As I've only been in the new place for < 6 months, I didnt have any particular expectations when I began planting trees, shrubs and palms. They all need time to establish their root systems etc, and Rocky doesnt have the most reliable rainfall patterns. That said, I am blown away by the following gems:

1. Toona Clilata - red cedar seems to be a *very* fast-growing tree, if what I'm seeing thus far is any indication. Regular flushes of scarlet new growth and a pronounced increase in height - great stuff.

2. Elaeocarpus Reticulatus - my Blueberry Ash started slowly, but seems to have really settled in nicely. It seems to be twice the size of the 8" pot I planted 4 months ago.

3. Syzygium Australe 'Aussie Southern' - I'm continually making a fanfare about a very humble set of plants, I know, but this must be the best grower of any of the lillypillies I own - highly reccommended.

Everything else, including old favourites like Pendas, seems to have adopted a more predictable growth rate, but these 3 are traffic stoppers, especially considering my water bill was just $6 for the quarter :)

I think most of the syzygiums are fast, ours haven't stopped growing, even over winter, continually had flushes of red.

Another plant that surprised me was the poinciana. Everywhere else I have grown them they have been slow and lucky to get to a couple of metres in 5yrs but since we moved here the poincianas have surprised me. They have been in 4-5yrs and are 3 to 4m tall and 5-6m wide.

And how about Polyscias murrayi and P. elegans?

I share your joy at seeing your garden thrive.

With a bit of rain, my garden is rocketing forth as well. Too many aweful weeds though.

Popi

Macaranga tanarius ? Mate, I'm the first to admit that I have a lot of exotics in my garden, but a Malaysian escapee which emits *blood-red* sap might be taking that a little too far :)

I did consider the Polyscias species you mentioned, but I've yet to see a photo which makes them appear attractive, at least to my eyes. I can see the value of such pioneer species in nature, but I'll stick with my lillipillies.

Cheers,

Artie

Goldhills, if Rocky can lay claim to having 'naturalised' anything, it would have to be Mango trees and Poincianas, and they both thrive here (I suspect thats the case anywhere from Brissie north - many of the Western Suburbs will be a carpet of Jacaranda and Poinciana blooms right now). The challenge is confining them to one's own patch, at least on a standard (< 1000 sq m) block.

It's a matter of taste whether you admire trees like this and Polyscias spp. Some of us like big-leafed plants, others don't.

Agree about size requirements for poincianas, we have 3 but we do have a big houseyard (too big when nearly half is gardens and the rest takes 2 1/2 hrs to mow).

Grevillea baileyana is fast but doesn't create much shade, and frangipanis are fast here, ideal on the northern side of the house and yard to let winter sun through.

I still love the lillypillies as there is a size and variety for every situation.

This year I got Stenocarpus sinuatus ( Firewheel Tree ) Xanhostemon chysanthus and Backhousia myrtifolia (Grey Myrtle) apart from the penda the others are at a standstill. But the fastest I have ever seen is one of my neighbours has planted three Grevillea robusta about 4-5 ft from the side boundry fence in the one hole would you believe and it is about 5mts ( 15 ft ) tall already in three years, Thank goodness the other two are stunted I wish it would go away.I wish they would all go away including his chinese elms.

I cannot grow Lillypillies on my block so have given up after loosing about ten though one has survived Syzygium oleosum ( Blue Lily Pilly ) it has only grown about a metre in four years, it got it first flowers last year and I planted four of the berries and now have four healthy looking plants about 20cms tall to give to one of our members. So I think soil and conditions have more to do with the fast growth of trees than the species. Cheers..MM.

Frank