Photo by Brian Walters from the Australian Native Plants Society
The Alloxylon flammeum, Queensland tree waratah, would have to be boss lady's favourite Australian native plant.
This tree is widely known as one of the most stunning rainforest trees (endemic to North Queensland Rainforest) with a spectacular flowering display in spring. Despite its tropical origin, the tree waratah can be grown in cooler districts at least as far south as Sydney where the plant flowers reliably.
Alloxylon is from the Greek allo, strange or different and xylon, wood, referring to the unique wood anatomy of the genus - oak-like grain with very broad medullary rays. Flammeum is Latin, meaning flame-coloured or fiery red.
It is listed as 'Vulnerable' under the EPBC Act* (ie. facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future, as determined in accordance with prescribed criteria). Which means if you have the space get one of these beauties in your garden!
It has shiny green elliptical leaves up to 18 cm long, and prominent orange-red inflorescences (An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches) that appear from August to October, followed by rectangular woody seed pods that ripen in February and March. Juvenile plants have large (up to 25 cm long) deeply lobed pinnate leaves.
It will flower most prolifically if grown in full sun in deep rich soil with extra water given in periods of hot dry weather. In its native habitat it can grow to around 25m tall. In a normal garden it will get to around 10m tall and I find it to be the perfect shade tree.
You can trim after flowering but it has a natural beautiful shape that does not require trimming. It will need a good fertilise every three months. I use Organic Link on all my natives.