Suggestions For Street Trees In Perth WA

What’s wrong with the street trees of Perth, generally?

What’s wrong with the street trees of Perth, generally?

They are not “local.”

They are large growing, and therefore in need of regular pruning.

Overhead power lines limit the growth of most trees.

They need regular watering.

After pruning, they look like a row of lollipops. (e.g. the pruning of WA Peppermints and Queensland Box Trees as traditionally carried out in Inglewood in the City of Stirling.)

So why do the local government authorities (LGAs) plant them?

They are known to grow well here.

They respond well to pruning, no matter how devastating.

What other approaches could possibly work?

Encourage underground power lines.

What do other LGAs do?

Glendale, California

I’ll continue to add as information becomes available.
Please feel free to help me.

The Problems of Some Street Trees in Perth

Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia)
Large; deciduous

Liquidambar (Liquidambar styraciflua)
Large; deciduous

Claret Ash (Fraxinus ‘Raywoodi’)
Deciduous

Coral Flame Tree (Erythrina indica)
Large; deciduous; feeds the Rainbow Lorikeets

Cape Lilac aka White Cedar (Melia azedarach)
Native of Australia (Queensland)
Large; deciduous; berry drop

Lemon-scented Gum (Eucalyptus citriodora)
Native of Australia
Very tall; sheds branches; feeds the Rainbow Lorikeets

Chinese Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
Suckers, so has the potential to be a weed.

False Locust Tree (Robinia pseudacacia)
Large; deciduous; has the potential to be a weed. Produces numerous suckers.

Queensland Box Tree (Tristania conferta)
This tall pyramid-shaped tree grows too large to be planted under overhead power lines.

Sugar Gum (Eucalyptus cladocalyx)
This tall tree grows too large to be planted under overhead powerlines.

Suggested Street Trees for Perth—(Scientific Names) First

(Banksia prionotes) Acorn Banksia

(Hakea laurina) Pincushion Hakea

(Hakea petiolaris) Sea Urchin Hakea

(Corymbia ficifolia) Red-flowering Gum

(Eucalyptus albopurpurea) Purple-flowered Mallee

(Eucalyptus caesia subsp. caesia) Caesia

(Eucalyptus caesia subsp. magna) Silver Princess

(Eucalyptus forrestiana) Fuchsia Gum

(Eucalyptus macrandra) Long-flowered Marlock
Only flowers every second year!

(Eucalyptus macrocarpa) Mottlecah

(Eucalyptus torquata) Coral Gum

(Eucalyptus ‘Torwood’) Torwood

(Eucalyptus youngiana) Large-fruited Mallee

Suggested Street Trees for Perth—Common Names First

Acorn Banksia (Banksia prionotes)

Caesia (Eucalyptus caesia subsp. caesia)

Coral Gum (Eucalyptus torquata)

Fuchsia Gum (Eucalyptus forrestiana)

Large-fruited Mallee (Eucalyptus youngiana)

Long-flowered Marlock (Eucalyptus macrandra)
Only seems to flower every second year!

Mottlecah (Eucalyptus macrocarpa)

Pincushion Hakea (Hakea laurina)

Purple-flowered Mallee (Eucalyptus albopurpurea)

Red-flowering Gum (Corymbia ficifolia)

Sea Urchin Hakea (Hakea petiolaris)

Silver Princess (Eucalyptus caesia subsp. magna)

Torwood (Eucalyptus 'Torwood')

Suggested Street Trees for Perth—If Only...
...If Only There Were No Overhead Power Lines!

Acorn Banksia (Banksia prionotes)

Rottnest Island Pine (Callitris preissii)
Groups of them may die unexpectedly.

Marri (Corymbia calophylla)
Starts flowering when less than 1 m high!