[ID] please. I got no idea

[Tim.C]

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Hi everyone.

I've been looking at these trees everyday on the way home from work, thinking they would make a nice looking bonsai. I stopped to grab some cuttings, and looking at the general shape of the tree, and the leaf shape, I originaly thought some type of Ficus. But looking at the bark gave me second thoughts, and then I spotted the yellow flower, and now I have know idea, except I don't think Ficus anymore. . Ive spent ages on Google trying to identify it, but no luck. Hoping somebody here might know. . For the brisbaneites on here, theyre at the lagoon/swamp, (whatever you want to call it) at Nudgee.

Sorry for the dodgy photos. Oh.... The tree doesn't bleed white sap or anything when cut either.

Tim

[Ent]

Hi Tim,

That looks like a Cottenwood, Hibiscus tiliaceus.

Ent

[Tim.C]

Hi Ent,

Thanks. I didn't know we had a native hibiscus. I googled cottonwood and Hibiscus Tilliaceus, and it looks exactly like it, except pretty much every site I looked at, (including Wikipedia), says it only grows 6-8m tall and 6m wide, with a trunk diameter of only 15cm. Wondering how many other native hibiscus species we have. These trees were easily double that size. Maybe not in height, (would have been over 10m tall though), and trunk diameter would have been at least 30cm. Spread of the canopy would have been more like 16m and some. I think I'll be getting some more cuttings.

Tim

[Ent]

Hi Tim,

When they get big they spread out getting as wide as they are tall with branches hanging to the ground. Branches that hit the ground grow roots readily so they should grow from cuttings easily. They love coastal areas and can tolerate high levels of salt, I have seen these growing alongside mangroves on he banks of estuaries. New growth is straight and were used as timber for spears by coastal aboriginals. I would suggest putting movement in early on new growth you want to keep. I have not grown these but they are everywhere up around Townsville. I know of a small one the I have been eyeing off to collect that has been side slashed at least twice and has handled the rough trunk chops well. Let us know how you go with cuttings.

Check out this link on Native Hibiscus.

http://www.hibiscus.org/species.php

Ent

[Tim.C]

Thanks Ent,

That's handy info to know. There's quite a few small ones, (up to two foot high and about 15-20mm thick), coming up on the side of the swamp. When I grab some cuttings, I might do a couple of trunk chops where they are, and dig up end of winter/early spring. Get a year or two head start on the cuttings.

Tim