An interesting and rather odd-looking small tree. A great accent plant for large plantings as the growth is so upright and quite different in appearance. A very slow-growing tree which good for small gardens. Good for gardens that tend to be quite dry as it will tolerate drier conditions.
This interesting small tree is very slow-growing and will only reach 2m in 5 years. It has both juvenile and adult leaves. Juvenile leaves are up to 40cm long, narrow, tough and grey-brown in colour with fiercely serrated margins and hang downwards. Once the tree gets to around 2m it then starts to branch and adult foliage is produced. This foliage is still long and narrow with serrated margins but more green in colour and not so tough. As the tree ages, the leaves are not as long and it begins to look like a tree in shape rather than a tall single growth. The grey trunk develops large, long fissures, sometimes slightly twisted, with age. This tree matures at around 10 to 15 years of age.