8 responses |
Sushisnake starts with ... Hi all. My mother and I have just moved into a new house and I need help identifying this tree. The buds looked like tiny green figs. Older leaves turn red before falling off. Does anyone know what it is? And is it fauna attracting? If not, any suggestions for a fauna attracting (birds and butterflies) replacement? Preferably one with fragrant flowers. I'm thinking perhaps a Randia or Attractocarpus( native gardenia) but don't know how they would go in Newcastle or if the fauna would recognise them. If I can't have fragrance, I'm thinking a dwarf flowering gum. The yard is very small. The garden bed is only a metre wide and only a slightly more than a metre from the water tank concrete slab.
| About the Author Sushisnake Newcastle 8th October 2017 3:59pm #UserID: 17016 Posts: 3 View All Sushisnake 's Edible Fruit Trees |
|||||||||
| About the Author GG Lindfield 9th October 2017 10:27am #UserID: 10423 Posts: 38 View All GG's Edible Fruit Trees |
||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pademelon1 says... Hi, It's not a Diploglottis (leaves aren't compound), but looks like a cheese tree (Glochidion) or perhaps a Pittosporum (Although it could be something else completely). Both of these are a little attractive to birds, but neither are very fragrant and are often seen as less desirable natives, used more for reforestation projects due to their quick growth. Only A. fitzalanii is a commonly grown plant, but it will certainly grow in Newcastle. In my experience, they don't really grow as trees but rather as a large shrub, and though the flowers smell terrific, i'm not sure it's worth it overall, as they don't seem to flower as profusely as Gardenias do, but with some TLC maybe idk. A. fitzalanii will grow much better in Newcastle than any flowering gum though. I'll try to think of some other fragrant natives, but at the moment i've got a blank mind. What is your ideal height? Regards, Pademelon1 | About the Author Pademelon1 PADDINGTON,2021,NSW 10th October 2017 11:53am #UserID: 11938 Posts: 138 View All Pademelon1's Edible Fruit Trees |
|||||||||
Reply |
| Remember to
LIKE this Answer(0)
LIKE this Question (0)
Original Post was last edited: 10th October 2017 12:10pm | ||||||||||
GG says... Hi again. Given the size of the garden and not knowing what the plant is (it's not a small-leaved tamarind nor sweet pittostorum, possibly cheese tree) my advice is to tear it out and put in something you know you want. There aren't many natives that produce significant fragrance. Sweet pittostorum is a native that will provide a beautiful fragrance and attract lorikeets etc. briefly in spring, but cannot be called a beautiful looking tree. If you want to provide food to attract fauna, introduced plants do a better job. None the less... Your idea of a gum is good. If you want a gum that will genuinely attract fauna you can go past a Red-Flowering Gum or one of its hybrids. They are gorgeous. Other gums are relatively useless at attracting fauna. Other natives for attracting fauna are the usual suspects: callistemons; grevilleas; and banksias. | About the Author GG Lindfield 13th October 2017 12:42pm #UserID: 10423 Posts: 38 View All GG's Edible Fruit Trees |
|||||||||
Pademelon1 says... Looking at it again, It's definitely a Glochidion, probably G. ferdinandi. I feel I was probably a bit harsh on A. fitzalanii, as it is a very nice looking plant, however I do not think that a flowering gum is a good idea. A couple of ideas for fauna attracting, showy, fragrant native trees: Melaleuca linariifolia (Snow in Summer) Hymenosporum flavum (Native Frangipani) Some species of Lilly-Pilly (Syzygium hodgkinsoniae is most scented) Harpullia ramiflora (Tulipwood) Buckinghamia celsissima (Ivory Curl) Diploglottis campbellii (Small-leaved Tamarind) Elaeocarpus reticulatus (Blueberry Ash) - Doesn't always have scent And if you don't mind the leaves being scented instead of the flowers: Acronychia oblongifolia (White Aspen) Backhousia species (Lemon Myrtles or Grey Myrtles are my picks for this genus) Various Eucalypts (Corymbia citriodora, Eucalyptus olida, Eucalyptus dives are best) Please note that while these trees should all grow well in Newcastle, they may not suit your garden. The Lilly-Pilly's, Diploglottis, Acronychia, Backhousia and Eucalypts are all bush-foods as well. Some are more fauna attractive than others Hope this helps, Pademelon1 | About the Author Pademelon1 PADDINGTON,2021,NSW 15th October 2017 10:22pm #UserID: 11938 Posts: 138 View All Pademelon1's Edible Fruit Trees |
|||||||||
Reply |
| Remember to
LIKE this Answer(0)
LIKE this Question (0)
Original Post was last edited: 16th October 2017 12:01pm | ||||||||||
Mike Tr says... Nothing like Glochidion that tree and A.fitzalani is a poor looking tree that doesn't attract wildlife.Sure looks like Diploglottis but pulling a fruit off and showing us or telling us whether the flesh is rubbery or not would help. It is too cryptic at a distance. Each district has its it best butterfly larva host trees and bird attracting fruit trees and blossoming species. Local native is best and smaller trees are easier. You have quite a few good quality choices in the Newcastle area. | About the Author Mike Tr Cairns 17th October 2017 8:50am #UserID: 8322 Posts: 614 View All Mike Tr's Edible Fruit Trees |
|||||||||
Pademelon1 says... I'm sorry to argue, but Diploglottis has compound leaves, capsules split in three segments and are smoother. Also, there are only two Diploglottis native to NSW; D. australis and D. campbellii, and It looks nothing like either species and it is less likely to be something from up north, which generally are less cultivated. On the other hand, all its features do closely match Glochidion - compare with pictures. Whilst I don't think that A. fitzalanii is the most spectacular tree, it is in my opinion not an ugly tree - but as Mike says it doesn't attract wildlife.
| About the Author Pademelon1 PADDINGTON,2021,NSW 17th October 2017 1:08pm #UserID: 11938 Posts: 138 View All Pademelon1's Edible Fruit Trees |
|||||||||
Reply |
| Remember to
LIKE this Answer(0)
LIKE this Question (0)
Original Post was last edited: 17th October 2017 1:10pm | ||||||||||
Sushisnake says... I got it identified at Newcastle Wildflower Nursery . It's a cheese tree - Glochidion ferdinandi. The nurserywoman told me it's a decent habitat tree, especially small birds like fairy wrens and there's a few of them around, so although it certainly isn't the prettiest or most useful tree in any way and it has no fragrance at all, I've decided to let it stay there. I'll be underplanting prostrate grevilleas, callistomens, banksias ( the usual suspects) throughout the yard and putting a lemon myrtle and a few other fragrant things in pots, too. | About the Author Sushisnake MACQUARIE HILLS,2285,NSW 25th October 2017 2:57pm #UserID: 17016 Posts: 3 View All Sushisnake 's Edible Fruit Trees |
|||||||||
| About the Author Mike Tr Cairns 27th October 2017 4:01pm #UserID: 8322 Posts: 614 View All Mike Tr's Edible Fruit Trees |
||||||||||
