I have grown some of those and agree with you. A lot depends on the area. My parents also grew these but were very slow because they had lousy soil and very dry weather. Their plants took 5 yrs to reach the same height mine reached in one year.

I think most of the syzygiums are fast, ours haven't stopped growing, even over winter, continually had flushes of red.

Another plant that surprised me was the poinciana. Everywhere else I have grown them they have been slow and lucky to get to a couple of metres in 5yrs but since we moved here the poincianas have surprised me. They have been in 4-5yrs and are 3 to 4m tall and 5-6m wide.

If I had a garden in coastal Qld I would want to grow Macaranga tanarius, which I suspect is exceptionally fast-growing as well as having very ornamental foliage. But is it possible that some may see it a just a gigantic weed?

And how about Polyscias murrayi and P. elegans?

Hi Artview

I share your joy at seeing your garden thrive.

With a bit of rain, my garden is rocketing forth as well. Too many aweful weeds though.

Popi

Hi Tony,

Macaranga tanarius ? Mate, I'm the first to admit that I have a lot of exotics in my garden, but a Malaysian escapee which emits *blood-red* sap might be taking that a little too far :)

I did consider the Polyscias species you mentioned, but I've yet to see a photo which makes them appear attractive, at least to my eyes. I can see the value of such pioneer species in nature, but I'll stick with my lillipillies.

Cheers,

Artie

Agree re the weeds, but I still consider that a small price to pay for the rampant growth that rain brings to the 'plants that matter'.

Goldhills, if Rocky can lay claim to having 'naturalised' anything, it would have to be Mango trees and Poincianas, and they both thrive here (I suspect thats the case anywhere from Brissie north - many of the Western Suburbs will be a carpet of Jacaranda and Poinciana blooms right now). The challenge is confining them to one's own patch, at least on a standard (

Artie, as far as I can establish, Macaranga tanarius has always been regarded as native in Australia. It just happens to be one of those species with a wide natural distribution, from mainland Asia to eastern Australia - just like Toona ciliata!

It's a matter of taste whether you admire trees like this and Polyscias spp. Some of us like big-leafed plants, others don't.

We planted a Macaranga for some quick shade and still regreting it, cut it out after 3 years and still getting suckers and seedlings coming up.

Agree about size requirements for poincianas, we have 3 but we do have a big houseyard (too big when nearly half is gardens and the rest takes 2 1/2 hrs to mow).

Grevillea baileyana is fast but doesn't create much shade, and frangipanis are fast here, ideal on the northern side of the house and yard to let winter sun through.

I still love the lillypillies as there is a size and variety for every situation.

Point taken Tony - many of our natives have come down the (long since submerged) land bridge from Asia. I dont really have anything against the large-leaved plants except for the fact that sun and wind seem to shred them pretty easily, and many insects favour such big, fleshy leaves. I guess I need to see many of these trees in gardens where they have been used to full advantage.

The fastest growing tree I have planted is the Brayleyana flindersia ( Queensland Maple ) is height would be around 240cms (8ft) I got two of them as small plants early last year as two of the three free trees a year from my Council.

This year I got Stenocarpus sinuatus ( Firewheel Tree ) Xanhostemon chysanthus and Backhousia myrtifolia (Grey Myrtle) apart from the penda the others are at a standstill. But the fastest I have ever seen is one of my neighbours has planted three Grevillea robusta about 4-5 ft from the side boundry fence in the one hole would you believe and it is about 5mts ( 15 ft ) tall already in three years, Thank goodness the other two are stunted I wish it would go away.I wish they would all go away including his chinese elms.

I cannot grow Lillypillies on my block so have given up after loosing about ten though one has survived Syzygium oleosum ( Blue Lily Pilly ) it has only grown about a metre in four years, it got it first flowers last year and I planted four of the berries and now have four healthy looking plants about 20cms tall to give to one of our members. So I think soil and conditions have more to do with the fast growth of trees than the species. Cheers..MM.

Artie, the Flame Tree Brachychiton acerifolius (?) is also a very fast grower at my place - but not as fast as the Red Cedar.

Frank

i am on the marybrynong (melbourne breakish water)i would like to put a fast tall growingt tree ore shrub against my fence.what would you recommend(.I would like to keep my place very private)

I have just purchaesd a property no trees at all need fast growing trees for shade any suggestions. Must like Victoria weather.

Can anyone recommend fast growing trees for north queensland

What part of Nth Qld are you?