Flowering now: the decorative scrub beefwood
It's not as fiery as a close relative but is at least a true local and the subject of a trial street tree planting
There's always something in flower in the Illawarra. While spring brings a flush of pretty things such as coral-peas, rice flower and others, autumn is also an excellent flowering time.
Many local banksias flower in autumn and can be seen at their best in coastal areas such as Puckeys Estate and Seven Mile Beach, or on the plateau in Dharawal National Park.
Another decorative autumn-flowering plant is the scrub beefwood or Stenocarpus salignus.
This tall shrub or small tree is closely related to the more spectacular firewheel tree (Stenocarpus sinuatus), well known in cultivation for its striking red and orange inflorescences. The flowers of scrub beefwood are less brightly attractive, being a simple cream in colour, but they have a similar overall appeal.
Stenocarpus, together with banksias, waratahs and several other plant genera, belongs to the ancient Gondwanan family of Proteaceae, known for their interesting flowers.
I love seeing scrub beefwood around. It is a widespread but uncommon tree, often occurring on the edges or rainforest.
A great place to see it is on the Ken Ausburn Track, leading up Mount Keira (Geera) from the University of Wollongong, starting point on the north side of Robsons Rd.
Substantial trees occur here right near the walking track, so you can check out the decorative flowers and see the fruit as it develops. If you're lucky, you might see insects and birds, or even flying foxes, enjoying the nectar, or spot butterfly larvae eating the leaves.
There's so much to love about scrub beefwood. It's also a trial street tree plant for Wollongong City Council, so if you're thinking of installing a street tree and you live in the Wollongong local government area, why not reach out to council and ask for them to plant one?
While the street tree trial for scrub beefwood has not yet borne (metaphorical) fruit, it's still definitely worth asking council to plant them on local verges, as well as in parks and around the edges of playing fields. Scrub beefwood certainly deserves a place in the urban tree domain for its appealing flowers, toughness and habitat value. And unlike the firewheel tree, it is a true local.
About the writer
Emma Rooksby is a volunteer bush regenerator and environmental educator who helped establish the Growing Illawarra Natives website. She is passionate about protecting and restoring biodiversity in the Illawarra.
