Advanced Trees

What ex ground actually means

Every tree on this page has spent years growing in open ground, not a pot. Through that time it is root pruned in place, which forces a compact, fibrous root system that transplants reliably, while the top grows the trunk calliper and broad canopy no container tree can match. Order, and the tree is lifted, wrapped and freighted as a single specimen. This is project grade stock, specified for new builds, streetscapes and estates, and priced accordingly.

Choosing an advanced tree

Work backwards from the job. For instant evergreen screening, the weeping lilly pillies lead the list, 'Green Avenue' and 'Warners Select' among them, backed by Eumundi quandong, small leaved lilly pilly and the figs. For a flowering avenue or statement front tree, choose from blue and white jacaranda, royal poinciana, the trumpet trees, golden penda, cassias and the evergreen magnolias. For structure in cooler gardens, liquidambar, Japanese elm, tulip tree and ornamental pear give classic deciduous form. The natives run deep here too: brachychitons from the Illawarra flame tree to the Queensland bottle tree, lemon myrtle, native frangipani, tuckeroo and firewheel tree.

Where these trees fit climatically

Much of this list is grown for subtropical and tropical Australia. Poinciana, the trumpet trees, cassias, golden penda, weeping fig and the boab want warm, frost free gardens. The brachychitons are tougher than they look, handling dry inland conditions and light frost once established. For cold districts, the deciduous exotics, liquidambar, Japanese elm, tulip tree and ornamental pear, are the reliable choices, all comfortable well below zero. If unsure, match the species to your nearest thriving street tree.

Planting and establishment

Dig the hole twice the width of the root ball and exactly its depth, so the tree sits at its original soil level on firm ground. Backfill with the site soil, water in with 100 litres or more, and mulch 100mm deep, kept clear of the trunk. Guy or stake every ex ground tree for its first 12 to 18 months; a new root system cannot anchor a mature canopy in wind. Water generously, 50 to 100 litres two or three times a week through the first summer, tapering over the second year. The working rule is one year of establishment per 25mm of trunk calliper, so expect a big specimen to take two to three years to fully anchor.

Freight, access and delivery

Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, with specialist transport quoted for your delivery address before you commit. Think about access early: the truck needs somewhere to stand, and larger specimens need machinery and hands booked for delivery day. If a full ex ground specimen is more tree than the site can take, the container grown stock in our tree range and the mid sized options among our flowering trees arrive by standard freight.

Common questions

How big are these trees when they arrive?

Substantially bigger than any potted tree: metres tall with real trunk calliper, though size varies by species and season. Check each listing, or ask us to confirm before ordering, since field stock is lifted to order.

How long until the tree looks established?

It looks the part the day it goes in. Root establishment follows the calliper rule above, and the watering schedule matters for at least two summers.

Which advanced tree gives instant privacy?

The weeping lilly pillies are the specifiers' favourite, dense to the ground and happy clipped as a giant hedge. A row of 'Green Avenue' weeping lilly pilly planted 3m apart closes into a solid evergreen wall in its first season.