Parks & Open Spaces

• 
• 

English or European Elm (Ulmus procera)

Growing to 30 m, English elms have been a feature of Melbourne boulevards for many years.  This tall, round headed tree has good urban tolerance and is a fine street tree.  Its important to note the the replacement Elms are stock grown on from original trees in Melbourne.

Commanche crepemyrtle (Lagerstroemia)

Crepemyrtles can be easily managed in the urban landscape and are grown for the summer flowering display and handsome bark. They will grow on a wide variety of soils, although all grow best with some summer irrigation. Commanche is a coral-pink flowered cultivar that is the closest to a true red available and is powdery mildew resistant.  It can grow to 5m, with peeling, tan bark.

London plane (Platanus X acerifolia)

In Melbourne, London Plane is the tree that defines many of the “leafy” suburbs of high real estate values.  Growing to 30 m, London Plane is a valuable street tree because its wide tolerance to many soil types; its survival with minimal summer irrigation; its ability to be severely pollarded under power lines; its tolerance to paving and the significant summer shade it provides.

Red-flowering gum is a prominent tree in the sand belts in the southern Melbourne suburbs. Because of its tidy, rounded shape, elegant foliage, and showy summer flowering, C. ficifolia is readily noticed.  'Wildfire, Sunset and Calypso' are recently-developed cultivars and feature masses of brightly-coloured flowers produced at the ends of the branche and are grafted to ensure that they are true to type.  Corymbia ficifolia "Wildfire" has scarlet flowers and bronze new growth. Corymbia ficifolia "Wild Sunset" has orange flowers and bronze/green new growth.  Corymbia ficifolia "Calypso" has salmon pink flowers and red new growth. These cultivars are small to medium-sized trees that may reach 5-6 metres in height.

Spotted Gum (Corymbia maculate)

Corymbia maculata is commonly grown as a street tree in Melbourne. Its characteristic tall growth, spotted trunk and dark green foliage successfully integrate most architectural styles and blend well with almost all other plantings. Although not indigenous to the Melbourne area, it has been planted in Melbourne for such a long period, that it seems ‘native’.  Both the foliage and the trunks are beautiful with C. maculata, and make it an ideal choice where the space is available.