We have a huge array of native trees in Australia that are suitable for planting in your backyard, and we wanted to have a look at some of the top choices for home gardening in the hopes that it brings you a shadier and more beautiful backyard.
But first – let’s take a look at some of the awesome things about trees, both for our environment and our community.
Top Things About Trees
- Trees improve the quality of the air around us. They capture six of the most common air pollutants and toxic gases (including ground-level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide and lead) and release oxygen in return. • Trees save lives. A study published by the U.S Forest Service discovered that trees save 850 lives per year thanks to their reduction in air pollution.
- Trees make us happier. The Nature Journal published findings that people who live on streets with higher tree density have better health perception than people who live on streets with fewer trees.
- Trees provide natural privacy screens for our homes and yards.
- Trees bring wildlife and natural beauty into our increasingly urbanised environments which work to improve the quality of life for everyone!
- You get a natural windbreak with trees which protects buildings, people and animals.
- Trees add value to your home, with mature trees adding a great deal of visual appeal to a home or property.
Top Five Trees to Plant in Brisbane
Brisbane Wattle Acacia fimbriate
This is a native tree that is perfect for your garden. It grows fast – sometimes crookedly – and provides beautifully perfumed flowers in late winter and spring. The Brisbane Wattle usually grows as a shrub or small tree up to 7 metres in height and has an attractive foliage when not in bloom. The new growth on the Brisbane Wattle is pale and even sometimes reddish. You can grow the Brisbane Wattle on a range of well-drained soils. This tree has an important role to play in catchment protection and would work well as a beautifying addition to your garden.
Eumundi Quandong Elaeocarpus Eumundi
This dark-leafed beauty is a slow growing tree that has beautiful dark green glossy leaves, with new growth coming through as bronze-red. The tree produces creamy coloured scented flowers in November and December which attract a range of birds all keen to feast on the nectar. This is a beautiful tree which can be used in the backyard, and the foliage will grow to the ground. You can plant this next to the house as it has little leaf litter, so your gutters won’t cop a beating from dropped leaves. Grows to around 6-7 metres tall and 1-2 metres wide.
Lilly Pilly Acmena smithii
The common lilly pilly is a summer-flowering and winter-fruiting evergreen tree that makes for a wonderful addition to your backyard. You’ll enjoy the colourful new growth that comes through, as well as the flowers and fruits that add brightness to your backyard. As well as being beautiful, the lilly pilly attracts birds, bees and flying foxes who love to hang out in the branches and delight in the berries and fruits. Grows to over 5 metres and provides lovely shade.
Tuckeroo Cupaniopsis anacardioides
This is quite possibly the perfect Brissy tree! It’s got a beautiful shape which can be improved with cultivation and trimming and provides a great tree or hedge for your home. This Brisbane native tree has berries which the birds just can’t get enough of, so you’ll always be serenaded with sweet birdsong thanks to your Tuckeroo! This tree doesn’t drop much leaf litter either (happy gutters!) and can be planted in full sun or partial shade. Oh, and did we mention it attracts butterflies?
Blueberry Ash Elaeocarpus reticulatus
This strikingly beautiful tree is used widely in a number of horticultural applications. It works well as either a small tree or a well-maintained shrub and though it can endure low-nutrient and dry soil, it works best when it is well watered. It can be found in suburban backyards across the east coast of Australia all the way from Brisbane and as far north as Fraser Island and Bundaberg all the way down to Tassie. The flowers and fruits of this hardy tree are a stunning feature and attract birds like the Regent Bowerbird – undoubtedly attracted to the brilliant blue sheen of the berries.
We hope you have enjoyed this brief but delightful foray into some of the best Brisbane backyard trees to plant. And remember, if you ever need advice on managing your trees or just want to know what will work for your backyard, feel free to call us on (07) 3264 6398.