Angophora cordifolia

RHS Plant Profile
Australian apple

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Other common names

Australian apple, dwarf apple, smooth-bark apple, Victoria apple

Synonyms

Angophora cordifolia, Angophora costata, Angophora lanceolata

Shrubs Trees

An upright to spreading evergreen shrub or small tree with peeling bark and leathery, oval leaves in pairs, opening dark purple-red, maturing to grey-green with wavy edges. May flower in summer once it reaches 2-3m, producing rounded clusters of white, five-petalled flowers with prominent stamens

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
10–20 years
Max Spread
2.5-4 metres
Max Height
4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H2

Botanical Details

Family
Myrtaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy, Spreading branched
Genus
A genus of around nine species of trees and shrubs, endemic to eastern Australia, with decorative bark similar to Eucalyptus, which may be red-pink in colour, rough or peeling. They have dark green foliage and white, fluffy, showy flowers
Name Status
Synonym

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass in peat-free, loam-based potting compost with added sharp sand in full light. Water moderately in the growing season, sparingly in winter. Pot-grown plants can stand in a sunny, sheltered position outdoors in summer

Propagation

Propagate by seed in spring, and pot on seedlings individually as soon as possible

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Patio and container plants
  • Sub-tropical
  • Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

pruning group 1, but will need restrictive pruning under glass

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free