Golden Penda

Golden Penda 'Fairhill Gold' (Xanthostemon chrysanthus 'Fairhill Gold') is a selected form of one of the best flowering trees in northern Australia, chosen because it flowers more freely and stays more compact than the wild species. It reaches around 6m tall and 3m wide, where the species can pass 10m in the tropics, and carries dense heads of golden brush flowers over glossy dark foliage.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers you can see from the street. Rounded heads of bright golden stamens sit across the canopy from late summer into autumn.
• A native tree at suburban scale. At about 6m by 3m it fits a normal block, unlike the tropical species that outgrows most front gardens.
• Birds work it hard. The flowers are heavy with nectar, so honeyeaters, lorikeets and native bees arrive as soon as it opens.
• Glossy foliage year round. Evergreen and dense, with coppery new growth, so it earns its space between flowering seasons.
• Heat, humidity and salt air suit it. A tree from the wet tropics, so a humid coastal summer is its natural setting.

Where it works best

Feature planting. One tree in a front lawn or courtyard is enough. Put it where the flowering is seen from the house and the footpath.

Screening and privacy. Plant 2m apart in a row for a screen. That spacing knits the canopies into a band at first floor height while each trunk still develops.

Driveways and small scale shade. Matched trees at 3m to 4m spacing make a formal avenue. Be realistic: a 3m canopy shades a seat or a car, not a backyard.

Growing golden penda in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the heaviest flowering. This is a tree for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, so coastal Queensland and northern New South Wales suit it well. It is frost tender, so cold inland or southern gardens need a sheltered warm position.

Soil. Deep, free draining soil enriched with compost gives the best growth. It handles a range of soils including sandy coastal ground, but dislikes waterlogging, so mound the position on heavy clay.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first two summers, then water in dry spells. Feed a controlled release native fertiliser in early spring and again after the main flowering.

Pruning. Prune straight after flowering. Tip pruning while the tree is young builds a denser canopy and better branch structure. Remove the lowest branches gradually for a clear trunk.

What to expect when it arrives

Fairhill Gold is grown in four sizes: tube stock, 200mm in packs of six, a single 300mm pot, and advanced 45L trees. Tube and 200mm plants are young and single stemmed, the value option for a long screen, though they take three to four years to make a real tree. The 45L trees arrive branched, carrying real height on day one.

Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect a quiet six weeks, then strong growth through the first warm season, and first flowering within two to three years from a small plant. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Everything you need to know about golden penda
• Browse the full range of Australian native trees
• Compare trees suited to driveways and avenues
• More bird attracting plants for the garden

Common questions

How big does it actually get?

About 6m tall and 3m wide in a suburban garden, which is the reason this selection exists. A seedling golden penda is a much larger tree.

When does it flower?

The main flush runs from late summer into autumn, and in warm frost free gardens it often produces lighter flushes at other times. Young trees take two to three years to flower properly.

Will it grow in Melbourne or Adelaide?

It is frost tender, so cold southern gardens are difficult. A warm sheltered courtyard against a north facing wall can work, but a frosty open block will damage the tree.