Silver Ash Tree

Silver Ash (Flindersia schottiana) is an eastern Australian rainforest tree that delivers genuine canopy inside a decade. In a garden it grows to about 12m tall and 7m wide over 10 to 15 years, a fraction of the 30m it reaches in rainforest, and carries fragrant sprays of cream flowers that bring birds through the crown. For a fast, handsome native shade tree, few do the job better.

Why you'll love it

• Fast native canopy. This is one of the quicker Australian rainforest trees in cultivation, which means real summer shade while the kids are still young.
• Fragrant flowers, busy birds. Cream and white flower sprays perfume the air and keep nectar feeding birds working the tree.
• Built for exposure. Wind tolerant and comfortable in coastal air and humidity, it holds together where brittle exotics shed limbs.
• A tree with presence. The straight trunk and full crown give it the bearing of a park tree, at a size a suburban block can still carry.

Where it works best

Shade tree. Sited north of an outdoor living area it earns its keep every summer. Allow for the 7m crown when choosing the spot.

Tall screening and windbreaks. Plant 5m apart for a tall canopy screen that filters wind and blocks a neighbouring second storey without hedging effort.

Driveways and avenues. A row at 5m spacing reads as a proper avenue within ten years, on a tree that will not need replacing in twenty.

Growing Silver Ash in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to light shade when young. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate climates, and it takes light frost only once established, so cold tableland and southern inland gardens should look elsewhere.

Soil. Deep, well drained soil with compost worked through the planting area gets it away fastest. It is a rainforest tree, so it appreciates organic matter and a thick mulch over the root zone.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first two summers; established trees manage on rain in most east coast seasons. Feed with a complete slow release fertiliser each spring for the first few years.

Pruning. Encourage a single straight leader when young and remove low branches early to lift the crown. After that, it shapes itself.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow Silver Ash in five sizes, from 300mm pots through 45L, 100L and 200L to advanced 400L trees. A 300mm tree is a young whip that establishes fast and quickly overtakes larger stock planted the same day, while the 100L to 400L sizes buy immediate height and trunk. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost.

Trees are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Expect a settling month after planting, then strong growth through the warm seasons. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The best canopy trees for creating shade
• Compare fast growing shade trees
• Australian Teak, a tough relative in the same family
• Browse our Australian native range

Common questions

Will it really reach 30m in my garden?

No. That figure comes from rainforest conditions, where trees race each other for light. In an open garden expect about 12m tall and 7m wide over 10 to 15 years.

How fast does it grow?

It is fast for a native canopy tree. With water, mulch and an annual feed, young trees put on around a metre a year in warm climates, slowing as they mature.

Is it frost hardy?

Light frost only. Established trees shrug off the occasional minor frost, but regular hard frosts will damage it, so it is best from warm temperate zones north.

How far apart for a screen or avenue?

Plant 5m apart. The crowns meet into a continuous canopy while each tree keeps a sound structure, which matters at this scale.