Gumnuts - Favourites: Alloxylon flammeum

Favourites: Alloxylon flammeum

5 November 2007 7:42 AM

Now this is a truly great plant - I don't know why it's not seen more often in gardens.

Commonly known as 'tree waratah', Alloxylon flammeum is a rainforest tree from north Queensland. Despite this, it grows and flowers well in cooler areas - I've been growing it in western Sydney for 15-20 years with absolutely no problems. It even thrives in one of the driest parts of the garden, despite its rainforest origin.

In its native habitat it can reach 25-30 metres but it is much smaller in cultivation. The adult leaves are glossy green and elliptically shaped to about 150 mm long. The flowers occur in clusters up to 75 mm in diameter and are spectacularly displayed in the leaf axils towards the ends of the branches. The flower colour is bright red and flowers are seen in spring and early summer.

A.flammeum is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular of all Australian native plants.

Propagation can be carried out from seed and cuttings taken in late summer seem to strike well.

Another member of the genus is Alloxylon pinnatum from north-eastern New South Wales. This is similarly spectacular and has beautiful, pinnate foliage. Unfortunately it is much more difficult to maintain in cultivation than A.flammeum.

A few years ago the old 'Gumnuts' email newsletter had a 'favourite plants' section where readers could tell others about their favourite Australian native plants. It was a good idea then and I think it might also be interesting now. If you have a plant or two that you particularly like and that might be useful for others, drop me an email.

Previous Favourites

Jacksonia scoparia
Banksia media
Correa 'Mannii'
Myoporum floribundum
Hibbertia diffusa
Callistemon 'Injune'

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Just Beautiful

Comment posted by Anonymous at 5:16 AM, 29 November 2007
There is one of these trees growing on the foot path at Springbrook .
It is quite old as the bottom branches are out of reach .
I was trying to get some Pic’s of the flowers .
Next time it flowers I will bring my own ladder .

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