This is a fast growing evergreen tree that can reach a mature height of 40 feet with a canopy spread of 20 – 40 feet. The develop an upright, oval to rounded canopy shape that can have a shaggy appearance and unpruned trees develop a very dense canopy. Juvenile trees will have informal branches that are pendulous. They can have a mature trunk diameter of 40 inches with a wider trunk flare and wide root plate. Multi-trunked trees can get much wider. Older trees with multiple trunks are prone to failure. They have distinctive, thick, spongy, light brown to whitish bark that peels off in sheets to show the new white bark underneath. The foliage has a dull green or silvery look above and gray green beneath. The new leaves are silky and copper colored and the foliage will turn purple with a light frost. They produce showy, fragrant yellowish white flowers from August to December that have a bottlebrush like appearance. The fruit is a woody capsule that looks almost square and grows tightly along the branch tips. It makes a good tree for wide medians, parks and lawns and should have a growspace that is at least 6 feet by 6 feet to accommodate its root mass. They can tolerate excessive moisture in the soil and are moderately drought tolerant. However they perform best when grown in light soils with regular moisture. This species tends to be shallow rooted and also tolerates root pruning and relocation. Mature trees should be pruned every 3 - 5 years to maintain canopy structure and shape. There are no significant pest problems with this species at this time.
© Walter Warriner Consulting Arborist
