Buckinghamia Celsissima
Family: Proteaceae Origin: Rain forests from Mt Spec to Cooktown
The Ivory Curl is a beautiful feature tree often seen in the backyards and found in undisturbed bushland in its native area. According to the Australian Native Plants Society, the tree is named after Richard Greenville, the Duke of Buckingham. As the tree is common enough in the wild it is not considered to be at risk; proof of its hardiness.
Fruit Production
The tree is not really known for its fruit production, but according to Discover NATURE, the Ivory Curl does produce a small brown fruit. The fruit has a winged appearance to it, and it is not meant to be eaten by anyone, including animals.
Arboriculture
Flowering
The flowers on the Ivory Curl are possibly the crowning jewel of this tree. The times in which this flower really depends upon the weather, but for the most part this is spring time through early autumn. The flowers cluster together, to the point in which they appear to overtake each branch of the tree. The flowers are white with a yellow tint in color, and they do attract butterflies and bees when flowering.
Growth Form
In the wild, the Ivory Curl gets very tall with a bush at the top. Often, the tree is trying to reach the full sun before the leaves and flowers begin. However, in domestic sittings, the tree usually gets 6 or 8 meters high, and can be 2 to 5 meters wide. It does take 3 to 5 years of growth before the tree starts to flower. Tree trimming should be carried out by an arborist as tree loppers will destroy its attractive growth form.
Foliage
The leaves of the tree are a dark green color, and on the underside, do have a silver tip. During some point of the year, the leaf may have a red tip that can be seen. The size of the leaves vary.
Trunk
The trunk of the tree is relatively skinny and is a gray/brown color. Branches spread from the trunk in a fashion that creates the rounded top of the tree that is seen.
Management
Propogation
In order to grow the Ivory Curl, the person must have seeds or cuttings available. For faster growth, cuttings often allow the tree to take better in the climate and to grow faster, while seeds often mean taking a chance on the tree surviving, and do mean a slower growth rate.
The Ivory Curl is considered a great tree for adding a bit of color and beauty to a yard. And in many places throughout Australia, this tree is used along sidewalks and in shopping centers to add beauty.
Cultivation
The Ivory Curl prefers dry and warmer climates. It performs well when placed in mulched soil with adequate water availability, and also full sun. Once the tree is established, it is considered drought resistant, and does not need as much water as when it was being established. The tree does not have to be pruned unless a person wants to do this in order to get a better shape of the tree.
I have an Ivory Curl tree on my nature strip, its about 5 metres tall. It’s been really healthy and flowers well, however the trunk has just split in the middle where the tree divides into two branches, each of which have several smaller branches, so appears to be evenly balanced. The split is about 18cms long. Thanks.
I have allergies and worried they may set my allergies off. Can anyone tell me I’d they are ok for allergy sufferers
My Ivory Curl Tree has curling leaves and some browning off especially on the lower branches. The higher ones look better from what I can see. We’ve had a lot of water but now seem to be getting quite hot temperatures and gusty hot winds. What should I do?
My Ivory Curl tree is about to get the chop! (after several years). Planted as a street tree here in Hervey Bay the poor thing is very unsightly with dead looking sticks on branches and at times blackened leaf tips. It doesn’t flower much either. It is often bombarded with ferocious winds which no doubt tells its own story. Even with plenty of mulch (and intermittent native fertilizer) there is little improvement.. I fell in love with this tree when first I gazed upon it but be prepared to pay close attention to it in its infancy, give it protection, stake it carefully and have a devoted watering and fertilizing schedule. I would suggest choosing a hardier tree for this area – it is after all a rainforest tree. It must be said however I have noted that other Ivory Curl trees around town are surviving quite well it seems safely behind fences! Perhaps I never had a green thumb in the first place anyhow !!! One assumes ridiculous things from time to time I’m sure. BUT, it seemed like a good idea at the time…….. lol
Hi I live in the Lockyer Valley, near Laidley, I have 2 Ivory Curls both about 6 or 7 years old. Neither have flowered, both look yellowish, both seem to have mis-shapen leaves. We are in Black Soil country ex farm land. All other trees/shrubs do well. Any advice appreciated, thank you Neil
Ivory Curl is on the list of allowed street trees in Brisbane for locations under power lines. As at Nov. 2021.
Just moved i to a house North brisbane I am on a cnr block and have two pretty mature looking
Buckinghamia celsissima – Ivory Curl Trees on the footpath at the side of my house close to my side fence I Didn’t know what type of Trees these were but I’ve just been told by council this is the type of tree as I was querying them as the little black almond shaped seeds drop into my yard and I have a little dog who likes to chew and eat the seeds there are so many getting dropped that it’s hard to get them all before she gets to them she hasn’t been sick or anything I’m just concerned that they could possibly be very poisonous to dogs so should I be concerned they could
Make her ill and also what time of year do they flower as I don’t see any sign of anything flowering in mid Oct so far
Thank you
Mine have already flowered this year so perhaps your flowered before you moved in. The seeds pods have never harmed ant of my pets. I think they are safe.
Hi there, I live in Brisbane and I have planted Ivory Curl tree in front of our house about 2 years ago. It’s now about 4m tall but I noticed the top of the tree is dying. If fact, it’s getting worse. I’m not sure if I should clip the dead part and give it another chance.
Live in Toowoomba and want to know the best time to sow seeds from this tree in a mini greenhouse using Jiffy Pellets please.
Hi Julia. They are from Qld’s tropical north so I don’t think they’d be well-suited to Toowoomba. Still, if you are just propagating them there I’d do it in summer.
I love this tree and have just planted one in my front garden. I came across your web site in order to find out how to care for it but not sure about the flowering, early fall? What is early fall? 😉
PLEASE THINK TWICE:
As delighful as these trees are when in full flower, they can be a problem.
Depending on what soil type you intend to plant them, they can grow upwards of 20 metres.
And, once mature, the black seed pods not only litter all around, but a black dust accompanies the fall and stains wet washing.
Also, the fine parts of the flowering florets clog up swimming pool filters. Many a Brisbanite has had to call out the ‘pool repairer’ to unclog the internal filter &/or replace the pool pump.
Plant at your peril.
These trees are suited to street planting only: garden never, unless you have a large block. I have one overhanging my patio, planted obviously years ago…it’s an annual pest!
Are you sure you are thinking of the right tree ?
There is one similar which does what you say and has a cream “fluffier” flower on it .
Hi David
I am in Brisbane and looking to use Ivory Curl and Golden Penda (I love them both and could not decide on just one to use), planted alternately, to create a privacy screen. I would ideally like them to be like a large flowering hedge and reach a final height of about 4 to 5 metres. I’m trying to work out how much of a space to leave between them so that they ‘hedge’ but that they are not too restricted by each other. They will be grown from advanced tube stock (their about 50cm tall currently) so should have plenty of time to get used to the presence of each other as they grow. Can you offer any advice on the spacing I should use?
Thanks James
Hi James,
I randomly just came across this post as I’m googling trying to find out the same info. Did you end up planting golden penda and ivory curl? How far apart did you end up separating? I want to do this exactly in our garden ☺️ Thanks!
Hi Jen, James,
Similar question here re: spacing of Ivory Curls and Golden Penda. Did you ever get a reply?
I have planted a couple of these trees on the footpath at Bongaree Bribie Island – they’re about 15 months old now, One has lovely glossy green leaves. The other, planted just 6 – 7 metres away, has leaves that are more yellowed in appearance (though still glossy). Can you tell me what I can do to improve the look of the second one? I give them both water as needed and they are well mulched.
thanks Elaine
Hi Elaine. The first thing I suspect when I see yellow leaves is a lack of nitrogen. It’s the single most important element plants take up from the mineral part of soil. It is a transportable nutrient, so you’ll see yellowing of older leaves as the tree moves the nitrogen to the new leaves. It can be safely remedied by generous application of a slow release fertiliser watered in to the soil..
could you answer the question below about the leaf problem I am having?
Thanks!
Hi David,
I am having Elaine’s problem…very yellowed leaves on one of my Ivory Curls.
A slow release fertilizers you say…any type as I have been loath to use anything except Dynamic Lifter because it is a native?
Thanks.
Hi there …I have a beautiful Ivory Curl tree that I planted earlier this year here in Bowen Nth Qld and in recent months, the leave’s have become quite light in cloud an a number of the leaves are looking like they have gotten sunburnt, appearing in the most part from the tip of the leaf to 2/3rd’s up the leaf. The weather here in this part of Aus has been very hot and virtually no rain but my wife has watered the plant every 2nd day, sometimes in the morning and in the evenings….desperate to know what might be causing this problem and how nest to address. Many thanks for reading this and if possible advising on what to do.
Kind regards
George
A quite magic tree thanks to its fantastic blossoms!
But how to get it from seeds?
Any hints on the quality of seeds, substrate type, germination temperature, duration..?
Thanks
J
I have two Buckinghamia Celsissima in my yard (north Sydney locality) both suffer from leaf damage. the leaf separates forming a wax paper like film over the leave, eventually turning black.
I’ve tried spraying with NEEM and then White Oil, no change.
Any clue as to what it is?
I have two Ivory Curl Trees only about one year old,they are about a metre tall looking healthy and a good amount of new leaves but the problem is that the older leaves are looking burnt and some of the new leaves are turning black.Could you help with some advice I wouldn’t like to loose them.Thanks.