Tree of the Month

Pin Cushion Hakea (Hakea laurina) - Raymond Street, Henley Beach

This unique native tree is perfectly suited to our coastal environment and thrives in the salty breezes and sandy soils of Henley and Adelaide's western suburbs. The tree blooms with distinctive deep pink and cream flowers that resemble pin cushions to create a stunning display during the cooler months.

Beyond its beauty, the Pin Cushion Hakea plays an important role in supporting local biodiversity with its nectar-rich flowers providing a valuable food source for birds, bees and other pollinators. Its dense foliage offers shelter for native wildlife too.

Keep an eye out for trees like these next time you’re walking through our coastal suburbs.

Native Apricot (Pittosporum angustifolium) - Fourth Avenue, Seaton

The ornamental Native Apricot is known for its weeping form and fragrant yellow flowers. It is well-suited to South Australia's climate with a high tolerance to drought, frost, and a natural resistance to high winds.

This species supports local biodiversity with its flowers attracting birds, bees and butterflies, and helping provide food and habitat for a range of pollinators and native wildlife.

Various parts of the tree, including its fruit, leaves and wood, have also been used in traditional medicine by some First Nations peoples to treat ailments including colds, coughs, pain, cramps, eczema and itching.

Look out for these Native Apricot trees next time you're exploring our local parks and streets. You may be surprised by how many are quietly thriving in our neighbourhoods.

Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha) – Point Malcolm Reserve, Semaphore Park

The Golden Wattle is Australia's national floral emblem and loved for its brilliant golden blooms that brighten the landscape in late winter and spring. These fragrant flowers also provide an important source of food for birds, bees and other pollinators.

Its vibrant green and gold foliage helped inspire our national colours, representing unity, resilience, and the spirit of the Australian people.

1 September is National Wattle Day, marking the first day of spring and celebrating this iconic species and the important place it holds in Australia's history, identity and landscape.

South African Wild Plum (Harpephyllum caffrum) - Young Street, West Hindmarsh

This unique tree is known for its broad, domed canopy and dense foliage which makes it an outstanding shade tree. New leaves emerge with a reddish hue before maturing to a glossy dark green which adds vibrant colour to our neighbourhoods.

This species is well suited to life in Adelaide, thriving in coastal conditions and with high drought tolerance. In summer it produces clusters of yellow-green flowers, followed by plum-like fruit that can even be made into jam.

Its wide canopy, beauty and resilience make it a valuable addition to our streets and open spaces.

'Bottle Tree’ (Brachychiton rupestris) – Port Road, Welland

This tree is a unique Australian native species you’ll see growing in a stand within our Port Road median at Welland.

It’s easy to see where the Bottle Tree gets its name. As it matures, the trunk develops a distinctive swollen, bottle-like shape as it stores water to help the tree in dry periods.

It can grow up to 20 metres in height but is generally smaller in size in cooler climates. In spring, it produces clusters of small, bell-shaped, yellowy flowers.

The tree is a close relative of the spectacular Illawarra Flame Tree. Despite looking completely different, they are from the same botanical genus.

There’s another small stand of Bottle Trees located at the intersection of Stonehaven Street and Price Avenue in Pennington which are much adored by the local community.