Angophora floribunda (Rough-barked Apple)

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Angophora, Genus, floribunda, Species,

Genus & species

rough-barked apple

Myrtaceae Eastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–11

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

Recognized by a broad-crowned tree with rough, fibrous grey-brown bark over the trunk and branches, and opposite, lance-shaped dull green leaves 2.4-6 inches (6-15 cm) long. Large branched clusters of cream stamen-rich flowers cover the crown in summer, followed by ribbed cup-shaped woody capsules. The opposite leaves and ribbed capsules separate it from the true eucalypts, whose leaves are alternate.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height30' - 90'

Width/Spread30' - 60'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Flowers: November–January

Summer

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 white

Foliage Description

dull green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 7.5 (Acidic to alkaline)

3579

Soil Types

sand loam clay

Drainageaverage

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun on a wide range of soils, from sandy loams to heavy clays, and tolerates both seasonal waterlogging and periods of dryness once established. It grows largest on deeper, moister soils along drainage lines. The tree is fast-growing while young and develops heavy, spreading limbs. It tolerates moderate frost and recovers from fire by reshooting from epicormic buds and a woody base. The brittle branches can fail in storms, so it is given room away from structures. Young trees are watered through dry spells until established.

Pruning

Formative pruning when young encourages a single leader and reduces the heavy low branching typical of the species. Large limbs are removed cleanly to limit decay in the soft wood. Major pruning is carried out by an arborist because of the tree size and brittle timber.