Silver Quandong Tree

Silver Quandong (Elaeocarpus grandis) is the tree to plant when a bare block needs real canopy quickly. In an open garden it settles at around 12m tall and 6m wide, holding a clean trunk under a layered canopy that filters light rather than blocking it. Fringed cream flowers are followed by bright blue fruit, and the birds find it every year.

Why you'll love it

• Fast shade from a young tree. It gains height quickly for a rainforest species, so a new garden gets usable canopy in years rather than decades.
• Shade you can still plant under. The canopy is layered rather than solid, so ferns, gingers and lawn keep going beneath it.
• Copes with damp ground. It tolerates wet feet, which suits the low corner of a block where most shade trees sulk.
• A genuine bird tree. Cream flowers and blue fruit bring honeyeaters, figbirds and fruit doves through the garden.

Where it works best

Shade tree for an open lawn. Allow at least 8m of clearance from the house. Mature trunks develop buttressed roots, so keep it clear of pipes, paving and retaining walls.

Driveways and avenues. Spaced 8m to 10m apart in a line, the trunks stay clean and the canopies meet overhead without crowding.

Tall screening. For a high green wall on an acreage boundary, plant 5m to 6m apart. This screens above fence height, not at ground level.

Growing Silver Quandong in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun grows the straightest tree, and it handles humidity and coastal wind. Tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens suit it. Light frost is the limit, so cold inland districts and frosty southern gardens are not suitable.

Soil. A deep soil that holds moisture suits it best, and it accepts periodically wet ground. Work compost through the bed and mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice weekly through the first two summers, then only in long dry spells. A controlled release native fertiliser in early spring keeps the foliage dark.

Pruning. Very little is needed. Lift the lower limbs over the first few years to set the trunk height you want for mowing or parking underneath.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in 2L, 140mm packs of ten, 200mm packs of six, 300mm and 45L. The smaller sizes are single stemmed whips and the value option for an avenue, since this tree catches up fast. The 300mm and 45L trees arrive with a formed leader and real height.

Plants travel upright and 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. Expect a quiet few weeks, then strong growth once the roots move into warm soil. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Care advice for quandongs and their relatives
• Browse Australian native trees
• Compare fast growing shade trees
• Choosing a canopy tree for your block

Common questions

How fast does it actually grow?

In a warm garden with water it is one of the quicker native canopy trees, and most gardeners see usable shade within about five years. Growth slows noticeably in cooler gardens.

Is it too big for a suburban backyard?

At roughly 12m by 6m it needs genuine open space, not a courtyard. On a standard block it works as the single back corner tree, sited well clear of the house and any services.

Are the roots a problem?

Mature trees form buttressed roots at the base, which will lift paving and disturb shallow pipes if planted too close. Give it 8m of clearance from hard surfaces and it causes no trouble.

Is the fruit edible?

The blue fruit has thin edible flesh over a hard stone and is a traditional bush food, though most people grow the tree for the birds. Plan for fruit drop on paving.