Daintree Pine

Daintree Pine (Gymnostoma australianum) is one of the rarest trees in Australia, restricted in the wild to a small pocket of far north Queensland, and it makes a remarkably well behaved garden tree. In cultivation it reaches about 7m tall and only 3m across, holding a narrow upright frame of fine weeping branchlets that look like pine needles but belong to the she-oak family.

Why you'll love it

• Tall and narrow by nature. Roughly 7m by 3m, so it gives real height along a boundary without spreading into the garden.
• Fine, soft texture. The drooping branchlets move in the slightest breeze and filter light rather than blocking it.
• It handles wet ground. Unusually for a tree of this shape it tolerates wet feet, so poorly drained corners are workable.
• Content in poor soil. Like its she-oak relatives it fixes its own nitrogen, so thin and sandy soils are no barrier.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 1.5m apart for a fine textured screen. At that spacing the narrow crowns overlap into a soft green column that hides an upstairs window, while the trunks stay clear enough to plant beneath.

Small gardens and courtyards. A 3m spread is modest for a 7m tree, so it works in narrow side setbacks where a conventional shade tree would take over. Give it 1.5m of clearance from a wall.

Feature planting. As a single specimen the weeping habit and vertical line make a strong architectural statement.

Growing Daintree Pine in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the densest growth, though it accepts light shade. This is a tropical and subtropical tree, and that limit is real: it is frost tender, so cool temperate gardens, tablelands and frosting inland districts are not suitable.

Soil. Not fussy. It performs in poor, sandy and gravelly ground where most trees struggle, and unlike many natives it copes with soil that stays damp. Mulch 75mm deep, clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then reduce to weekly in dry spells. It sits at moderate water needs long term rather than being drought hardy. Feed once in early spring with a low phosphorus native fertiliser.

Pruning. Very little. Remove lower branches only if you want a clear trunk, and tip prune young trees to encourage a denser screen. Avoid hard cutting into old wood, which does not reshoot reliably.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in three sizes: tube stock, 200mm plants in packs of six, and single 300mm plants. Tube stock is young, often 20 to 30cm tall and single stemmed, and is the sensible way to plant a run of screening trees. The 200mm and 300mm sizes arrive with a formed leader and height already on them.

Some branchlet drop after transit is normal. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee. Expect slow progress for six months, then steady growth.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read about other rare Australian native plants worth growing.
• Browse the wider native tree range.
• Compare tall and narrow screening plants.
• See what suits tropical and warm climate gardens.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

One and a half metres apart in a single row. The crowns are narrow, so tighter spacing is not wasted, but at 1.5m each tree still holds foliage down the sides rather than only at the top.

Is it actually a pine?

No. It is a member of the she-oak family, and the fine green segments are branchlets rather than needles. The common name describes the look, not the botany.

Will it grow in Melbourne or Adelaide?

Not reliably in open ground. It is frost tender and suited to tropical and subtropical gardens, so in cool temperate cities it needs a pot moved under cover in winter.