Native Plant of the Month: White Aspen

The Common Acronychia (White Aspen) is a small to medium-sized rainforest tree, endemic to coastal south-eastern Australia from East Gippsland to SE Queensland.

This tree can grow to 14m high x 5m wide (taller in the most luxuriant rainforest) and has dense, dark green lemon-scented foliage and white or cream perfumed flowers from January to May. White succulent bird-attracting fruit appear over winter to late spring.

The leaves are also one of the food sources of the larvae of the large and spectacular Orchard Butterfly (Papilio aegeus).

It requires moist well-drained soil in a sunny position and is frost tender when young. Interestingly, the leaves appear to be unpalatable to feral deer.

Landcare nursery

White Aspen is available for sale at the Landcare Nursery and would make an attractive addition to a large yard with some existing shelter, as well as for rainforest regeneration sites.

Learn more about the nursery at www.landcareportmac.com.au

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