HYMENOSPORUM flavum (Native Frangipani)

Native Frangipani (Hymenosporum flavum) is the perfumed Australian rainforest tree that solves the narrow block problem: it reaches around 8m tall on a slender 4m spread, with an open, layered canopy that screens without swallowing the garden. Cream flowers open in spring and age to deep yellow, carrying a scent strong enough to fill a courtyard on a still evening. This listing is for an ex ground specimen, a field grown tree lifted at mature size for immediate presence.

Why you'll love it

• Fragrance that carries. The spring flowering is one of the most strongly perfumed of any Australian native tree, and it draws honeyeaters and other birds.
• Tall and narrow. At roughly 8m by 4m it screens a two storey outlook from a side boundary where a spreading tree simply would not fit.
• Roots that stay out of trouble. Non invasive, so it can go near paths, driveways and services without the usual worry.
• Genuinely adaptable. Drought tolerant once established, salt tolerant on a coastal block, and comfortable in humidity.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 3m apart for a light, layered screen. This is not a solid hedge; it filters an outlook and softens a boundary rather than blocking it outright.

Feature and entry planting. A single mature specimen near an entry puts the flowering where the perfume is actually noticed.

Driveways and avenues. The narrow habit and safe roots suit a drive. Space trees 4m to 5m apart for a formal run.

Growing Native Frangipani in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the heaviest flowering, with shelter from strong wind while the tree re establishes. It belongs in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens and takes light frost only, so cold inland, tableland and hard frosting southern gardens should choose something hardier.

Soil. Free draining and enriched with organic matter. It will not sit in waterlogged ground, so on clay build a generous raised bed and work compost through the backfill. Mulch 75mm deep, clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. A freshly transplanted ex ground tree needs deep, regular watering for its first full year, not occasional sprinkling. After that it handles dry spells well. Feed a controlled release native fertiliser in early spring.

Pruning. Little is needed. Tip prune after flowering to thicken an open canopy, and lift the lower limbs over a couple of seasons for clearance underneath.

What to expect when it arrives

This is a single ex ground specimen, grown in the field and lifted with a root ball rather than raised in a pot. It arrives as a large, heavy tree, so the planting hole, access and machinery need to be organised before it lands. Some leaf drop and a stalled first season are normal while the cut roots regenerate, with energy going underground before it shows above.

Trees are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and specimens of this size are quoted for transport and unloading. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full ex ground tree range.
• Compare other Australian native trees.
• Read our guide to transplanting trees and shrubs successfully.
• See more fragrant plants.

Common questions

What does ex ground actually mean?

The tree was grown in open ground on a farm and lifted with its root ball wrapped, instead of being containerised. It gives you a much larger tree for the money, in exchange for a more demanding first year.

How far apart should I plant them for a screen?

Three metres apart. Closer than that and the canopies compete and thin out at the base, which defeats the purpose on a boundary.

Is it related to the frangipani I know?

No. The common name comes from the perfume, not the plant. This is an Australian rainforest tree, evergreen and narrow, unlike the deciduous, spreading Plumeria.