Bursaria spinosa - Native Blackthorn / Sweet Bursaria / Christmas Bush / Castanet Bush

A small tree growing 5 to 10m tall but height is dependant on habitat, for example, coastal forms are usually taller and subalpine varieties are almost prostrate.  This species is distributed from coastal to subalpine regions of eastern and SE Australia and found in QLD, NSW, VIC, TAS & SA.  It is usually multi-stemmed with a rhizomatous root system, spiny branches and small green leaves that are 1-5cm long and grow in clusters, small white to cream, aromatic flowers that are 1cm wide appear in the Spring and are followed by heart shaped seed capsules that rattle in the wind.

Liquidambar styraciflua - Liquidambar / American Sweetgum

A beautiful frost hardy, deciduous tree, native to North America, and growing 8 to 20m in height with green maple-like leaves with finely serrated edges in Spring and Summer, then turning brilliant shades of burgundy, red, yellow and orange in the Autumn.  It has an attractive symmetrical shape so looks good when it has lost its leaves, growing with a straight trunk and a pyramidal crown, the bark is grey and has irregular furrows and rough rounded ridges.  Flowers are green to yellow, monoecious and appear from early to mid Spring and the fruit that follows is a woody spherical cluster of capsules that releases 2 seeds each in the Autumn.  This tree is grown for its highly ornamental showy foliage and doesn't dissappoint!

Virgilia oroboides syn capensis - Blossom Tree

A fast growing and erect, evergreen tree which grows to 9m tall, the foliage is dark green, pinnate and fern-like and in cooler climates semi-deciduous.  Beautiful purple, perfumed, pea-like flowers appear in late Winter to Spring and are reminiscent of Wisteria.  This is a useful species for privacy and wind protection as it is very fast growing and the foliage is quite dense and starts low to the ground.