Adopt a tree program

Description

Lemon Myrtle is a small Australian evergreen tree (or large shrub) that is perfect for smaller gardens. Its leaves release a lovely lemon scent when crushed, and fluffy white flowers bloom in clusters from December to April. Its leaves are a favourite in cooking, adding a zesty twist to teas, cakes and more.

Plant it as a stunning feature, group it together, or grow it along a fence for a lush screen. Give it extra water during dry spells to keep it thriving.

Adopt this tree and impress your guests with homemade lemon myrtle treats.

Good to know

Plant this tree in a sheltered spot and protect it from frost while it is young. It needs extra water in summer, as it does not like dry conditions. This small tree will grow in most soils, but it thrives in rich, well-composted soil. A feed in spring will help it grow well.

Lemon myrtle leaves are a much-loved bush food, perfect for cooking and herbal teas. Its essential oil is valued for its antimicrobial properties and has long been used as a healing plant by First Nations people.

Description

Melbourne Yellow Gum is a fast-growing evergreen tree with a rounded, spreading crown, and is perfect for medium to large gardens. It produces cream- to white-coloured flowers from May to September. It is very adaptable: it can handle most soils, temporary flooding and is drought tolerant once established.

Adopt this tree if you have ambitions to become a beekeeper with back garden hives.

Good to know

An excellent tree for larger gardens, offering shade and shelter. It is great for honey production – if you have ambitions to become a beekeeper – and it attracts abundant native birds. Plant it in a sunny, open spot for best results.

This tree’s hard, durable timber has long been valued by First Nations people. Its conservation status is endangered, making every planting important for protecting the species.

Description

Persian Ironwood is a small to medium deciduous tree with a broad, domed canopy and stunning autumn foliage.

It produces small red flowers on bare branches at the end of winter, making it a beautiful feature in small to medium gardens. It provides winter sun and summer shade.

Adopt this tree for a wow factor to impress your friends and neighbours!

Good to know

This is a tough, small tree that adapts well to most soils. It prefers full sun to part shade and develops a wide, spreading canopy as it matures. Once established, it tolerates dry conditions, though leaves may scorch on very hot and windy days.

Its autumn leaves change from yellow to deep burgundy, and as it matures, the bark develops an attractive, flaking texture. This tree provides decorative features all year round.

Give it room to grow: plant at least 2-3m from fences so it can spread both upward and outward.

Description

Silver Banksia is a small evergreen tree with dense foliage, perfect for smaller gardens. It is moderate to slow growing.

Its leaves can be spiky or smooth, with new bronze growth that matures to green, and silver undersides – hence the name Silver Banksia. Cream- to yellow-coloured flower spikes appear from March to June, fading to brown and grey as seeds develop.

Plant it as a feature tree, in a group, or along a fence for screening. It responds well to pruning, so can be hedged to desired height. The flowers attract birds and bees.

Adopt this tree if you want a beautiful, year-round supply of foliage and flowers to bring indoors.

Good to know

This tree attracts many birds, especially honeyeaters, and its flower spikes also attract insects, including native bees and European honeybees. The bark starts smooth and grey, becoming textured as the tree ages.

Its height can vary depending on location and rainfall. It grows in a wide range of soils and tolerates drought once established. While it prefers full sun it will also grow in part shade.

Description

A compact evergreen native tree with deep purple foliage and masses of white star-shaped flowers in spring. A hardy, low-maintenance choice for small gardens. Its dense, rounded form makes it ideal as a feature tree, screen or layer beneath larger trees while providing valuable habitat for birds and pollinators.

Adopt this tree if you don’t have space for a larger one but still want to create depth in your garden and provide valuable habitat for local wildlife.

Good to know

This tough tree thrives in full sun to part shade and tolerates frost, coastal exposure and dry periods once established.

Fast-growing, it offers year-round colour, structure and biodiversity benefits. Dense growth provides valuable shelter for birds and beneficial insects, making it a great choice for habitat planting.