Buckinghamia celsissima is commonly called the Ivory Curl Tree. It's a native of North Eastern Queensland, and for years was widely planted as a street tree around Brisbane.
In flower, it's stunning and a great plant for most gardens. The trees grow naturally in rainforests in Queensland and northern New South Wales, but also grow happily throughout most of Australia, including as far south as Melbourne. However Buckinghamia celsissima doesn't do well in Canberra, because it hates frosts, and it will not flower in the humidity and heavy rains of the northern tropics.
In its natural rainforest it grows to about 25 metres to reach the light above the tree canopy. In suburban gardens expect a small tree up to about eight metres, and in the cooler southern states it will reach the size of a medium shrub. The long creamy re-curved flowers are borne in autumn, have a wonderful fragrance and are also attractive to birds and bees.
Buckinghamia celsissima is a great plant - it doesn't seem to suffer pests and diseases, is adaptable and will grow in many areas of Australia.
