Suiting the Site


by Kay Gee

Deciduous Trees

Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku' (Japanese Coral Stemmed maple) - Japanese tree to 8m; attractive lobed leaves; insignificant flowers; red young stems; gold autumn colour; frost tolerant; semi-shade; acid soil.

Malus floribunda (Japanese Crab Apple) - Japanese tree to 8m; pendulous foliage; masses of white or pink spring blossom opening from deep pink buds; decorative red and yellow autumn fruits; full sun or semi-shade.

Prunus subhirtella 'Pendula' (Weeping Cherry) - generally grafted tree to 2.5m; soft, serrated leaves; weeping foliage; masses of small pink flowers on bare branches in spring; soft orange autumn colour; full sun; ample water required.

Prunus persica (Flowering Peach) - Chinese tree to 6m; long, pointed leaves; white , pink or rosy red flowers on bare branches in spring; gold autumn colour; tolerates hot summers; needs protection from wind; full sun; acid or alkaline soil.

Lagerstroemia indica (Crepe Myrtle) - Chinese tree to 5m; mid-green foliage; excellent autumn colour; masses of crepey flowers in shades of white, pink, lavender and carmine in summer; beautiful pink bark; quite drought tolerant; frost tolerant; prefers acid soil; full sun.

Viburnum opulus 'Sterile' (Geulder Rose; Snowball Tree) - shrub native to Europe, Asia and North Africa can be pruned into a small tree to 4m; attractive lobed leaves; large balls of white flowers in late spring; excellent red and purple autumn colour; tolerant of drought, compaction; frost, shade and alkaline soils.

Chioanthus retusa (Fringe Tree) - Chinese tree to 5m; glossy emerald green foliage; profuse clusters of small, narrow-petalled, white flowers followed by deep blue fruits; frost tolerant; needs rich, acid soil and ample water; full sun.

Evergreen trees

Virgilia oroboides (Tree-in-a-Hurry) - South African tree to 6m; attractive pinnate foliage in an unusual shade of green; masses of scented, mauve, pea flowers in spring; very fast-growing, shallow-rooted & prone to being blown over; needs a protected position & resents root disturbance.

Luma apiculata - South American tree or shrub to 6m; dark green, glossy foliage, lime new growth; modest white flowers; beautiful coppery bark; tolerates acid, clay soil & frost; needs ample water; semi-shade.

Angophora hispida (Dwarf Apple) - Australian tree, native to NSW to 6m; leathery leaves; interesting hairy buds open to clusters of creamy-white summer flowers followed by attractive seed capsules; twisted growth habit; suitable for coastal locations; frost tender when young.

Eucalyptus caesia
(Gungurru) - West Australian tree to 6m; silvery, pendulous leaves; glaucous stems, buds & fruits; large pink flowers; unusual weeping habit; drought & frost tolerant; grows in acid or alkaline soil; full sun.

Caesalpinia pulcherrima (Dwarf Poinciana; Barbados Pride) - slender tree to 4m; pretty, fern-like pinnate foliage; spectacular, butterfly-like, red and yellow flowers with very long stamens; suited only to sub-tropical and tropical areas

Agonis flexuosa 'Fairy Foliage' - cultivar of a West Australian tree to 4m; fine, weeping, aromatic foliage; white flowers along the stems in spring and summer; slow growing; tolerates alkaline soils; frost tender.

Clethra arborea (Lily of the Valley Tree) - tree to 8m tall, native to Madeira; glossy leaves; white, lily-of-the-valley- shaped flowers in summer and autumn; sun or semi-shade; rich, acid soils; ample water.

Eucalyptus burdettiana (Burdett Gum) - West Australian gum to 6m; dense, compact foliage; large greenish-yellow, fluffy flowers mainly in late summer & winter; bell-shaped fruits; coppery bark; drought tolerant.

Illustrations from top to bottom:
1. Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku' (Coral Barked Maple)
2. Prunus subhirtella 'Pendula' (Weeping Cherry)
3. Viburnum opulus 'Sterile' (Snowball Tree)(Geulder Rose; Snowball Tree)
4. Eucalyptus caesia (Gungurru)

Copyright 2008 Global Garden  http://www.global-garden.com.au
 

Home/Index>

< Email >

    <Subscribe>

<Advertise>