Fine Leaved Tuckeroo

Fine Leaved Tuckeroo (Lepiderema pulchella) is a rainforest tree from the border country of northern New South Wales and south east Queensland, and one of the better native trees for a suburban block. It settles at about 7m tall and 4m wide in cultivation, carries glossy fine textured foliage and sprays of small yellow flowers, and has roots well behaved enough to plant near paving.

Why you'll love it

• The right size for a real garden. At 7m by 4m it gives shade and screening without the scale problems of a full sized rainforest tree.
• Roots that stay out of trouble. Non invasive, which is why it works along driveways, courtyards and street frontages where a fig never could.
• Fine, dense, glossy foliage. The leaflets are narrow and closely set, so the canopy reads as a solid green mass rather than an open frame.
• Native and full of life. The yellow flower sprays bring bees and butterflies, and birds work the tree for fruit and shelter.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 3m apart in a single row for a tall evergreen screen. At that spacing the canopies meet within a few seasons and the row still has room to hold foliage low.

Feature and small garden planting. A single tree suits a front lawn or a courtyard, where the fine foliage and neat shape carry the space without dominating it.

Driveways and avenues. Space trees 4m to 5m apart along a drive. The tidy root system means it can be planted closer to hard surfaces than most shade trees.

Growing Fine Leaved Tuckeroo in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade, in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. It is humidity tolerant, which most exotic trees are not. It takes light frost only, so cool districts need a sheltered warm position and protection through the first winters.

Soil. Deep, well drained soil with compost worked through the bed. It is drought tolerant once established but grows faster and denser with steady moisture. Mulch 75mm deep, kept off the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then taper off. A controlled release native fertiliser in early spring and again in late summer keeps the foliage glossy.

Pruning. Little is needed. Tip prune young trees to thicken a screen, or lift the lower branches over a few years for a clear trunk and space underneath.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in one size, a 45L pot, and is currently on backorder, so allow time for the next crop. A 45L tree is advanced stock with real height and a formed head from day one.

Growth is slow to moderate, so this is a tree you buy at size rather than wait for. Expect a quiet first season, then steady extension once the roots take. 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.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read our tuckeroo care guide for planting and maintenance.
• Browse more Australian native trees.
• Compare options in trees with non invasive roots.
• See what else suits a tight space in small trees for urban gardens.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

Three metres in a single row. Closer planting crowds the canopies and thins the lower foliage, which defeats the purpose of a screen.

Will the roots lift paving?

Unlikely. The root system is fibrous and non invasive, which is why this species is used in street and courtyard planting. Leave about 1.5m of clearance as good practice.

Will it survive frost?

Light frost only, once established. In cool districts plant it against a warm wall and protect it for the first two winters, or choose a frost hardy native instead.