The Singapore Forum

I want to replace a Silver Birch tree that I have in my front yard. Because of the drought, it's looking very sad at the moment - plus silver birch is not really that suitable for the Adelaide plains area. I want to plant a wide-canopied plant, similar to jacaranda or honeylocust tree but I read that their roots are very invasive.

The spot is open to direct sunlight, and about 5 metres from the house, and about 2.5 metres from the sewer line. Can anybody recommend an open-canopied tree that would grow to a nice height (about 5m) that can provide nice shade over the frontyard and without an invasive root system please? Ideally I would like a deciduous tree, but if it's a nice evergreen tree, I will make a concession for it. Japanese maple is a possibility but the dry hot wind in summer burns the leaves and liquidambars are notorious for having a very invasive root system.

Adelaide has Mediterranean climate with alkaline soil.

Any suggestions from expert gardeners in the Sporum?

I'm not an expert Fuzz, but I love Flame Trees. They would suit your situation, as far as I can tell, although I'm not sure about the root system.
I had one in my favourite house In NZ, it had a huge bough that used to hang right across my front door. I had to fend off neighbours wanting to chop it down though.

Tamarind?

It isn't the roots that are bad in Jacarandas, but rather the flowers and leaves will poison anything underneath so you won't be able to grow grass.

I agree with Azzam that Flame trees are nice (as are Tamarind), although the latter is particularly slow growing.

Acacia trees are really rapid growing and provide excellent flat bottomed canopies as well as attracting lots of birds.

My personal favourite, however, is the avocado. Not only do you get a stunning evergreen with a fantastic canopy, but in a few years you'll also have fresh avocado on your doorstep.

try the ABC website http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/
there might be a relevant fact sheet - they do a lot of stories on native plants, as well as 'solve my problems stuff'
in fact you should write in!!

Not much of a canopy, but Baobab?

Agree, flame trees are fantastic..especially in bloom! I had one that could cheer me up even from a huge distance.

I understand that if you put an avocado stone in your hot water cupboard, it will sprout Fuzz. ( or so my son told me during his science project some years ago ) You could grow it from your very own salad! Might take a while though.

Fuzz,

I think you need a tree the best resembles and portrays the essence of Adelaide as a thriving metropolis....

Spoiler: toggle

[img]http://www.bbc.co.uk/northyorkshire/content/images/2007/02/23/dead_tree_312x470.jpg[/img]

BlackHoleSun wrote:Not much of a canopy, but Baobab?

Agree, flame trees are fantastic..especially in bloom! I had one that could cheer me up even from a huge distance.

Good luck with that. They are among the oldest living things on the planet and only need around 1,000 years to reach maturity ...

No man! 150 years will get you a massive trunk.

Only a hundred years to go then, Minty.

Sorry, just had to lower the tone.

baloo:

Thank you for the recommendations - may consider wattle trees (acacia) now, FM. Azzam, thought about flametrees too, but their root system is also invasive over time.

Posted the same question in Yahoo Answers, and most recommended me to plant a jacaranda anyway, and ignore the root issues. I'll post the question in ABC Gardening and see what they suggest.

I'm typing this from home - went to the office for a short while but my workmates told me to go home. I sound like Barry White - my throat is so itchy!

As I said, Fuzz, it isn't really the roots that are a problem with jacarandas. The problem is you can't grow anything underneath them (lawn etc). Also, if you park beneath them, the flowers will destroy your car's paintjob in one season. That said, still one of my favourite trees. I come from Bulawayo -- the city of 10,000 jacarandas!

Wattle (acacia) is a good choice as you can really train the branches.

But consider wild fruit trees as well, because they'll attract the birdlife. Speak to your bird societies and find out which trees will attract nesting pairs or colonies. Be warned that birds often = snakes as well.

azzam wrote:Only a hundred years to go then, Minty.

Sorry, just had to lower the tone.

Ha!

Frangipani

There is only one tree for this job: The Royal Poinciana



Of course, they may not grow in Adelaide. But you could always move to the tropics. They are like weeds here, they grow everywhere.

That is the effing Ms Universe of trees! the tree!

There's a guy in that picture that looks like Mario

Fresh Mint wrote:I agree with Azzam that Flame trees are nice (as are Tamarind),

My personal favourite, however, is the avocado. Not only do you get a stunning evergreen with a fantastic canopy, but in a few years you'll also have fresh avocado on your doorstep.

Homo.

Leave him alone, he's a thinking woman's man. You, however - dearheart....

Fuzz, how long do you plan to live in that house? Might be a deciding factor in which tree to get

azzam wrote:Leave him alone, he's a thinking woman's man. You, however - dearheart....

So FM actually stands for "Female Man", or in more local terms, "Ladyboy".