Seedling donations top 33,000

By Carlton Cox, Assistant Nursery Manager

FORESTRY Tasmania community liaison officers will take possession of more than 10,000 seedlings later this month in preparation for Schools Tree Day on July 30 and National Tree Day on August 1.

The seedlings will be made available free of charge as an ongoing community service by Forestry Tasmania. Schools and community groups are invited to contact their local Forestry Tasmania district office to participate.

This year’s seedling total will bring the number donated to an impressive 33,000 since we started participating in National Tree Day activities in 2006. The seedlings have been cultivated at the Forest Nursery at Perth with seed from the Tasmanian Seed Centre. This year they include 11 species suited to different locations.

For example the cider gum (Eucalyptus gunnii) is a Tasmanian endemic and is very suitable for cold conditions and tolerates wet soils. When mature it makes an ideal shade tree or wind shelter. The trees grow to 12-18 metres and can be pruned to maintain their shape, size and blue foliage.

Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) is very adaptable but prefers well-drained soil and cool conditions. Blackwood ranges in height from five to 25 metres and has pale yellow flowers from July to October.

The heart leafed silver gum (Eucalyptus cordata) is endemic to southern Tasmania and can vary from three to 18 metres. Its grey/green foliage and white flowers in spring make it an attractive ornamental tree.

For those who don’t have the space for large trees the nursery has cultivated a variety of shrubs.

The sticky hop bush (Dodonea viscose) is a two to three metre shrub with shiny bright green sticky leaves which in spring  has papery reddish three-winged fruit. It grows best in light sandy soils, is very hardy and can tolerate a wide range of conditions.

The manuka or tea tree (Leptospermum scoparium) is a tall, bushy hardy shrub that grows to two to five metres or taller and makes an excellent screen plant.

For more information or to place an order, phone (03) 6235 8333 to be directed to the nearest district community liaison officer, or email forestry.tasmania@forestrytas.com.au

For more information on Schools Tree Day visit http://treeday.planetark.org