Guioa semiglauca
guioa
Overview
Guioa semiglauca is an evergreen rainforest tree reaching 25-40 feet (8-12 m) tall, with a dense rounded crown and smooth grey bark. The leaves are pinnate, with 2-8 leaflets each 1.5-4 inches (4-10 cm) long, glossy green above and pale blue-grey beneath, giving the canopy a two-toned look as the leaves move. New growth flushes pink to bronze before turning green. Small greenish-cream flowers about 0.1 inch (2-3 mm) across are carried in branched sprays among the leaves in spring. These are followed by yellow to orange three-lobed capsules 0.3-0.5 inches (8-12 mm) wide that split to reveal black seeds each partly wrapped in an orange aril. Growth is moderately fast in warm, moist conditions. The tree casts dense shade, which limits planting beneath it, and the shallow surface roots can lift nearby paving.
Native Range
Native to eastern Australia, from Victoria through New South Wales to Queensland. Grows in and along the margins of rainforest and moist eucalypt forest, from coastal lowlands to the ranges, on a range of soils.Suggested Uses
Planted as a shade tree, screen, or canopy tree in native, rainforest, and street plantings, spaced 15-25 feet (4.5-7.5 m) apart. The seeds and arils draw fruit-eating birds, supporting habitat plantings. Its dense surface roots make it less suited to small gardens or planting close to paving and walls.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height25' - 40'
Width/Spread15' - 25'
Reaches mature size in approximately 12 years
Bloom Information
Flowers in spring, mainly September to November, with small greenish-cream flowers in branched sprays. Flowering lasts 3-5 weeks. Capsules ripen from late spring into summer, splitting to expose the seeds over several weeks.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
green above, blue-grey beneathGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-10 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soil with organic matter. Water young trees through dry spells until established, after which the species tolerates short dry periods. It grows on clay, loam, and sandy soils and withstands light frost once established, though young plants are frost-sensitive. Few pests or diseases trouble it. The dense surface roots compete with nearby plants and can disturb paving, so open ground suits it better than confined beds. Fallen capsules and seeds accumulate beneath the crown.Pruning
Light formative pruning when young shapes the trunk and crown. The tree tolerates pruning to lift the canopy or reduce spread and reshoots from cut branches. Removal of lower limbs creates clearance beneath the dense crown.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
winter