LophostemoN

( lof - oh - STEE - mon )

At-A-Glance Information

This small genus of evergreen species of trees needs full sun and little to regular water to perform well. These Australian natives are a bit like Eucalyptus, and have an erect, fast growth rate. Trees have dense, rounded canopies, and make fantastic shade trees in parks and large gardens. During warmer months of the year, trees produce white fragrant flowers that are pollinator favorites. They are wonderful for urban environments, able to take both air pollution and poor soil in stride.

Lophostemon species and varietals

The genus Lophostemon includes just 4 species of evergreen trees, and is a member of the plant family Myrtaceae. ​Brisbane Box grows well in zones 15-17, 19-24, H1 and H2. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Lophostemon confertus (Tristania confertus) (Brush Box, Queensland Box, Brisbane Box. Pink Box, Box Scrub, Vinegartree)
​to 30-45 feet tall and 25 feet wide. Leaves are leathery and bright green, and bark is reddish brown, flaking off to reveal light colored bark underneath. Flowers are white to cream colored and bloom in clusters in summertime and are followed by woody capsules. Great as a street or lawn tree; casts great shade. Variety 'Variegatus' has leaves marked with a brilliant yellow color.

Lophostemon grandiflorus
This species of Lophostemon is endemic to Queensland, the Northern Territor, and Western Australia, and reaches between 10 and 60 feet tall when mature. Bark is pale brown and almost fibrous, and foliage is dark green. This species  has larger flowers than others in the genus, hence the specific epithet grandiflorus. There are two subspecies: Lophostemon grandiflorus grandiflorus and Lophostemon grandiflorus riparius.

Lophostemon lactifluus (Swamp Mahogany, Milky Box, Red Paperbark)
This species is native to northern Australia and produces a medium-sized, stately tree with attractive orange to red flaky bark. Flowers are cream. Trees cast excellent shade, and are used as park and street trees. Great for river edges and other moist areas.

Lophostemon suaveolens (Swamp Mahogany, Swamp Box, Swamp Turpentine)
These medium-sized trees are native to Australia and New Guinea, where it grows in wet tropical areas, swamps, river flats, and open forests. 

Caring for and pruning lophostemon Trees

Lophostemon shrubs and trees typically like to grow in full sun exposure. They can tolerate partial shade, especially in hotter climates and during the warmest hours of the day. Flowers will be more profuse in full sun. Lophostemon prefer well-draining soil, but can tolerate a wide variety of soil types, including loamy and sandy soils. Soil pH should ideally be slightly acidic to neutral, with a pH of between 5.5 and 7.0. If local soils are particularly poor nutrient-wise or they are clayey/compacted, amend soil with plenty of organic matter and sand to improve both soil structure and drainage. Mulch around the base of trees and shrubs after installation to increase soil moisture retention, suppress weed growth, and regulate soil temperatures.

Lophostemons are low-maintenance trees and shrubs, and typically only need to be pruned every few years. Regular maintenance includes removal of dead, diseased, dying, or crossing branches. The best time to prune these trees is in late winter or early springtime. Make sure to not prune heavily to avoid stressing the plant out too much. Fertilize with an application of an organic compost around the base of the tree or shrub each year in early springtime. This should be sufficient to supply the needed nutrients for the growing season. If local soil is particularly poor or if trees seem to be struggling and not flowering well, they may benefit from a feeding with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in springtime.

Propagation

Lophostemon can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your tree or shrub, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Lophostemon by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
  2. In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots. 
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Lophostemon by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows. 
  2. Harvest your seeds. Seed capsules are produced by mature trees 
  3. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Lophostemon plants produce seed capsules after flowers have faded. They begin producing viable seed around 15 to 20 years of age.
Individual seeds are light green to brown, flat, and elongated. They are very tiny, and only about 2-3% are viable.

Problems and Pests

Lophostemon trees are generally pest and disease-resistant landscape trees, though they can be susceptible to issues with the following:
  • Leaf Blight
  • Stem Canker
  • Phytophthora ramorum (Sudden Oak Death)
  • Root Rot
  • Leaf Spot
  • Powdery Mildew
  • Scale Insects
For more information on these pests and diseases, consult the following pages:

Gallery

Flowers are white and have 
These are great shade trees when mature.
Evergreen foliage is beautiful no matter the season.

Videos

Learn about these great shade trees.
Facts about these great urban trees.

Resources

Wikipedia: Lophostemon
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 422, Lophostemon confertus
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