A LITTLE EXOTIC TREE GOES A LONG WAY...

In my previous Blog I looked at some beautiful small NATIVE evergreen and flowering trees that are ideal for urban landscapes. NOW, here's a small sample of flowering EXOTIC trees that really pop in the Australian garden...

Lagerstoema indica 'Natchez' is a broad canopied, pendulous Crepe Myrtle growing to 6 - 8m high and 5 metres wide. With spectacular clusters of white flowers in Summer, dark green leaves that turn red-bronze in Autumn and smooth bark mottled pinkish brown and grey, Natchez [Pictured Left] provides year round interest.

Radermachera 'Kunming' or Dwarf Tree Jasmine is a small tree from Kunming, Yunnan, South China with lovely lush dark green semi-pendulous foliage. The delicate, papery pink yellow-throated flowers are beautifully fragrant and used in village pharmacy as relaxant and aphrodisiac. Flowers best in warm, full sun position protected from frost.

Terrific for a teeny space, Michelia X 'Bubbles' grows to just 5m high and has an upright pyramidal form. With glossy deep green foliage, 'Bubbles' gets it's name from the white, cup shaped flowers that appear prolifically along the stem with from fur-covered buds. A real sweetie.

[Pictured Left Michelia X 'Bubbles']

With it's proliferation of pink, tulip shaped,10-20cm fragrant blooms on bare boughs in spring, the deciduous Magnolia soulangeana is a stunning tree to 7-9m high tolerating a broad range of conditions from cool temperate to the sub-tropics.

[Pictured Below Magnolia soulangeana]

Originating from China, Banana Magnolia or Michelia skinneriana is a small tree with cold tolerance that really packs a punch with it's delicious banana scent wafting from small yellow, cup shaped flowers. Glossy elongated mid green foliage responds well to pruning making it ideal for a formal or informal screen also.

[Pictured Right Magnolia skinneriana when grown clear-trunked is a lovely small tree with an intoxicating banana scent.]

These beautiful small trees are available from www.bangalownursery.com

SALES: 0428 878 626

COPSE THIS! POPULAR BRACHYCHITON POPULNEUS..

The Kurrajong or Brachychiton populneus is a small to medium native tree found in a diversity of habitats from wetter coastal districts to semi-arid interiors of Victoria, NSW and Queensland. This is a tree that can handle both heat waves and cold spells. A lovely shade tree or splendid in group (or copse) planting.

Currently in stock in our nursery in 330mm containers.

SALES: 0428 878 626 www.bangalownursery.com

COASTAL STREET TREES? OBOVATUS IS AN OBVIOUS CANDIDATE...

ELAEOCARPUS OBOVATUS is a compact, dense, medium tree with smaller glossy leaves.

With excellent coastal tolerance (we have seen them growing on coastal headlands) they are a good street tree option for warmer coastal regions of east coast Australia and may well be suited to coastal streetscapes as far south as Victoria, where a trial is in process. We snapped the street tree pictured below is at Noosa Junction, Queensland.

Pictured at right is an excellent example of E obovatus in production at our nursery in 45L container size.

Sales: 0428 878 626 www.bangalow nursery.com

A MAGNOLIA with a BANANA SCENT? HEAVENLY...

Originating from China, BANANA MAGNOLIA or Michelia skinneriana is a lush, large evergreen shrub to small tree with upright pyramidal form and glossy, elongated foliage.

Sweet creamy yellow 3cm blooms with an AMAZING BANANA SCENT are borne in late spring and summer.

The Banana Magnolia makes a great hedge plant, responds well to pruning and thrives in full sun to part shade in coastal to temperate regions. Cold tolerant once established.

www.bangalownursery.com

Sales: 0428 878 626.

ACMENA FIRESCREEN - ideal Compact Tree for Australian Conditions...

Did you know that one of Australia's hardiest and most attractive hedging plants - ACMENA smithii FIRESCREEN - can be clear-trunked and grown as a compact tree to 6m?

The attached image of FIRESCREEN trees in production was taken at the nursery of arguably Australia's most prestigious tree grower; Tree's Impact P/L.

Broad glossy leaves and semi-pendulous form and NON-INVASIVE roots make this selection an ideal candidate for smaller gardens and confined spaces such as planter boxes and roof top gardens. A good alternative to Ficus hillii for raised (pleached) hedges.

FIRESCREEN tolerates a broad range of conditions in coastal temperate regions of Australia in full sun to half shade. For best results plant using organic matter in well drained soil and water regularly until established. Very hardy to heatwaves/wind/coastal/cold(to -2) conditions once established.

A low-fruiting selection, FIRESCREEN produces only a limited amount of (edible) cherry.