Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Sep 06, 2009 2:52 pm We haven't started building yet but new guidelines came out from the Casey Council for our estate which states that before we move in we must have a tree of at least two metres tall that will grow to 10-12 metres in our front "tree planting zone". i.e. front garden. It will need to be native. We would like to buy one now and start growing it so it doesnt cost us as much. Has anyone got any suggestions? We don't want a massive tree and we don't want one that will interfere with anything underground or the footings of the house. Other than that we're open to suggestions. Thanks Re: Help us choose a tree. 2Sep 06, 2009 5:31 pm 10 meters is massive, does council want the roots to ruin your foundation/paving. There is no way I would be doing this. I would make sure it died before it got that tall. What to they do if you dont plant one? Re: Help us choose a tree. 3Sep 06, 2009 5:34 pm wow, there are loads to choose and the term native is a loose one. Native to where? Fraxinus Oxycarpa Raywoodii is a cracker. It is a bit cheeky but it is native because it naturally appeared in South Australia. search.php?keywords=Claret+Ash&terms=all&author=Fu+Manchu&sc=1&sf=all&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search Then there are the flowering gums like Eucalyptus Ficifolia or erethcorys (red cap gum) The coolibah tree. Then tehre are the agonis. Agonis Flexuosa or the hybrid agonis flex. "after dark" Then there are the amazing Hakeas which can be under pruned to form a tree shape. Warratahs also can be under pruned to form a tree shape. There are loads of Acacia that make very good specimen feature trees. (not all are suitable for WA as some are considered a weed here including Australia's floral emblem Acacia pycnantha or the Golden wattle. ) The golden wattle makes for an excellent small tree in most areas of Australia other than WA Then there are loads of Grevillea suitable as small trees. Good old "Superb" is a beauty. The olivacea (olive leafed grevilleas) are very good reliable growers. Under prune to form a wonderful tree shape. Hope that sets you on a path of ideas Re: Help us choose a tree. 4Sep 06, 2009 5:37 pm 10 metres isn't considered a big tree. It only just boarders what is considered medium. 20-40m is big and 40-60m is massive. Trees to 4m are usually shrubs under pruned to form a tree shape. trees 6-10m you wouldn't bat an eyelid at if you drove past one somewhere. Re: Help us choose a tree. 5Sep 06, 2009 6:44 pm Quote: 10 metres isn't considered a big tree. If its larger than my house i consider it a big tree. Re: Help us choose a tree. 6Sep 06, 2009 8:03 pm I think you'll find the tree needs to be 2m tall but 10m away from the house, or that's how I am reading it. Anyhoo, my standard reply for all these types of queries is Murrayas. Life's too short too drink bad wine Re: Help us choose a tree. 8Sep 07, 2009 9:43 am definately says "will grow to 10-12 metres" Why don't people mention their location when asking for horticultural advice?? Unless one knows where the heck Casey estate is How about Eleocarpus Reticulatis "Blueberry Ash"? Re: Help us choose a tree. 10Sep 07, 2009 7:55 pm I love Fu's suggestion of hakeas.... Hakea Laurina does well in Melbourne and has the most beautiful flowers. I had one for years and neglected it atrociously once it was established. It didn't seem to mind. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Wonder why they call it the "pin-cushion hakea"? Re: Help us choose a tree. 11Sep 07, 2009 8:58 pm kek I love Fu's suggestion of hakeas.... Hakea Laurina does well in Melbourne and has the most beautiful flowers. I had one for years and neglected it atrociously once it was established. It didn't seem to mind. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Wonder why they call it the "pin-cushion hakea"? Oh Kek what a lovely flower it has. How tall does it grow? Re: Help us choose a tree. 12Sep 07, 2009 9:19 pm That isn't even one of the nicest of the Hakeas. It grows to about 4 or 5metres. I like Hakea bucculenta and multilineata:) keep an eye out for Hakea Victoria which it is said is one of the worlds most beautiful foliage plants. Where you are Kexkez, you can grow some amazing native trees with ease Re: Help us choose a tree. 13Sep 07, 2009 9:22 pm Hmm, well....it was bigger than me. But that's not hard. According to Wikipedia, up to six metres. I'd guess mine was about that.... I loved it and looked forward to the flowers every winter. Re: Help us choose a tree. 14Sep 07, 2009 9:27 pm Re: Help us choose a tree. 15Sep 07, 2009 9:33 pm Fu Manchu That isn't even one of the nicest of the Hakeas. It grows to about 4 or 5metres. I like Hakea bucculenta and multilineata:) keep an eye out for Hakea Victoria which it is said is one of the worlds most beautiful foliage plants. Where you are Kexkez, you can grow some amazing native trees with ease well i goggled all threes \you mentioned Fu and I wasn't impressed. those pom pom pincushion flowers are much more appealing to me Re: Help us choose a tree. 16Sep 07, 2009 9:38 pm The photo isn't multilineata, that is a Grevillea. The photo must be incorrectly labled. This one is but is too large to post http://www.malleenativeplants.com.au/wp ... 0_3553.jpg Hakeas have the flowers down in against the stem (in the axles) and Grevilleas have the flowers out on the ends of the stem. Other than that they are ridiculously similar in many cases Re: Help us choose a tree. 17Sep 07, 2009 9:43 pm Kex, the photos don't really do them justice. But a fair call because the pincushion Hakea is a ripper They aren't spikey by the way Re: Help us choose a tree. 18Sep 07, 2009 9:47 pm Fu Manchu The photo isn't multilineata, that is a Grevillea. The photo must be incorrectly labled. This one is but is too large to post http://www.malleenativeplants.com.au/wp ... 0_3553.jpg Hakeas have the flowers down in against the stem (in the axles) and Grevilleas have the flowers out on the ends of the stem. Other than that they are ridiculously similar in many cases See, that's why we keep you around, Fu. The rest of us dumb-bums don't know our hakeas from our grevilleas. (at least we know our elbows from our you-know-whats though ) Re: Help us choose a tree. 19Sep 10, 2009 4:07 pm You could look at Eucalyptus Caesia Silver Princess, it doesn't grow to 10 metres but it is such a pretty tree. Another eucalypt is Eucaltyptus Scoparia. Acacias are usually quite short lived so I would give them a miss. Re: Help us choose a tree. 20Sep 10, 2009 9:46 pm Yes but they are excellent as a first planting tree. They do fix nitrogen to soils just as peas and other legumes all do. This is of an enormous benefit to new sterile soils on construction sites like those of new homes. Acacias are fast to grow and can give a quick effect Hi , I'm currently going through this now within the Whitehorse council which has a similar set of restrictions. We're having to make compromises with our floor plan due… 3 30576 Anthony Firstly, wow you have put a lot of work into your list of questions! Great job and they are mostly valid questions that a builder should be able to answer. 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