Australia’s top 10 trees have come in all shapes and sizes, from the slender mountain ash to the bulgy boab. They are found in a range of environments, from the river red gum of the inland waterways to the snow gum of the high country.
Across the nation, over 80,000 votes have been cast, as Australians picked their most loved native species in the second round of voting, awarding the top 10 most loved trees, including:
- golden wattle (Acacia pycnantha), which adorns Australia’s coat of arms and is currently in bloom
- Moreton Bay fig (Ficus macrophylla), a mid-east coast native only pollinated by fig wasps
- river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), which provides shade along inland waterways like the Murray-Darling catchment
“I love the red river red gum. These trees are used by First Nations People to make canoes, shields, coolamons and other tools. First Nations People burn the leaves, and the smoke is inhaled to help relieve coughs and colds,” says Renee Cawthorne, Project Manager of the Aboriginal Strategy and First Nations Engagement, Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney.
“If you sit down under one of these trees and deeply watch and listen, you will see the leaves dancing in the wind, you will hear the songs they sing. They have so much knowledge and can tell you so much about what they have seen and heard,” says Renee.
“I’m not surprised that gums feature heavily; they’re such iconic species and so important across so many landscapes – from the alpine areas of the eastern states to WA’s southwest, and even Central Australia. But I think the handful of other iconic trees in the top 10 might give them a run for their money!” says Millie Ross from ABC’s Gardening Australia.
“I challenge everyone to take 10 minutes to tree-out today, dig a little deeper and learn more about their preferred pick. That way they can argue their case when the controversy begins, when we announce the winner on Friday!” says Millie.
The latest chop of the list saw many favourites go, including the:
- ancient huon pine (Lagarostrobos franklinii) from Tasmania coming in at number 11
- critically endangered Wollemi pine (Wollemia nobilis), only found in a hidden valley west of Sydney
- sandy-soil-loving old man banksia (Banksia serrata) from the east coast, which provides food for animals like honeyeaters.
For more about the top 10 and to vote for your remaining favourites, visit www.abc.net.au/trees. The winning tree will be announced on Friday August 26.
Australia’s Favourite Tree is the online project for National Science Week 2022, undertaken by ABC Science with funding through the Australian Government’s Inspiring Australia strategy.
Australia’s Favourite Trees: Top 10 (A-Z)
Boab (Adansonia gregorii)
Ghost gum (Corymbia aparrerinja)
Golden wattle (Acacia pycnantha)
Illawarra flame tree (Brachychiton acerifolius) Karri (Eucalyptus diversicolor)
Moreton Bay fig (Ficus macrophylla) Mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans)
Red flowering gum (Corymbia ficifolia)
River red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) Snow gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora)
Trees that didn’t make the cut (most to least popular)
11. Huon pine (Lagarostrobos franklinii)
12. Gungurru (Eucalyptus caesia)
13. Wollemi pine (Wollemia nobilis)
14. Sydney red gum (Angophora costata)
15. Paperbark (Melaleuca quinquenervia)
16. Old man banksia (Banksia serrata)
17. Bunya pine (Araucaria bidwillii)
18. Deciduous beech (Nothofagus gunnii)
19. Weeping bottlebrush (Callistemon viminalis)
20. Macadamia tree (Macadamia integrifolia)
21. Queensland bottle tree (Brachychiton rupestris)
22. Red cedar (Toona ciliata)
23. Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon)
24. River sheoak (Casuarina cunninghamiana)
25. Coastal tea tree (Leptospermum laevigatum)
26. Quandong (Santalum acuminatum)
27. Grey mangrove (Avicennia marina)
28. Cypress pine (Callitris glaucophylla)
29. Coolabah (Eucalyptus coolabah)
30. Queensland kauri (Agathis robusta)
31. Mulga wattle (Acacia aneura)
32. Darwin woollybutt (Eucalyptus miniata)
33. Red cabbage palm (Livistona mariae)
