An ivory curl gives an Australian touch to an Aussie garden.
- Ivory curls are a species of tree, native to Queensland rainforest habitats north of Townsville, in north eastern Australia.
- An ivory curl tree is one of the two species in its genus, and the scientific name is Buckinghamia celsissima, which is from the family Proteaceae, a family of flowering plants.
- ‘Ivory curls’ are also known as ‘ivory curl trees’, ‘spotted silky oaks’ and ‘spotted silkies’.
- Ivory curls can grow up to 10 to 30 metres (33 to 100 feet) in height, although different climates may reduce its growth, causing it to reach shorter heights.
- The flower spikes of ivory curls form a long, cylindrical shape, and are typically cream to white in colour.
- Ivory curls are commonly grown for ornamental purposes, especially as street or garden trees.
- The leaves of ivory curls are smooth and a lush green on the upper side, while the underneath tends to be a lighter silvery white colour, and they generally grow to be 8 to 16 centimetres (3.1 to 6.3 inches) in length.
- Ivory curls grow best in low humidity tropical conditions, particularly in full sunlight, although it is a hardy tree, and tends to be drought tolerant, as well as resistant to many diseases and pests.
- Ivory curl trees can be grown by seeds or cuttings, and the tree can be pruned to keep it small.
- Ivory curl trees generally bloom profusely during the months of summer and autumn, and the flowers are fragrant, and birds and bees are attracted to them.
Bibliography:
Buckinghamia Celsissima, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckinghamia_celsissima
Buckinghamia Celissima, n.d, Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants, http://keys.trin.org.au/key-server/data/0e0f0504-0103-430d-8004-060d07080d04/media/Html/taxon/Buckinghamia_celsissima.htm
Buckinghamia celsissima ‘Ivory curl flower’, 2011, Society for Growing Australian Plants, http://www.sgapqld.org.au/Jan11%20Buck%20Cel.pdf
Fact Sheet: Buckinghamia celsissima, 2014, Gardening Australia, http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s1335127.htm
Hi. Great article about Buckinghamia celssisima, ivory curl trees. We find they can be grown in any mainland state in Australia.
As an arborist, I just wanted to mention that we recommend they be pruned either by lightly elevating (if over-elevated they become too top-heavy) or maintaining them at a height where they can be easily pruned bi-annually.