💡 QUICK REFERENCE

📋 Master Species Database

Common Name Scientific Name Native? Size Class Mature Height Growth Rate Sun Water Needs Leaf Drop Level Drought Tolerant Salt Tolerant Best Use AU Climate Zones
Lilly Pilly (Scrub Cherry) Syzygium australe ✅ Native Small–Medium 3–8 m Fast Full–Part Sun Moderate Very Low Moderate Moderate Hedging, screening, wildlife Tropical, Subtropical, Temperate
Weeping Lilly Pilly Syzygium luehmannii ✅ Native Medium 5–10 m Fast Full–Part Sun Moderate Very Low Moderate Yes Feature tree, screen Tropical, Subtropical
Magnolia 'Little Gem' Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem' ❌ Exotic Small–Medium 4–6 m Slow–Moderate Full Sun Moderate Low Low No Feature, formal garden Temperate, Subtropical
Brush Box Lophostemon confertus ✅ Native Tall 15–30 m Moderate Full Sun Moderate Very Low Moderate No Street tree, large screen Tropical, Subtropical, Temperate
Tuckeroo Cupaniopsis anacardioides ✅ Native Medium 5–10 m Moderate Full Sun Low–Moderate Very Low Yes Yes Coastal garden, screen Tropical, Subtropical, Temperate
Blueberry Ash Elaeocarpus reticulatus ✅ Native Medium 5–10 m Moderate Part–Full Sun Moderate Low No No Feature, understorey planting Subtropical, Temperate
Ivory Curl Tree Buckinghamia celsissima ✅ Native Medium–Tall 6–15 m Moderate Full–Part Sun Moderate Low No No Feature tree, wildlife garden Tropical, Subtropical
Sweet Viburnum Viburnum odoratissimum ❌ Exotic Medium 3–6 m Fast Full–Part Sun Moderate Low No No Hedge, privacy screen Subtropical, Temperate
Photinia Photinia × fraseri ❌ Exotic Small–Medium 2–5 m Fast Full Sun Moderate Low No No Formal hedge, screen Temperate
Olive Tree Olea europaea ❌ Exotic Medium 5–10 m Slow Full Sun Low Low Yes Yes Feature, Mediterranean garden Arid, Temperate, Mediterranean
Mock Orange Murraya paniculata ❌ Exotic Small–Medium 3–5 m Moderate–Fast Full–Part Sun Moderate Low No No Hedge, scented screen Tropical, Subtropical, Temperate
Camellia Camellia japonica / sinensis ❌ Exotic Small 1.5–5 m Slow Part–Full Shade Moderate Low No No Garden bed, feature, shade Cool Temperate, Temperate
Pittosporum Pittosporum undulatum ✅ Native Medium 5–12 m Moderate–Fast Full–Part Sun Low–Moderate Low Moderate No Screen, windbreak Subtropical, Temperate
Grevillea 'Moonlight' Grevillea whiteana 'Moonlight' ✅ Native Medium–Tall 4–8 m Fast Full Sun Low Very Low Yes No Wildlife garden, screen Subtropical, Temperate
Native Frangipani Hymenosporum flavum ✅ Native Medium–Tall 6–10 m Moderate Full–Part Sun Moderate Low No No Feature, fragrant garden Subtropical, Temperate
Pencil Pine Cupressus sempervirens ❌ Exotic Tall (narrow) 8–20 m Moderate Full Sun Low–Moderate Very Low Moderate No Formal garden, windbreak Temperate, Mediterranean
Weeping Bottlebrush Callistemon viminalis ✅ Native Medium 4–8 m Moderate–Fast Full Sun Low–Moderate Low Yes Yes Feature, wildlife, screen Tropical, Subtropical, Temperate, Arid
She-Oak Allocasuarina / Casuarina spp. ✅ Native Tall 8–20 m Fast Full Sun Low Very Low Yes Yes Windbreak, erosion control All zones
Wollemi Pine Wollemia nobilis ✅ Native Medium–Tall 3–5 m (garden) Slow Part Sun Moderate Very Low No No Collector specimen, feature Temperate
Port Jackson Fig Ficus rubiginosa ✅ Native Tall 10–20 m Moderate–Fast Full Sun Low–Moderate Low Yes Moderate Large garden, shade Tropical, Subtropical, Temperate
Tibouchina (Tree form) Tibouchina granulosa ❌ Exotic Medium 5–10 m Moderate–Fast Full Sun Moderate Low No No Feature tree (purple blooms) Tropical, Subtropical
Banksia (Tree forms) Banksia integrifolia / serrata ✅ Native Small–Tall 2–15 m (varies) Moderate Full Sun Low Very Low Yes Yes Coastal, wildlife, screen Temperate, Subtropical, Coastal

📐 Size Class Guide

Size Class Mature Height Best For
Small Under 4 m Front yards, courtyards, pots, hedging
Small–Medium 3–6 m Screening, mixed beds, feature planting
Medium 5–10 m Suburban gardens, partial shade, privacy
Medium–Tall 6–15 m Feature trees, larger screens
Tall 10 m+ Windbreaks, large properties, street trees

⚡ Quick-Pick by Purpose

Goal Top Picks
Fastest privacy screen Sweet Viburnum, Photinia, Lilly Pilly, Brush Box
Smallest space / courtyard Magnolia 'Little Gem', Mock Orange, Camellia, Dwarf Lilly Pilly
Drought-tolerant / low water Olive, She-Oak, Grevillea, Bottlebrush, Tuckeroo, Banksia
Coastal / salt-tolerant garden Tuckeroo, She-Oak, Bottlebrush, Banksia, Olive
Wildlife / bird-attracting Grevillea, Bottlebrush, Banksia, Lilly Pilly, Ivory Curl
Formal / structured look Pencil Pine, Photinia, Camellia, Magnolia 'Little Gem'
Large shade tree Brush Box, Port Jackson Fig, She-Oak
Native species only Lilly Pilly, Tuckeroo, Blueberry Ash, Grevillea, Bottlebrush, Banksia, She-Oak, Brush Box

❌ Common Mistakes & Fixes

Mistake Why It's a Problem Fix
Planting too close to fencing or structures Many evergreens have wide canopies or surface roots at maturity Check mature spread before planting; allow 1–3 m clearance minimum
Choosing fast-growing without checking mature size Fast growers often exceed garden boundaries within 5–10 years Match growth rate AND mature size to your available space
Assuming "evergreen" means zero leaf drop All trees shed; evergreens do it gradually year-round For pool/patio areas choose Very Low leaf drop species only
Ignoring climate zone suitability Tropical species fail in cool temperate zones Cross-check AU Climate Zones column before purchasing
Planting figs near paving or driveways Ficus species have aggressive surface root systems Reserve for large open lawns only; keep 5+ m from hard surfaces
Underwatering fast-growers in establishment phase Fast growers need consistent water in first 1–2 seasons Water deeply 2–3×/week for first summer; reduce once established
Choosing exotic species over natives Exotics may need more inputs and offer no wildlife value Where possible, pair exotics with at least one native for ecological balance