5 South Australian native trees that are great for suburban gardens

As we get set to mark National Tree Day (Sunday 27 July), our friends at State Flora have recommended 5 trees that tick all the boxes:

• Big enough to provide cooling, shady canopy.
• Small enough to stay under control.
• Attractive to wildlife.
• Low maintenance.
• Native to our own state.

You might see some of these trees growing in the Adelaide Park Lands and local council reserves, which will give you an idea of how hardy these species are. In home garden conditions they will often flourish into showcase specimens.

Note: some of these trees are very popular and might only be available seasonally. If you visit the State Flora nurseries at Belair or Murray Bridge, there’s plenty of information and expert staff to help you find alternatives if needed. You’re welcome to contact them about availability before you visit, too.

Tree 1: Acacia pycnantha (Golden wattle)

The classic cheery puffball flowers make the Golden wattle an early spring delight in your garden. This wattle is indigenous to Adelaide’s hills and plains regions; a familiar sight to many with its crescent-shaped leaves and dark bark. The seeds are edible, with traditional Aboriginal use including grinding into a flour and roasting to use as a flavouring.

The Golden wattle is fast growing so it’s great for new gardens and for disguising fences and filling bare patches quickly.

Suitable for: Full sun to part shade, most well-draining soils, tolerates moderate coastal exposure.

Size: H: 4-6m x W: 2-6m

Benefits: Fast-growing, shade, wildlife-attracting (insects & birds), nitrogen-fixing to improve poor soils.

Find out more:

Seeds of SA - Acacia pycnantha

Plant Selector - Acacia pycnantha

Tree 2: Allocasuarina verticillata (Drooping she-oak)

With gently draping branches of soft-looking, needle-like ‘leaves’ (which are actually modified stem segments), this she-oak can provide shade and screening. It matures over decades into a stately medium tree. There are male and female plants (he-oaks and she-oaks!), with the females bearing small cones that stay on the branches for many years. In the bush they will release their seeds after bushfires.

Suitable for: Full sun to part shade, all well-draining soil types including limestone, tolerates moderate coastal exposure.

Size: H: 5-8 m, W: 4-6m

Benefits: Extremely hardy, provides dappled shade, wildlife-attracting (insects and birds, key food source for the yellow-tailed black cockatoo).

Find out more:

Seeds of South Australia - Allocasuarina verticillata

Plant Selector - Allocasuarina verticillata

Tree 3:Callistemon rugulosus (Scarlet bottlebrush)

Is an Australian garden really complete without a bottlebrush? Parrots, honeyeaters and bees find the nectar of the bright bottlebrush flowers irresistible as they bloom for weeks in the heat of spring and summer. Prune lightly after flowering if you wish to encourage a bushier shape.

Suitable for: Full sun to part shade, most well-draining soils, rockeries.

Size: H: 2-4m, W: 2-4m

Benefits: Wildlife-attracting (birds & insects), extremely hardy, can be pruned to shape.

Find out more:

Seeds of South Australia - Callistemon rugulosus

Plant Selector - Callistemon rugulosus

Tree 4: Pittosporum angustifolium (Native apricot)

Despite its name, the attractive orange fruit of the Native apricot is not edible. This tree has weeping foliage and produces small yellow flowers along its stems. Its moderate growth means it won’t take over the garden, and it is known to live for many decades.

Suitable for: Full sun to part shade, most well-draining soils.

Size:  H: 4-8m x W: 3-4m

Benefits: Drought-hardy, pendulous branches, wildlife-attracting (birds & insects).

Find out more:

Seeds of SA - Pittosporum angustifolium

Plant Selector - Pittosporum angustifolium

Tree 5: Banksia marginata (Silver banksia)

With its skywards-pointing yellow flowers and sculptural cones, this tree can appear quite architectural, complementing modern homes as well as bush settings. The leaves are dark green with a contrasting pale, slightly hairy underside which adds to the visual appeal of this striking plant.

Suitable for: Full sun or part shade, most soils including sand or heavy clay.

Size: H: 2-8m x W: 1-5m

Benefits: Shade, wildlife-attracting (birds, insects, small mammals), can be pruned to shape.

Find out more:

Seeds of South Australia - Banksia marginata

Plant Selector - Banksia marginata

When to plant?

Autumn and winter are the best times to plant our South Australian native trees, after some good rain when the soil is damp and softened.

They’ll get some good natural watering to help them settle in before summer.

But you can plant any time of year, as long as you’re prepared to give your new trees water over the warmer months while they’re becoming established.

Here’s a simple guide to get your trees off to the best start: 6 simple steps to planting a tree .

And check out these posts for more tips and guides to help you build a flourishing native garden:

• 5 top reasons to plant natives in your garden
• 4 simple steps to creating your own native garden
• How to bring birds to your garden
• 5 flowering native plants to brighten your winter garden
• How to attract native bees to your garden
• 5 flowering natives to add colour to your spring garden
• 6 of the best native grasses to plant in your yard
• Your guide to encouraging local fauna to visit your backyard