BUCKINGHAMIA celsissima (Ivory Curl Tree)

The Ivory Curl Tree (Buckinghamia celsissima) is a northern Australian rainforest native that settles at around 7m tall and 4m wide in cultivation, hung with long cream flower spikes through summer. This is advanced ex ground stock: field grown, root pruned and basketed, arriving with presence a potted tree needs years to build. Non-invasive roots let it sit near paving, rare in a native this size.

Why you'll love it

• Instant scale. Field grown specimens deliver canopy and trunk on day one, which suits streetscapes, entries and commercial sites.
• Flowers you can smell. Curling cream spikes to 20cm cover the tree in summer and carry a honey scent across a courtyard.
• Roots that behave. The root system is non-invasive, so it can sit near driveways, paths and services without lifting them.
• Feeds the birds. Nectar brings in honeyeaters, lorikeets, native bees and butterflies all summer.

Where it works best

Driveways and avenues. Plant 3m apart for an even avenue. That spacing lets each crown fill out while the row still reads as one continuous canopy.

Feature and shade tree. As a single specimen it holds a neat rounded crown, shading a lawn or courtyard without dominating a suburban block.

Tall screening. A row at 3m gives privacy above a fence line, though it screens from head height up rather than at ground level.

Growing Ivory Curl Tree in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the heaviest flowering. This is a tropical, subtropical and warm temperate tree that takes light frost only, so cold inland districts, the tablelands and hard frosting southern gardens are out of range. Humidity, wind and dry spells do not trouble it.

Soil. Free draining soil suits it best. Ex ground stock comes in a wire basket lined with hessian and must be planted in that basket: both break down naturally and the roots stay intact. On heavy ground, sit the root ball slightly proud and add coarse gravel beneath.

Water and feed. Water 150 to 200L per tree weekly for the first month, then fortnightly for six weeks. After that it needs very little. Field hardened trees are pre-treated for vigour and need no fertiliser at planting.

Pruning. Very little is required. Lift the lowest limbs if you want clearance for mowing or a footpath, and tidy after flowering rather than before it.

What to expect when it arrives

This listing is a single advanced ex ground specimen, not a potted plant. It is dug from the field, root pruned, treated with seaweed and vitamin B1 to limit transplant shock, then strapped and basketed. Trees can be craned straight into a pre-dug hole.

Some leaf drop after the move is normal, not a fault. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, with specialist transport quoted per site. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full ex ground tree range
• Compare Australian native trees
• Trees suited to driveways and avenues
• Top bird attracting native plants

Common questions

Do I plant the tree in its wire basket?

Yes, always. The basket holds the root ball together through planting, and both the wire and the hessian lining break down safely in the soil.

How big does it actually get?

Around 7m tall and 4m wide as a cultivated garden or street tree. It reaches 25m in far north Queensland rainforest, but not in an open suburban site.

Will the roots damage paving or pipes?

The root system is non-invasive, unusual for a tree this size and the main reason it is used in streetscapes. Leave about 2m clearance from hard surfaces as good practice.

Can I grow it in a cold garden?

Only if frost is light and infrequent. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, and a hard frost will damage young growth even on an established tree.