03/09/2026
๐๐๐ง๐๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฒ, ๐๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ฉ๐ญ.
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๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ก ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐ค๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐๐ซ - Article written by Dave Young.
The flowering tree pictured was taken last week (end of August 2026) at Dingo Beach.
Apparently some local ๐น๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ flowered a couple of years ago but didn't go on to seed. I noticed associated leaf drop but saw no flowers. In seed collecting circles, there are none so blind as those focussed on w**ds....
The last local seed collection was in 2015, and I was co-opted to operate pole saw. After what seemed like an hour we had a large paper grocery bag full and I reckoned my shoulders had done enough. Fortunately Kath pressed on to collect as many as available, and the last seedling propagated from that collection was planted last year - now the Atticus Tree - and growing extraordinarily well.
We sell them as slow-growing/long-lived, but two metres in twelve months in perfect conditions, and a metre or so for a few years afterward, is achievable. One I trans-located at home (away from under powerline) about 20 years ago, is now about ten metres. But these are the perfect example of "context is critical to rainforest species". Grown on it's own on a fence line it will have a spreading form and never be a giant. Planted with other rainforest species, in high rainfall zone, it will be a canopy topper, 30-40 metres tall, and possibly survive centuries.
Local provenance is our thing at Landcare. It's not just pedantry - they will be better adapted to conditions. IF mature local trees go on to produce seed the challenge is to access them for collection. They're very big by the time they flower/seed. Roof-top or deck is a head-start in getting up to where they'll be.
Call for assistance if required, but if you can collect your own (once they turn brown and just start to open) place in paper bag with date and location noted. We might normally sell 50-100 of these per year. But if we get our next seeding in 2037, clearly we'll need a good stock of seed in storage (a fridge at Nursery). We want all we can get.
If you want to go a step further and remove seeds from pods, that's good.
If you want to DIY and have your own seed raising facility, propagate on seed-raising mix and tube (when first leaves have formed).
If storing your own seed, propagate on anniversary of collection.
A large example grew close to the house of an old mate who was concerned about the possibility of it coming down and taking him out. There was some trunk damage and roots had had multiple disturbances, which added validity to his concerns. Long story short, even though it stood somewhat alone and exposed, it stayed standing through Cyclone Ului and Cyclone Debbie, outliving his fears and even him!
๐ญ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ - ๐๐๐๐ค๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐๐ซ
A 10-30 metre tall tree, with a bushy, spreading canopy. Deciduous during September or October. Grows naturally in coastal rainforest and dry rainforest. Trunk stands out with its regal form and grey, rough bark. Leaves appear feather-like, with small, narrow, oblong leaflets. Leaves are dark green on upperside and pale green on underside. Flowers are cream coloured clusters. Fruits are flat pods that contain 4 to 6 seeds.
๐๐๐ฑ๐ญ ๐๐ฉ๐๐ง:
๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐: 33 Kelsey Creek Road, Proserpine
๐๐ก๐๐ง: Saturday 5 September 2026, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ: Locally sourced and grown, native tubestock from $3.50 each. CASH and EFTPOS available
