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Claoxylon australe

brittlewood

Euphorbiaceae Eastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 10–11

Overview

Claoxylon australe is an evergreen rainforest shrub or small tree reaching 13-26 feet (4-8 m) tall, with a slender, soft-wooded trunk and a spread of 8-13 feet (2.5-4 m). The wood is brittle and breaks readily, giving the plant its common name. Leaves are thin, soft, and bright green, oval to elliptic, 2.5-6 inches (6-15 cm) long with toothed margins, often clustered toward the branch tips. The species is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants; both are small and greenish-cream, carried in slender racemes 1.5-4 inches (4-10 cm) long. Female plants bear small three-lobed capsules about 0.2 inch (5 mm) wide that split to release seeds with an orange-red coat. Growth is rapid in warm, sheltered, moist conditions, and the soft foliage is readily browsed and damaged by wind. Frost-sensitive and short-lived as a pioneer, it establishes quickly in disturbed rainforest edges and gaps.

Native Range

Native to eastern Australia, from southern New South Wales north through Queensland, where it grows in subtropical and warm-temperate rainforest, gallery forest, and rainforest margins. Common as a pioneer in disturbed gaps and along streams on moist, fertile soils.

Suggested Uses

Planted in rainforest regeneration and in shade or screening plantings in frost-free, sheltered gardens, spaced 8-13 feet (2.5-4 m) apart. The quick soft growth creates early shade for slower rainforest species. Less suited to exposed or frost-prone sites because of its brittle stems and tender foliage.

How to Identify

Recognised by thin, soft, bright green oval leaves 2.5-6 inches (6-15 cm) long with toothed margins clustered at the branch tips, and by brittle, easily snapped stems. Separate male and female plants carry slender greenish racemes 1.5-4 inches (4-10 cm) long. Small three-lobed capsules releasing orange-red-coated seeds mark female plants.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height13' - 26'

Width/Spread8' - 13'

Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Spring Summer

Small greenish flowers appear mainly in spring and early summer, from September to December in its native range. Racemes develop over 2-4 weeks, and male and female plants flower at the same time. Fruiting on female plants follows through summer.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

bright green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Requires 2-6 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 Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in moist, fertile, well-drained soil in dappled shade to part sun, matching its rainforest-edge origins. Young plants need steady moisture and shelter from wind, which tears the soft leaves and snaps the brittle stems. The species is frost-sensitive, and exposed growth is cut back by light frosts. Foliage is browsed by insects and grazing animals and recovers quickly given warmth and moisture. Growth slows and leaves drop during dry spells, then resumes with rain. As a rapid pioneer the plant is relatively short-lived, often 10-20 years.

Pruning

Tolerates hard cutting back and reshoots readily from the trunk and base because of its rapid pioneer growth. Damaged, frost-burnt, or wind-broken stems are removed in spring as new growth begins. Light shaping keeps the soft-wooded canopy from becoming top-heavy and prone to breakage.

Pruning Schedule

early springspring