Flindersia trees and species
Flindersia are a rainforest tree large growing to 40m plus. widely found through Queensland where they grow on the fringes of the rainforest. Used widely for revegetation.
With 15 + species they are named after the explorer Matthew Flinders. Tall growing and with high quality wood these are large trees not overly suited to urban areas. They do make a good specimen tree for a very large garden or park and some excellent examples can be found in the Botanical Gardens in Brisbane.
Fluffy white flowers in spring followed by large attractive seed pods.
- F. australis is known as the ‘Australian Teak’ and is grown as a timber tree and is sometimes referred to as the Crow Ash. Usually around 10 – 15 m in cultivation with a rounded crown when grown in the open.
- F. brayleyana is referred to as ‘Queensland Maple’ and does require a frost free environment
- F. schottiana is ‘Bumpy Ash’ is slow growing, however will withstand light frosts and slightly lower rainfall.
- F. bourjotiana is Silver ash or Queensland silver ash.
- F. zanthoxyla is slower growing than others and does cope in lower rainfall areas. Prized for its dense yellow timber.
Flindersia can be pruned, however this is usually limited to removing the lower branches as the tree matures.