David Taylor

David is a Brisbane arborist passionate to improve the environment by encouraging the planting and management of Australian natives and removing weed species. He's a Christian and his hobbies include bee keeping, chickens and, of course, gardening. As a child he climbed trees constantly. He still does.

red flowering gum flowers

Red Flowering Gum

Corymbia ficifolia (Syn. Eucalyptus ficifolia) Family: Myrtaceae     Origin: South Coastal Western Australia Native to a very small area of south coastal Western Australia, the aesthetics of the red flowering gum have made it one of the most widely planted landscape and garden trees around the world in subtropical and tropical areas. Despite its […]

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horticultural glue caterpillar barrier on a poinciana

Poincianas and Caterpillars

Brisbane poincianas have been suffering from a plague of caterpillars. The caterpillars are defoliating the poincianas, descending from trees and infesting local residents properties. The caterpillar plague is a phenomenon that occurs around once every seven years in Brisbane. Unfortunately, past caterpillar events have shown that poincianas badly attacked by the caterpillars (or inchworms) often die

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camphor laurel in Corinda

Camphor Laurel

Cinnamomum camphora Family: Lauraceae           Origin: China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam The camphor laurel is an invasive weed here in Australia, though in some urban areas such as Graceville and Sherwood in Brisbane they are considered to be of historical significance. In its native lands of Asia, some larger specimens of

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paperbark gum nuts which will open to reveal seeds

Broad-leaved Paperbark

Melaleuca quinquenervia Family: Myrtaceae Origin: Australia, New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea Broad-leaved paperbark, or niaouli, is a medium-sized, fast-growing tree native to Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia and the eastern coast of Australia–from Botany Bay to Queensland and the Northern Territory. Paperbarks have also spread to the Everglades of Florida, where it is deemed

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Norfolk Island pine growth form

Norfolk Island Pine

Araucaria heterophylla Family: Araucariaceae          Origin: Norfolk Island People in climates where this tree can’t be grown outside (most notably in the US) grow what they think are Norfolk Island Pines in pots in their homes. Unfortunately, they’re usually mistaken. What is mostly available as a houseplant is actually the Cook Pine

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The flower of an Umbrella tree

Umbrella Tree

Schefflera actinophylla Family: Araliaceae          Origin: Australia, New Guinea, and Java. Naturalised in South East Qld and other places. While this is an Australian native, the Umbrella tree or Schefflera actinophylla can end up being a nightmare in cultivation and in some applications. Knowing where to plant this beauty can help you

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Lillypliiy's attractive, small flowers

Lillypilly

Syzyigium australe Family: Myrtaceae Origin: Eastern AustraliaA very popular and native Australian tree, this wonderful (usually) tree is grown in lots of ways. It has been bred into many cultivars suitable for many uses in the garden. Lillypilly can have a lot of names and has been misnamed many times because of the range of

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