SMALL NATIVE TREES IN HIGH DEMAND

With its often-blue grey-green appearance, shorter height and finer leaf form, dwarf native trees with a mature height of between 4 metres to 10 metres tall are hugely popular in the marketplace, and their appeal continues to grow.

Representing a species type that we know will tolerate Australian conditions they offer a compact growing alternative to the grand iconic trees found in public gardens and state forests.While native, these dwarf alternatives have soil and climate preferences which still require specialist advice for planting and long-term performance in the landscape.

Development trials on provenance grown natives suitable for residential and community planting is also ramping up with councils in particular, acknowledging the growing need to find and develop more species that fit within this popular short native tree category.

Currently, there are some fabulous species to consider under 10 metres tall. Most of the trees highlighted below are suitable for the south-eastern parts of Australia, but it is always recommended to be guided by the advice of your local grower.

Eucalyptus latens ‘Moon Lagoon’

Fall in love with this beautiful Fine Leafed Mallee Gum growing to 4 metres tall. A dense shrub with blue-green foliage, its juvenile growth is smallish in size and blue-silver so it is often kept clipped small to keep this leaf shape and colour. It is popular as a contrast landscape planting and in flower arranging.

Eucalyptus gregsoniana

This Dwarf Snow Gum grows to 5 metres tall with thick leathery, blue-green foliage which works to contrast with red coloured stems and smooth white to grey bark. There is so much to like about this tree, suitable for smaller spaces and cold conditions hence its common name.

Eucalyptus leucoxylon ‘Euky Dwarf’

This shapely white trunked gum grows to 6 metres tall with a light, open canopy and smooth bark that sheds. Its grey-green leaves once mature are offset by masses of nectar-rich, pink, red and sometimes cream blossoms from late autumn to early summer. A great bird-attracting variety.

Corymbia citriodora ‘Scentuous’

This sort-after iconic beauty grows to approximately 7 metres tall. As a dwarf version of a lemon-scented gum it is highly regarded for its aroma, particularly after rain, as well as its compact and narrow form. Its smooth trunk is slightly mottled with bark an attractive, subtle salmon colour.

Eucalyptus cladocalyx nana

This is another Dwarf Sugar Gum growing to 8 metres with attractive mottled yellow-blue-grey bark and glossy green foliage. Flowering in warmer months followed by large gumnuts for the kids to collect.

Eucalyptus eximia nana

This dwarf version of Corymbia eximia grows to 8 metres tall. Foliage is broad with a strong green colour and may turn a paler yellow/green in the colder months.  The trunk adopts a gnarly appearance with mottled brown bark and in spring the tree puts on an eye-catching display covering itself in creamy yellow flowers, attracting nectar loving birds.

The tallest in this collection is Corymbia maculata ‘Lowanna’ - a Dwarf form of spotted Gum that grows to approximately 10 metres tall. This is a special selection originating from Sale in Victoria and is a denser version of straight maculata but with the same iconic spotted trunk and feature bark as its much bigger parent.

Corymbia citriodora ‘Scentuous’ and Corymbia maculata ‘Lowanna’ are grafted forms which mean that numbers available in the market will continue to be limited, so make sure to contact the expert team at Speciality Trees to lock down these quick selling species.

For information on suitable trees for your next project or to contact the team at Speciality Trees, please use the links below.