Pink Flowered Doughwood

Pink Flowered Doughwood (Melicope elleryana) is the rainforest tree to plant if you want butterflies. It is the main host plant for the Ulysses butterfly, and in cultivation it settles at around 10m tall and 5m wide, not the 20m it reaches in wild rainforest. Pink flowers cluster along the branches in summer, drawing lorikeets and honeyeaters.

Why you'll love it

• It brings in the Ulysses butterfly. Females lay on the new leaves, so one tree becomes breeding habitat, not just a feeding stop.
• Shade quickly. Fast growth and a broad canopy give useful shade over a seating area within a few years.
• Pink flowers on bare branches. An unusual look for an Australian native, visible from a distance.
• It tolerates wet ground. A creek line species, so damp corners and slow draining soil suit it where other shade trees sulk.

Where it works best

Shade tree. One tree covers a stretch of lawn or a patio. Allow at least 4m clearance from the house for the full 5m spread.

Feature planting. The flowering and butterfly traffic make it a talking point, so give it an open position.

Wildlife and rainforest gardens. Group it with other rainforest species for a layered planting that feeds birds, bees and butterflies.

Growing pink flowered doughwood in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the heaviest flowering, though part shade is accepted while young. Tropical and subtropical only, and frost tender, so cool temperate, tableland and inland gardens are not suitable. Even a light frost burns young growth.

Soil. Deep soil with organic matter is best, but it is forgiving, and ground that stays damp after rain is fine. Work compost through the backfill and keep 75mm of mulch clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Water deeply twice a week through the first two summers. It is not drought tolerant, and a dry season without irrigation thins the canopy. Feed a controlled release native fertiliser in early spring and late summer.

Pruning. Lift the lower branches in the first few years to set a clear trunk, in late winter before the new flush. Avoid heavy pruning once established, since the canopy is the whole point.

What to expect when it arrives

Six sizes are grown, from packs of ten 140mm plants and packs of six 200mm plants through to 45L, 100L, 200L and 400L specimens. The small sizes suit revegetation or a large block and catch up quickly given water. From 45L up you get a formed trunk and immediate presence.

Some leaf drop after transit is normal, and this tree sheds seasonally in any case. Expect a quiet first season, then rapid growth. 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.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the Australian native tree range
• The best canopy trees for shade
• Compare bee and butterfly plants
• Top bird attracting native plants

Common questions

Will it really attract Ulysses butterflies?

Only within their range, tropical north Queensland. The tree is their principal host plant there, so one in a Cairns or Daintree garden is the most effective way to bring them in.

How big will it get in my garden?

Around 10m tall and 5m wide in cultivation. The 20m specimens are old rainforest trees with permanent moisture and competition for light, not a suburban outcome.

Will it grow in Sydney or Melbourne?

No. It is frost tender and needs tropical or subtropical warmth. Warm frost free coastal northern New South Wales is about the limit.