Water Gum

Water Gum 'Sprite' (Tristaniopsis laurina 'Sprite') is the compact form of a tree already known for behaving itself near paving. It settles at about 5m tall and 3m wide, roughly half the size of the species, with dense glossy foliage, bronze new growth and smooth bark that sheds to cream and rust. Non invasive roots make it one of the safest trees to plant near a house or driveway.

Why you'll love it

• Roots that stay out of trouble. Rated non invasive, so it suits narrow beds, courtyards and plantings near pipes and paving.
• Dense enough to screen. Foliage holds low and thick, giving privacy at first storey height without the bulk of a full sized shade tree.
• Copes with wet and dry. It grows naturally along creek banks, so it tolerates wet feet, and once established it also handles dry spells.
• Wildlife and low upkeep. Small yellow summer flowers feed birds, bees and butterflies, and the tree needs very little attention.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 3m apart in a row for a green wall at upper window height. It is the standard answer where a neighbouring second storey overlooks a yard.

Driveways and avenues. Even spacing of 3m to 4m gives a formal repeated line, and the tidy roots mean no lifted edges along the drive.

Small gardens and shade. A single tree gives usable shade over a courtyard or seating area without dominating the space or dropping heavy litter.

Growing water gum in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to light shade. It performs across tropical, subtropical, warm temperate and milder cool temperate gardens, and handles coastal salt and humidity well. It takes light frost only, so in cold inland and highland districts give it a sheltered spot and protect it for the first winters.

Soil. Adaptable, from sandy coastal ground to clay, provided the site is not permanently boggy. Improve the bed with compost and mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Water deeply twice a week through the first summer. It is happiest with steady moisture, so a spot that stays a little damp suits it better than a hot dry corner. Feed with a controlled release native fertiliser in early spring.

Pruning. Light trimming in late winter keeps a screen tidy and encourages branching low down. For a clear trunked feature tree, remove lower limbs over several years rather than all at once.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown as tube stock, a young single stemmed plant around knee height. Tubes are the honest way to buy a screen of this tree: they cost less per plant across a long run, and within two to three seasons they overtake trees that went in at a bigger size.

Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Plan on a quiet first season while roots develop, then steady growth of a few hundred millimetres a year in a warm garden. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse trees with non invasive roots
• Screening plants from 4m to 8m
• Small trees for urban gardens
• Compare the native tree range

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

Three metres apart in a single row. That matches the mature width, so the canopies meet without the trees competing and thinning at the base.

Is it safe near pipes, paving and pools?

Yes, this is why it is specified so often. The root system is rated non invasive, though as with any tree it is sensible to keep it a couple of metres clear of a slab edge.

How is it different from an ordinary water gum?

'Sprite' is a selected compact form, finishing near 5m instead of the 10m or more the species can reach, and it holds denser foliage. That makes it a far better fit for a suburban block.