Image – Wikimedia/Jacqui Barker
How many tree species are native to Australia? Bearing in mind that most of the continent is an arid or semi-arid zone, it may be hard for you to believe that there are no more or less than 22 species of plants, and a significant percentage of them are trees. We cannot tell you how many types of tree plants there are in this country, but to give you an idea, it is estimated that there are about 600 varieties of eucalyptus alone. In fact, eucalyptus forests occupy about 55 million hectares.
Then, If you want to know the names of Australian trees, here I am going to tell you some of them. Some are better known than others, but without a doubt all these plants are curious to say the least.
acacia dealbata
Image – Wikimedia/Certo Xornal
La acacia dealbata It is a species known as mimosa or Australian acacia. It is an evergreen tree that grows both on the south-southeast coast and in the southwest of the country. It also grows in neighboring Tasmania. Reaches 12 meters in height, and blooms at a very early age: normally from the second year of life. The flowers appear in late winter, and are yellow.
Being a plant of great ornamental value that also resists drought, it has been widely cultivated in Spain. The problem is that it has adapted so well in certain areas that it has become invasive to the point that it is prohibited in the Iberian Peninsula -not in the two archipelagos, something that personally seems absurd to me considering how other acacias behave in the Mediterranean region- (here You have the link to the Spanish Catalog of Invasive Species).
Banksia coccinea
Image – Wikimedia/John Jennings
The scarlet banksia is an evergreen tree that reaches 8 meters in height. It is native to Western Australia, and has flowers grouped in spike-type inflorescences, and scarlet red.
For this reason, it is a plant that looks good both in large pots and in gardens of all kinds, including small ones, since it not only has non-invasive roots, but also when it blooms it is quite a spectacle. And if that was not enough, It is a plant capable of withstanding mild frosts.
Brachychiton acerifolius
Image – Wikimedia/Sheba_Also
El Brachychiton acerifolius it is one of the native Brachychiton species of this country, and certainly the most spectacular when it blooms. It grows on the east coast, specifically in regions with a subtropical climate, so it doesn't like the cold very much, although withstands occasional frosts of up to -3ºC. It can reach about 15 meters in height, and develops a crown that is about 4-5 meters wide. The flowers appear in spring, and are a fiery red color that powerfully attracts attention.
It is perfect for planting in Mediterranean gardens, for example, since, in addition, although it does not resist drought as well as the Brachychiton populneus or Brachychiton rupestris, a native species also to Australia, is also not one of those that needs water frequently.
Corymbia ficifolia
Image - Wikimedia / Bidgee
La Corymbia ficifolia It is the tree known as red eucalyptus or red-flowered eucalyptus despite the fact that it does not belong to the genus Eucalyptus, but Corymbia. It is native to the south coast of Western Australia, and reaches an approximate height of 50 meters in its natural habitat (in cultivation it is difficult for it to exceed 10 meters).
It is an evergreen tree that is not demanding at all, since it grows in a wide variety of soils -including infertile ones-, and also, supports frost as long as they are not severe since if it drops below -3ºC it will suffer serious damage.
eucalyptus grandis
Image - Flickr / Harry Rose
El eucalyptus grandis It is one of hundreds of eucalyptus species that grow in Australia. This in particular is part of the coastal forests of the east of the continent. It can reach up to 50 meters in height., with a trunk up to 2 meters in diameter at its base. Its bark is almost whitish in color, except in the lower part, which is brown.
It withstands the cold well, as well as frost up to -5ºC. In any case, it is important to clarify that it grows better if the climate is warm, without frost or very weak.
ficus rubiginosa
Image - Wikimedia / John Robert McPherson
El ficus rubiginosa It is an evergreen tree native to eastern Australia. In popular language it is known as the Port Jackson fig or moldy fig (because of the appearance of its leaves) and it is a plant that reaches a height of 10-15 meters when it is cultivated. Of course, its crown is very wide, reaching 6-7 meters in the most mature specimens. The crown projects, then, a lot of shade, something that is undoubtedly appreciated when the sun is shining.
It is a plant that, due to its size, must be planted in the ground if the garden is large and the climate is tropical or subtropical. It does not resist frost.
Lophostemon confertus
Image - Wikimedia / JMK
El Lophostemon confertus is an evergreen tree known as brush boxwood that grows on the east coast of Australia. It can reach a maximum height of 40 meters in origin, but in cultivation it does not exceed 12 meters. The crown is dense, and quite large, since it measures about 4-5 meters wide. Its flowers are white, and appear in spring.
It can live in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate climates. Withstands not very severe frosts of up to -4ºC.
Polyscias murrayi
Image - Flickr / Tatters ✾
El Polyscias murrayi It is a tree known as pencil cedar, probably because it has a cylindrical trunk with smooth bark. It grows in the rainforests of the eastern part of the country, and It can reach a height of approximately 25 meters.
It is an evergreen plant that can withstand mild frosts, but only if they are punctual and of very short duration.
Rhodosphaera rhodanthema
Image - Flickr / Tatters ✾
La Rhodosphaera rhodanthema It is a species native to Queensland, in Australia. Reaches a height of 20 meters, and develops quite large leaves, up to 30 centimeters long by about 10cm wide. Its flowers are pink and arise in panicle-type inflorescences, which are about 20 centimeters long at most.
In cultivation it behaves like a plant that resists drought whenever it is for short periods of time, and weak frosts.
wollemia nobilis
Image - Wikimedia / Fritz Geller-Grimm
La wollemia nobilis It is a conifer considered a living fossil, and it is also in critical danger of extinction. It grows in the temperate forests of New South Wales, in Australia. It is evergreen, and It reaches an approximate height of 20 to 40 meters.
It can resist frosts down to -5ºC, but it does not like extreme heat (35ºC or more) too much.
What do you think of these Australian trees?