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Lophostemon confertus

Brush Box

Myrtaceae Eastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 10–11

Overview

Lophostemon confertus is an evergreen tree reaching 50-130 feet (15-40 m) tall in habitat and 26-50 feet (8-15 m) wide, though it stays smaller and denser in cultivation. Glossy dark green obovate leaves 3-7 inches (8-18 cm) long cluster in whorls at the ends of the branchlets, giving the canopy a tufted look. White to cream flowers about 0.8 inch (2 cm) across carry five bundles of feathery stamens and open in summer. Small woody capsules follow and sit partly enclosed in the branch. The bark is rough and red-brown at the base and sheds higher up in patches to leave smooth pinkish-grey areas. Native to the rainforest margins and wet forests of eastern Australia, it tolerates urban pollution, drought once established, and a range of soils, which has made it a widely planted street and shade tree. It is frost-sensitive when young and grows slowly to a large size, so it needs room away from buildings and paving.

Native Range

Native to eastern Australia, from coastal New South Wales through Queensland, where it grows on rainforest margins, in wet sclerophyll forest, and along watercourses.

Suggested Uses

Planted as a street, park, and shade tree in warm climates, and used for screening and shelter where space allows. Its flowers support nectar-feeding insects and birds.

How to Identify

Identify Lophostemon confertus by its glossy obovate leaves clustered in whorls at the branch tips, its white flowers with five bundles of feathery stamens, and its bark that is rough red-brown below and smooth, shedding, and pinkish-grey above. The partly enclosed woody capsules help confirm it.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height50' - 130'

Width/Spread26' - 50'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Spring Summer

White to cream flowers open in summer, mainly November to January in the southern hemisphere. The feathery-stamened flowers last several weeks and draw nectar-feeding insects before small woody capsules form.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white to cream

Foliage Description

glossy dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

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 Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

15-25 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow Lophostemon confertus in full sun to part shade in deep, well-drained soil with steady moisture while young. Established trees tolerate drought, urban pollution, and a range of soils from sandy to clay loam. It grows slowly to a large size and casts dense shade, so it suits parks, streets, and large gardens with room to spread. Young trees are frost-sensitive and suit warm-temperate to subtropical climates. Deep watering through the first few summers supports establishment. Surface roots can lift paving as the tree matures.

Pruning

Prune while young to establish a single straight leader and to lift low branches for clearance. The tree tolerates light shaping, but heavy cutting into large limbs is slow to heal and can invite decay.

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Unknown