Callitris endlicheri

Native range: Vic, ACT, NSW, Qld Height: 8-15 m Width: 2-4 m Flowering: Spring Fruiting: Summer Light: Full sun to semi-shade Growth rate: Slow Soils: Free-draining rocky soils Drought tolerance: High Landscape position: Riparian corridors, woodland slopes Rainfall range: 600 – 850 mm pa Benefits: Black Cypress Pine (Callitris endlicheri) is a long-lived, native, evergreen conifer with an upright form, outheld branches, and attractive deep green needle-like foliage. Callitris are slow growing, tree species with extreme drought tolerance. In fact, to date Callitris have some of the most drought-tolerant tree species ever measured. Callitris endlicheri grows in woodland communities on rocky slopes and ridges, and on the slopes of river corridors. Trees commonly grow together, sometimes forming quite dense stands. They can tolerate frost, drought and poor soils but require reasonable drainage and will not do well in compacted soils. Juvenile plants are fire sensitive to cool fires, and adults are killed by hot fires. Fire sensitivity may account for their presence in river corridors and protected areas of mixed Eucalyptus woodland. The cones of Callitris endlicheri are held on the tree and open as they age. The cones are ‘parrotted’ by parrots and cockatoos to extract the seeds inside. The dense foliage is good cover and nesting sites for small woodland birds, which are declining in numbers. Native bees harvest the pollen. Callitris endlicheri produces high quality timber that is termite resistant and was extensively used for floorboards, posts, house stumps and telephone poles. The timber has warm golden to mid-brown tones, with darker knots, and is high in volatile oils which give it a pleasant scent. When burnt, the smoke it emits an instantly recognisable scent. White Cypress Pine (Callitris glaucophylla), growing to the west in drier conditions has been the preferred timber species, but Black Cypress Pine timber is still excellent, durable timber. Of the Australian conifers, Callitris are the only genus which provide a large-scale source of softwood timber. In the landscape, Callitris can be used in shelterbelts and agroforestry, with the canopy kept low to provide good shelter, or with lower branches removed to allow grazing underneath. They can be used in open grassy woodland plantings to provide shade and cover. They can provide screening along boundaries and be used as feature trees in landscaping. Drawbacks Callitris are wind pollinated, producing large amounts of pollen in spring. The pollen has been reported to cause allergic responses such as asthma and hay fever symptoms. Prolonged exposure to smoke is not recommended. Slow growth rate may be a disadvantage for forestry. Uses: Ornamental and landscaping use in parklands and gardens Shelterbelts in dry rocky sites Agroforestry Habitat for native species Timber for firewood Propagation: By seed. Cones ripen in spring-summer. Weed Risk: None Future climate risks: Increasing fire intensity and frequency. References AVH (2022). The Australasian Virtual Herbarium, Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria, https://avh.chah.org.au Australian Forest Profiles – Callitris forests https://shorturl.at/m1358 Brown, A. & Hall, N., Growing Trees on Australian Farms, Forestry and Timber Bureau, Canberra, 1968 PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney – https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/ Woolshed Thurgoona Landcare Group website – https://wtlandcare.org/