Acacia melanoxylon - Blackwood / Black Wattle / Australian Blackwood / Hickory

A widely distributed and common species to large parts of eastern and south eastern Australia including Queensland, New South Wales, Canberra, Victoria, Tasmania and south east South Australia and has also naturalised in coastal areas of south west Western Australia and other parts of South Australia.  This is an ornamental species in wetter areas, timber is commonly used for wood crafts, plantation species, shelter for stock and shade tree.  This Acacia is usually an upright tree to 20m with blackish grey deeply fissured bark, dark green to grey and slightly leathery leaves and pale cream fluffy globular flowers occur in Winter to Spring.  The seed pods are elongated, slightly flattened and twisted, green and leathery when young and then turn reddish brown as they mature.  When ripe, these open to release seeds and become very twisted.  Inside these are shiny black seeds that are almost totally encircled by a large pink-red aril.  This species is long lived, nitrogen fixing, moderately salt tolerant and exhibits provenance variation in regards to frost tolerance and growth performance.

Brachychiton acerifolius - Illawarra Flame Tree

This is the most commonly cultivated Brachychiton species as it has such spectacular bright red flowers on leafless branches.  A medium tree to 35m but often much less in cultivation especially in cooler areas, it has deeply lobed large leaves and these fall before flowering in early Summer, however the deciduous nature of the tree is variable.  It is hardy to a wide range of soils and suited to temperate to tropical areas.  Seeds are best collected wearing gloves and eye protection as they are surrounded by irritating hairs in a honeycomb like husk inside the seed pod.  This species is a wonderful amenity plant or street tree with highly ornamental value.

Eucalyptus punctata - Grey Gum

Native to south east Queensland and eastern New South Wales this Eucalypt is a long lived, medium sized tree to 25m with an open crown, grey-green thick foliage and smooth bark that is shed in irregular patches leaving a multi coloured appearance consisting of grey, orange and light brown.  White flowers appear in December to February, these attract nectar feeding animals including flying foxes and birds and the larger trees develop hollow bearing branches which are very important for a wide range of fauna species, including Koalas as this is an important Koala food tree.