Keep calm and stay shady! - The Community Leader and Real Estate New and Views
Community

My native gardenia is growing quickly and provides a lovely shady spot in the garden. Photo: Kat Pearson.

BY KAT PEARSON, GIRL IN THE GREEN

I’m writing this in early December, although it will be January now you’re reading it, and I’m sure it hasn’t gotten any cooler! The humidity levels are so high I expect I wouldn’t look significantly different had I just climbed out of the pool (except perhaps less red in the face). If you can find a breeze and a shady spot to sit (very still) though, summer days are rather enjoyable. The best shady spot to sit, in my opinion, is under a tree. Although cliché, trees really are nature’s air conditioners, and if your garden lacks any greenery over two feet tall, then I have a tree for you!

Native gardenias, Atractocarpus fitzalanii, are loosely related to gardenias (same family, Rubiaceae) and grow naturally in coastal and dry rainforest regions of northern Queensland. They boast big glossy leaves, fragrant white star-shaped flowers, and (in theory) edible fruit – at the very least, they’re decorative when they turn yellow.

The trees are reasonably speedy growers if you want to grow some shade quickly and are a good size for a suburban block. They can grow to around six metres tall and three metres wide but are easily pruned to keep them more compact. They naturally have a bushy habit, so I find removing some of the lower branches improves their shape and ‘shade tree’ qualities.

I have yet to see one suffer any pests or diseases, and once established, they will grow quite happily unattended. Brisbane City Council also have them listed on their ‘approved street tree’ list – so if your house doesn’t have a street tree, consider asking the council for one!

P.S.: If you are keen to get one for your garden, it’s best to wait a few months until it’s slightly cooler before planting. If not, make sure you keep the water up to your new baby until the heat has gone!

Too hot to shop? If you’re in the Redlands area, check out www.littleislandorganics.com.au. Rod sells Rocky Point products (which I personally love) and delivers locally for free! Let them do the heavy lifting and leave you to the fun stuff. Use the code GITG to get $1 off each product!

ABOUT KAT

I love gardening, growing my own food and plants in general. I’ve been working on our current garden in subtropical Brisbane for the last six-plus years, but have been gardening for much, much longer in all sorts of places. I’m an ex-engineer, recently turned horticulturist (life’s too short not to work in something you love!). I grow edibles and ornamentals in an often wild, rambling jungle, filled with birds and bugs, including a handful of pet chooks and a brand new puppy (who likes to chase said chickens, and is not averse to helping me dig a hole!).

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