I struggle to describe the size of local trees to people who want to add a local tree to their garden, being aware that many of them grow to 30m, 50m or more. People often ask me for recommendations for a 'small tree' for a garden or park. And it's just so hard to answer. 

What is 'small' in this context? One person's 'small' tree is another's 'huge' tree. The NSW Christmas Bush is generally considered to be a tree, despite its bushy habit. And the amazing local Tree Heath (Trochocarpa laurina), one of my absolute favourite plants, can only really be described as a shrub!

What to do? I don't know where to turn. But this weekend as my partner and I were walking along the coastal tracks at Puckey's Estate, we saw the perfect tiny tree and I just had to share.

It doesn't answer all the tree size questions, but it does illustrate that the conventional term 'tree' can be applied in a wide range of contexts.

This gorgeous little creature is a Tree Broom-heath (or Monotoca elliptica) and it was no more than 2m tall. I've been watching it for a decade and I don't think it's added more than 10cm in height over that period. And it's just the most beautiful, shapely thing. 

You can see it growing on the sand dunes at Puckey's Estate, and also at the northern end of the long sand dunes between Port Kembla and Perkins Beach.

It can be shrubbier or tree-ier depending on the context. But it's always beautiful, with a compact, often wind-sheared shape and delicate white flowers in spring or summer. The fruit are small but colourful, and can ripen from green through yellow tones to a bright orange or red.

Tree Broom-heath is not a plant for every Illawarra garden. It has a very strong preference for sandy soils, so would be happiest in coastal areas on sand.

But even if you can't grow it in your garden you can check it out and enjoy it in its natural habitat in coastal areas around the Illawarra.