Angophora floribunda
rough-barked apple
Overview
Angophora floribunda is a spreading evergreen tree 30-90 feet (9-27 m) tall with a short, often crooked trunk and a broad, dense crown. The bark is rough, fibrous, and grey-brown, persisting over the trunk and larger branches, the feature behind the name rough-barked apple. Unlike the eucalypts it resembles, the leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, lance-shaped, 2.4-6 inches (6-15 cm) long, and dull green. Masses of cream to white flowers about 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) across cover the crown in summer, each with many spreading stamens and held in large branched clusters. The flowers are followed by ribbed, cup-shaped woody capsules 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) long. The tree grows along watercourses, floodplains, and moist hillsides on a range of soils and develops a heavy, often low-branching frame. The brittle wood and large limbs can drop in storms, which limits its use near buildings. It is native to eastern Australia and tolerates seasonal flooding and moderate frost.
Native Range
Angophora floribunda is native to eastern Australia, from Queensland through New South Wales into eastern Victoria. It grows along rivers, on floodplains, and on moist slopes in open forest and woodland on sandy to clay soils.Suggested Uses
Used as a shade and habitat tree in large gardens, parks, and rural plantings where there is room for its broad crown. The summer flowers support bees, birds, and other wildlife. Planted for revegetation along watercourses and floodplains in eastern Australia.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height30' - 90'
Width/Spread30' - 60'
Bloom Information
Flowers in summer, mainly November to January in its native range, when the crown carries dense clusters of cream flowers. The flowering draws large numbers of insects and nectar-feeding birds. Woody ribbed capsules follow and persist on the tree.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
cream to whiteFoliage Description
dull greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight