What Trees Are Native to Australia? Most Interesting & Biggest?

Australia is a fascinating natural landscape that is home to all manner of weird and wonderful creatures, but what about the trees?

In this article, we’re going to focus less on snakes and spiders and look to our green companions instead. For example, what trees are native to Australia? What are the most interesting trees here? And most important of all, which tree in Australia is the tallest?

If you’re curious to learn more about the flora down under, read on and we’ll tell you everything you need to know…

What Trees Are Native to Australia?

Australia is home to a variety of unique and beautiful trees. From the tall and slender gum trees to the small and shrubby trees, this harsh yet stunning landscape is filled with a diverse range of flora. Here’s a look at a handful of the trees that are native to Australia:

Eucalyptus: the most common type of tree native to Australia is the Eucalyptus, which is known as the gum tree. These trees are tall and beautiful, reaching up to 150 feet in height. They have smooth, greyish-green bark and leaves that are either rounded or pointed. They can be found in many parts of Australia, including the inland regions of New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria.
Acacia: Acacia trees, also known as wattle trees, are very common in Australia. These trees have a round, yellowish-green trunk and small, yellowish-green leaves. They are usually found in dry, hot climates (which are rife in Australia) and can grow up to 20 feet in height. Acacia trees can be seen in many parts of Australia, particularly in the desert regions.
Melaleuca: the Melaleuca can grow to be incredibly tall, with a height of up to 70 feet. They also have a rough bark with a greyish-green colour. They are found mostly in the wetter regions of Australia, like tropical northern Australia.
Grevillea: this tree is comparable in size to the Melaleuca, as it can reach up to 50 and 100 feet in height, but has a much more distinctive appearance. The bark is often a reddish-brown colour and the leaves are small, leathery and greyish-green in colour. Grevilleas can be found in dry, hot climates and are usually found near creeks and rivers.
Banksia: the Banksia tree is native to Australia. This tree can reach up to 60 or 80 feet in height and has a unique bark that is usually greyish-brown coloured. The leaves of this tree are long and thin, and they often have serrated edges. They can be found in many parts of Australia, particularly coastal regions.

What are Australia’s most interesting trees?

It’s not just the strange animals and insects that are fascinating in Australia, in fact, the country is home to many interesting and unusual trees as well—many of which are unique to this continent.

From the beautiful Wollemi pine to the majestic ghost gum, these trees have adapted to their environment and are an integral part of the Australian ecosystem. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most fascinating trees that Australia has to offer:

Wollemi Pine: the Wollemi pine is an ancient tree species that was believed to be extinct for millions of years! It was only in 1994 that a small population of these trees was discovered in the remote Wollemi National Park in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney. This species is now a symbol of conservation success and is regarded as a living fossil. The Wollemi pine grows to approximately 40 metres in height and some of the trees are estimated to be up to 1000 years old.
Ghost Gum: the ghost gum is a distinctive species of eucalyptus tree that is found in the arid regions of Australia. It is an evergreen tree with a white trunk and grey-green leaves. It derives its name from the way it appears to shimmer in the moonlight, like a ghostly figure. The ghost gum is an iconic species that is featured in many landscape paintings of the Australian Outback and is a source of inspiration for many Aboriginal Dreamtime stories.
Sydney Red Gum: the Sydney Red Gum is a species of eucalyptus that is native to the Sydney region. This species is particularly interesting because it can grow up to 100 feet tall and has a distinctive pinkish-red bark. The Sydney red gum is an integral species for local wildlife, providing food and shelter for many different types of birds, reptiles, and insects.
Kurrajong: the kurrajong is an Australian native tree species that is found in a variety of habitats across the continent. This species is often referred to as the bottle tree because of its swollen trunk that can store up to 250 litres of water. The kurrajong is an important food source for many native animals and provides a habitat for a variety of creepy crawlies as well!

*Eucalyptus regnans can grow up to a 300 feet*

What is the biggest Australian native tree?

In a country where everything seems to be massive (we’re looking at you spiders!), one would imagine the trees to be gargantuan as well. Well, it likely won’t surprise you to learn that the second tallest species of tree in the world calls Australia its home.

The mountain ash (aka Eucalyptus regnans) towers over the other tree species in Australia, growing up to a whopping 300 feet! It’s no wonder why the tallest specimen of this tree is affectionately nicknamed the Centurion!

What is most fascinating about this tree is how rapidly it grows! In fact, Australian ash can reach its maximum height in as little as 200 years. Yes, that doesn’t sound very fast at all in human terms, however, compared to the world’s tallest redwood, its growth rate is x5 faster.

Conclusion

As you can see, Australia truly is home to some weird and wonderful trees – some of which are endangered and need our protection. If you have some unidentified trees on your property and you want to know what they are, how best to look after them, and whether they’re on the protected species list, contact a certified arboriculture company like Lakeside Trees and Stumps in Perth and they’ll be able to assist you accordingly.