Australian Teak Tree

Australian Teak (Flindersia australis), better known to most growers as Crows Ash, is one of the best shade trees this country produces for a suburban block. In rainforest it reaches 30m, but as a garden and street tree it settles at around 12m tall with an 8m canopy, carrying glossy compound leaves and a clean, straight trunk. It flowers cream to white in spring, then sets the woody star shaped seed capsules that give the tree its character. Once established it handles drought, heat, humidity and wind without complaint.

Why you'll love it

• Real shade within a decade. The canopy is broad and dense enough to cool a lawn, a driveway or the western wall of a house, and it holds its leaves year round.
• A tough, self reliant native. Drought tolerant, wind tolerant and comfortable in humidity, so it copes with a wet summer and a dry autumn equally well.
• Handsome without being fussy. Dark glossy foliage, a straight trunk and attractive flaking bark give it presence with no pruning programme to maintain.
• Habitat value. The spring flowers bring insects and the tree supports birds through the year, which matters on a bare new estate block.
• Street tree pedigree. It is planted widely by councils across northern and eastern Australia because it performs in compacted soil and reflected heat.

Where it works best

Shade over lawn and paving. A single tree set 6m to 8m from the house casts useful afternoon shade on a west facing wall within eight to ten years without threatening the footings.

Driveways and avenues. Plant 8m apart along a drive for a matched row. That spacing lets each canopy develop its natural width instead of forcing the trees into a narrow, drawn out shape.

Windbreaks and rural boundaries. On acreage it makes an excellent upper storey in a mixed shelter belt, filtering wind rather than blocking it, with smaller natives planted beneath.

Feature planting. On a large lawn a solitary Crows Ash reads as the anchor of the whole garden. Give it room; this is not a plant for a courtyard.

Growing Australian Teak in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. It is suited to tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens across Queensland, coastal New South Wales, the Top End and warmer parts of Western Australia. It takes light frost only, so cold tableland and inland southern districts are outside its comfortable range.

Soil. It is not particular about soil type and grows well on clay, provided water is not sitting around the crown. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot, break up the sides, and mulch 75mm deep out to the drip line, kept clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first two summers to drive roots down, then taper to occasional watering in dry spells. A native fertiliser in early spring for the first few years speeds establishment; a mature tree needs nothing.

Pruning. Formative pruning only. Remove competing leaders while the tree is young so it builds a single strong trunk, and lift the lower branches gradually as it gains height. Mature trees are best left alone.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in a wide range of sizes, from tube and 200mm packs of six through 300mm and on to 45L, 100L, 200L and 400L advanced stock. Tubes and 200mm packs are the sensible choice for revegetation, shelter belts or anywhere you are planting in numbers; they establish quickly and catch up faster than most people expect. The 45L and 100L sizes are the usual choice for a single garden tree, and the 200L and 400L trees arrive with genuine height and calliper for an instant result.

Expect a quiet first season while the root system extends, then steady growth of around half a metre to a metre a year in warm conditions. Trees are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full Australian native tree range
• Compare shade trees by mature size
• Plant a native garden underneath it
• Preparing the ground before you plant a tree

Common questions

How big will it really get in a garden?

Around 12m tall and 8m wide over a couple of decades. The 30m figure quoted for the species applies to trees growing in closed rainforest, not to open garden or street planting.

How far from the house should I plant it?

At least 6m, and further if you can manage it, so the mature canopy has room and gutters stay clear. Keep it well away from small courtyards and narrow side passages.

Is it evergreen?

Effectively yes in warm climates. It can shed some leaves briefly in a dry winter before flushing again, but it does not go bare like a deciduous tree.

Does it drop a lot of mess?

Less than most large trees. The woody seed capsules fall after fruiting and are worth raking off lawn and paving, and there is a light leaf drop, but it is not a heavy litter tree.