Have you ever looked around your neighbourhood and realised that many of your neighbours have the same tree species as you? Have you often wondered what they are? This handy guide will highlight some of the most common trees in yards around South East Queensland in two parts. This is part one:
Gum Tree
Have you a home amongst the gum trees? Most of us Aussies do and you can probably already easily identify these iconic sentinel soldiers that dot our sunburnt country! There are around 900 varieties of gum tree in Australia and in and around Brisbane, you’ll commonly find Trilliana , Spotted Gum, Tallowwood, Forest Red Gum, Iron Bark and Stringy Bark. Gum trees are all sought after for their gorgeous looks, their timber and amazing eucalyptus oil. Of course, they are less sought after for their massive falling branches, which are one of the dangers of having a ‘gummy’ in your yard. To prevent danger, make sure you have a good arborist (like any of the staff at Brisbane Treeworx) visit to check their branches regularly.
Poinciana (Delonix Regia)
These bright red and orange flowered trees are all over Brissy and are simply stunning! They are not native (originally from Madagascar); however, they have become naturalised and you’ll be hard pressed to avoid seeing them over summer in SEQ. They make great shade trees but drop quite a lot of mess from their 15 metre canopies.
Tea Tree (Melaleuca quinquinervia)
If you’re an Aussie and you don’t have a bottle of Tea Tree oil in your medicine cupboard, then it must just mean you’ve run out and need to duck out to the chemist for some more, right? Seriously though, the majestic Tea Tree (or Paperbark) is an Aussie favourite and if you see their paperbark trunks, it’s a good sign there is water nearby. Get a bit closer and you might notice the water source surrounded by these natives is a dark tea colour, and if you’ve ever visited NSW’s famous Lake Ainsworth (in Lennox Head on the Far North Coast), you’ll know what we mean. These trees attract birds like honey, so if you’re a bird lover, this is an excellent tree to have in your garden.
Jacaranda (Jacaranda Minosifolia)
Jacarandas are simply stunning, but… they can also be awfully messy when they drop their flowers over Autumn. They are worth the mess though because their thick coverage of purple flowers are simply amazing! These trees are again not native South and Central American) but they are definitely considered locals these days. Jacarandas make excellent shade trees, but keep them away from pools, gutters and cars!
Chinese Celtis (Ulmus parvifolia)
This tree is quite attractive, with glossy leaves and dense foliage; however, it is also a declared pest weed in NSW and QLD, which means you should probably have it removed if you have one in your yard!
Bottlebrush (Callistemom)
This is another Australian native that is perfect for those hoping to attract gorgeous native birds to their garden. This hardy tree grows from around 4 metres to up to 10 metres and are extremely attractive. Easy to keep alive and generally clean with not a lot of leaf litter dropped.
Leopard tree (Libidibia ferrea)
Also known as Brazilian Ironwood, this tree has a bark that is dappled with brown an white patches that gives it it’s common name. Growing up to 15 metres, this tree makes a fantastic shade tree with its wide canopy. Not native but not invasive, this tree is a medicinal wonder that has been studied and used for diabetes and cancer, to name a few.
Fig (Ficus)
Figs are a magnificent example of a tree, reminiscent of our ancient past where everything grew huge! If you have an established fig, you’ll already be aware they can be fairly messy. If you have a young fig or are thinking of getting one, just be aware these trees need huge amounts of room to spread their amazing, buttressed roots. Definitely not suitable to plant close to structures or concrete flooring. Great for attracting wildlife, as there are plenty of places for animals to hide.
Wattle (Acacia)
Our (Australia’s) floral emblem and a highly recognised favourite, the Wattle is another native you’ll want in your garden if you want to attract birds; however, you might want to remove any nearby wattles if you suffer from hay fever, as this is one of the main culprits during spring flowering. Their fluffy yellow flowers are delightful though, but they also only live for around 12 years, so enjoy them while they still look wonderful.
African Tulip (Spathodea Campanulata)
With gorgeous red or orange flame-like flowers, this tree is gorgeous. What a pity that they aren’t native and that many people have issues with them taking over their yard or knocking down fences. If you do have an African Tulip tree in your yard, make sure you regularly have it pruned and tended to, as they can quickly get out of hand.
If you have any of these trees that you’d like removed or trimmed, contact us and we will make your tough job super easy! We’re available for all types of tree lopping and tree removal in Brisbane, 7 days a week, and available outside business hours.
