

The foliage is food for the caterpillars of several Australian butterflies and moths.

Family: Euphorbiaceae

 

Canastospermum australe (Black Bean)

150x150_Castanosperma australe kk tues 048 Castanospermum-australe-300x262 Screen shot 2015-09-23 at 11.55.19 AM

Form: Tree to 40 metres tall

Aspect: Full sun/ Part shade

Soil: Adaptable/ Moist

Description:

This slow-growing Australian tree has a spreading crown and large glossy leaves, each with 11-15 leaflets.

The orange or yellowish pea-shaped flowers are borne in clusters on the branches so that they are partially hidden by the leaves.

The pods are large and woody containing 2-3 large brown seeds which are highly toxic unless treated prior to roasting.

The wood is dark and highly prized for cabinet work. 

 

Commersonia bartramia (Brown Kurrajong)

Comme_bartramia1 150x150_Commersonia bartramia 3

Comme_bartramia2 Brown Kurrajong

Form: A small tree that grows up to 20 m tall

Aspect: Full Sun/ Part Shade

Soil: Moist

Description:
White to gray mottled bark and conspicuous lenticels on the bark for gas exchange into the plant.
The leaves are ovate with serrated margins and are 6-15 cm long and 4-10 cm wide. The underside of the leaf is densely covered with yellow to gray hairs.
Clusters of white flowers in December leading to a common name Scrub Christmas tree.
 
The fruit is a dry capsule that grows up to 2 cm in diameter that splits into five segments each of which contain 2-6 seeds. The burr-like capsule is covered with soft star-shaped hairs that are 3-8 mm long. 
Special features:
Aborigines made a fibre from the bark of this plant for use in fish and kangaroo netting. 

 

Elaeocarpus grandis (Blue Quandong)

150x150_Elaeocarpus grandis 1 150x150_Elaeocarpus grandis 4 150x150_Elaeocarpus grandis 3

Form: Tree to 24 metres

Aspect: Full Sun

Soil:  Moist well drained.

Description:

Fast growing tree.

Branches open and almost horizontal.

Develop a large buttressed trunk and have a dark grey to brown smooth bark.

For such a large tree, the Elaeocarpus grandis has a surprisingly petite flower. Small white clusters of flowers gather on the undersides of the branches, their small size is a direct contrast to the enormity of the tree. Fairy Petticoats, which is an apt description for the delicacy of the flowers is another common name for this tree.

Special Features:

Timber: Cabinet timber, pale, interior use and cabinet making, racing sculls, oars, aircraft construction.

Seeds used to make jewellery.

Bush food. Fresh Fruit eaten raw.

Bird attracting. Favourite food of fig birds and Fruit pigeons.

 

Hoya australis (Native Hoya, Wax Flower)

Hoya dsc_0715-common-crow-butterfly

Form: Twining Vine to 6 Metres Tall

Aspect: Full Sun / Semi-Shade

Soil/Conditions: Moist, Well Composted

Description: Perennial Vine with fleshy leaves 

White / Pale Pink waxy flowers in Spring.  Perfumed flowers

Family: Apocynaceae

Special Features:

Host to Common Crow Butterfly

Suitable for Indoors / Pots

Bird attracting

 


Mellicope elleryana
(Pink Euodia)

mellicope1 Mellicope

Form/Size: Tree to 20 metres tall  (usually 10 metres in cultivation)

Aspect: Full sun/filtered sun

Soil: Moist, adaptable

Description:

Soft & corky whitish bark,

Beautiful glossy green open foliage,

Bright pink flowers in Summer which sprout all along the branches. 

Dark brown fruit with black seeds which attract lorikeets.

Hardy, very fast growing. 

Great feature tree, shade tree & ornamental tree for larger gardens.

 

 

Lomandra hystrix (Green Mat-Rush, Slender or Creek Mat-Rush)

lomandra-hystrix1 Lomandra hystrix

Form: Sedge to 1.5 metres tall by 1.5 metres wide

Soil / Conditions: Adaptable

Aspect: Full sun / Part Shade

Description:

Long arching dark green leaves forming large tufts.

Tiny perfumed cream flowers on spikes.

Extremely tough & hardy, drought & frost tolerant. 

Good soil binder on embankments and roadsides. 

Family: Laxmanniaceae

Special Features:

Attracts butterflies.

 

 

Pandorea pandorana (Wonga Wonga Vine)

Pandorea pandorana_detail Pandorea1

Form: Scrambling / Climbing Vine to height of Support

Aspect: Full Sun / Semi-Shade

Soil/Conditions: Moist, Well Drained

Description:  

Vigorous Climbing Habit 

Sweet smelling White tubular flowers with Purple or Red throats in Spring

Green glossy leaves                      

Young growth resembles ferns                                          

Family: Bignoniaceae

Natural Habitat: Rain Forest

Special Features:

Unusual winged seeds 

Will quickly climb tall trees with only stems showing lower down

 

Polyscias elegans (Celery Wood)

polycias elegans 001 polycias elegans 002

Form: Tree to 15m, very fast growing.

Aspect: Full Sun / Semi-Shade

Soil/Conditions: Higher rainfall areas

Description:  

Pioneer species quickly filling gaps caused by vegetation disturbance.

Saplings often unbranched. Wood white, very soft and light.

Slender fast growing, celery scented timber.        

Generally regarded as a rather inferior species for the production of timber.                  

Family: Araliaceae

Natural Habitat:

A characteristic tree of disturbed rain forest in the higher rainfall areas but also grows as a canopy tree in monsoon forest and drier rain forest

Special Features:

The fruit is eaten by a large variety of birds, including brown cuckoo dove, Australasian figbird, green catbird, Lewin’s honeyeater, olive-backed oriole, pied currawong, paradise riflebird, rose crowned fruit dove, silvereye, superb fruit dove, topknot pigeon and wompoo fruit dove.

 

 

Acmena hemilampra (broad-leaved lilly pilly)

Acmena hemilampra 002

Acmena hemilampra

Form: Tree 8-20m tall.

Aspect: Full Sun

Soil/Conditions: Moist, well drained, tolerates salt spray

Description:  

Glossy dark green leaves with red new growth,

greyish flaky trunk,

fluffy white flowers in spring and summer,

white succulent edible fruit.

Family: Myrtaceae

Natural Habitat: Rain Forest

Special Features:

Excellent feature tree or shade tree.

Planted in Birtwill St, Coolum as street tree.

 

 

Coming Soon:

Syzygium leuhmannii

Tecomanthe hillii

Tristaniopsis laurina

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