NEW FLEMING’S URBAN AND STREET TREES – YES PLEASE!
23 Feb 2024
Australia’s largest and most diverse horticulture business, Fleming’s Nurseries, has been busy trialing and introducing new trees perfect for the urban environment including new varieties of Acer (Maple), Corymbia, Parrotia, Pyrus (Ornamental Pear) and Quercus (Oak).
Ensuring greater diversity for the Australian streetscape is an important part of Fleming’s ongoing commitment to the development and introduction of new varieties as well as their commitment to developing superior options of Australian native tree selections.
Fleming’s dedicated Research and Innovation department has been working solidly for decades to ensure the trees we deliver perform to standard and deliver excellent street tree solutions.
New to our Acer offerings is Acer truncatum x A. platanoides ‘JFS-KW202’ Crimson Sunset, a hybrid between A. truncatum and A. platanoides which, paired together, provide an upright, compact form with impressive deep purple foliage. It is also ideal as a shade tree as it maintains its hue even when exposed to hot summer sun, where most purple leafed plants turn green. The foliage also turns an eye-catching maroons and rich reddish-bronze tones. Will grow to approx. 7.5M x 10.5M at 20 years. 
This new cultivar joins Acer truncatum x A. platanoides ‘Ruby Sunset’, and Acer truncatum x A. platanoides ‘JFS-KW187’P Urban Sunset that were also recently released. Featuring superb autumn foliage and striking and uniform tree shapes, the Sunset range of Fleming’s maples are already in high demand.
- Acer truncatum x A. platanoides ‘Ruby Sunset’ – a great choice for smaller sites requiring a more compact tree. The elegant foliage stays fresh and glossy throughout the growing season. Will grow to approx. 7m x 6m at 20 years.
- Acer truncatum x A. platanoides ‘JFS-KW187’P Urban Sunset is a compact, upright and narrow form which is easy to grow and relatively problem free, an upright street tree form. Will grow to approx. 12m x 6m at 20 years.
New to our native list and finally available in limited numbers is Corymbia citriodora ‘Warneet’ Native Introductions®. This beautiful Corymbia form is smaller than typical for Corymbia but the selection was primarily made for its excellent broad, spreading form. ‘Warneet’ offers a strong straight central leader with creamy white bark, with a foliage typical of lemon scented gums and features a lovely clean citronella scent. 
Finally, a new Parrotia for Australia! Fleming’s is very excited by Parrotia persica ‘JLColumnar’ (PBR) Persian Spire. This selection has been very impressive during its nursery trials here in Australia and is fast becoming a favourite with tree experts. Although slow growing, the benefit of this tree is certainly its narrow and upright shape. The summer leaves are dark green gradually developing a purple margin as the year goes on. The narrow, upright habit makes it suitable for smaller gardens or street scapes. 
Pyrus x tripolida ‘JFS-NCPX2’ (PBR) Chastity is a delightful new introduction from our USA breeding programs. The tree was selected for its small size and horizontally spreading growth habit. Like most Pyrus this is certainly a very good option for an urban/street tree situations, particularly beneath power lines due to its compact size. 
The floriforous spring show and vivid autumn colour make excellent interest in the street environment. Grows to 10.5 (H) x 7.5 (W) at maturity. 
Fleming's are also excited to welcome two new Oaks to the market in 2024. Quercus robur x alba ‘JFS-KW2QX’ (PBR) Skinny Genes and Quercus robur x alba ‘JFS-KW1QX’P Streetspire. The names may be a dead give-away as to why these two trees have been popular.
- Quercus robur x alba ‘JFS-KW2QX’ (PBR) Skinny Genes is, as the name suggest, a very narrow form of a English and White oak cross which will only grow to between 3 and 4 meters in width and to 13-14m in height. This is the narrowest of the hybrid and certainly one of the narrowest in Australia. The tree’s glossy, very dark green foliage will turn yellows/light oranges in autumn.
- Quercus robur x alba ‘JFS-KW1QX’P Streetspire is a great street tree option with its tight upright and narrow form growing 13.5-14M High and approx. 4-4.5m wide. Dark green leaves will turn to red in autumn, they fall to reveal a very upright branch structure. Similar to Crimson Spire™, although Streetspire will not hold the crispy dead foliage through the winter as is often common in Oak trees.
Head to Fleming's Nurseries for more information.
