Many people who live out of town have driveways leading to their houses from the front gate.
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Some driveways are lined with avenues of trees. Usually these avenue trees are of the exotic variety – exotic conifers, pines and Chinese elms are popular choices.
This time we would like to suggest some native varieties that will give your avenue an Australian appearance.
Native conifers make excellent avenue trees. They have an advantage over exotic varieties in their resistance to drought.
Exotic conifers hail from the Northern Hemisphere in areas with high rainfall. In our harsh climate they may expire during prolonged droughts.
The black cypress, Callitris enderlicheri, develops into an erect tree with spreading branches. The bark is reddish and furrowed while the foliage is light green. Seeds are held in cones that are about 2cm across.
When the wind blows through the foliage they produce a restful melody.
The white cypress, Callitris glaucophylla, is a tall tree with rough, furrowed bark. The foliage is an attractive bluish-grey. Seeds are held in round cones that are about 2cm in diameter.
The foliage is an eye-catching feature of the white cypress. The timber of this species is termite-resistant.
Both native cypresses are common in the Pilliga Scrub. The black cypress occurs closer to home. There are populations both west and east of Armidale. The eastern population is around Dangar’s Falls.
An interesting avenue could be created by alternating plants of the black and white cypresses.
Another variety worth growing as an avenue tree is a local wattle. Acacia diphylla, the Wollomombi wattle, as the name implies, is found around and in the gorge country, east of Armidale.
The Wollombi wattle is a small tree that will reach a height of 10m. The large leaves are a glossy green.
The flowers are produced in bright yellow, rod-shaped clusters and appear in late spring and early summer. Blooms are both profuse and conspicuous.
This is a long-lived species. We have specimens lining our entrance that are at least 15 years old. In that time the plants have not required pruning and the foliage almost reaches the ground. This is a beautiful wattle that would make a spectacular avenue on a rural property.
Banksia integrifolia is another local species that is found east of Armidale and develops into a tall shrub or small tree. Stiff leathery leaves are dark green on the upper surface and the lower surface has a silvery appearance.
The flower heads are composed of hundreds of individual flowers that are pale yellow and rich in nectar. Flowering takes place in autumn and winter. Each flower head may reach a length of 15cm. A mature plant may carry dozens of colourful, bird-attracting flower heads.
Before leaving rural avenues, we should mention that graceful group of trees, the casuarinas or she oaks. When the wind blows through the foliage they produce a restful melody.
The black she oak and river oak both make excellent avenue trees. Both shed their fine foliage and this collects as organic mulch at the base of each tree.
These are just a few species that could be used to establish an Australian avenue.
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