Tree of the month: Glossy, grounded, and good all year — meet 'Luscious'
Why we keep coming back to it
Some trees surprise you with a show, while others just hold their ground.
Tristaniopsis ‘Luscious’ does both.
We keep returning to this one again and again because it delivers, season after season. It holds its canopy in heat. It gives us structure and, as a native, won’t drop its leaves. It stays green and clean, even when the wind picks up.
Right now, we’ve got advanced stock growing on the ground that will be ready in a few weeks. If you’re planning for summer or autumn installs, it’s a smart one to get ahead on.
Quiet polish, all year round
At its core, Tristaniopsis laurina ‘Luscious’ is a Water Gum tree – but this one’s got a few extras. The foliage has more presence: broader leaves, darker green, and a noticeably glossier sheen. Come spring, it flushes with fresh copper-toned growth that gives the whole canopy a warm lift.
By early summer, you get a neat flush of yellow-gold flowers. They’re not showy, but they attract bees and add a bit of movement and scent to the air. And in winter, when other trees have dropped back, 'Luscious' has smooth, mottled bark and foliage that’s still crisp.
Where we see it earning its keep
We’ve seen Tristaniopsis laurina ‘Luscious’ do well in places where other trees can stall or sulk. Some planting wins:
In verge plantings, it handles poor soil, reflected heat and compacted roots – and still holds a neat form.
As a low screen, it gives density and cover without boxing in the site. Great for edges, schools, and community spaces.
In civic and commercial spaces, its clean lines and minimal litter make it easy to maintain and hard to fault.
We also recommend it for coastal projects. Thick, glossy leaves make it a good fit for salty air and stiff breezes. We’ve had clients plant it near exposed roadways and in new housing estates where conditions are still raw and it bounces back well.
We’ve got advanced stock nearly ready. If it’s on your list for summer or early autumn planting, now’s the time to book it in.
What we’ve got coming in
Right now, we’re potting Tristaniopsis laurina 'Luscious' into 100L containers, from well-structured 400mm stock. It’s a smooth transition when we’ve got the preparation right.
Rootball integrity – lifting and handling carefully to keep the structure intact
AS 3743-compliant mix – balanced for drainage, aeration, and moisture consistency
Crown height and posture – setting them true so they sit well and present cleanly
'Luscious' takes the shift to a size up in its stride. With good structure underneath, it settles quickly and is ready to go when it lands on site.
What it needs once it’s in
Not much, to be honest!
As a baseline, it needs sun and water throughout the first season, and it should be mulched wide and chunky.
We’ve seen success with clients who leave it alone after that. But it also responds well to small tweaks. If you want to clear a trunk, tidy the outline, or shape a row for a uniform look, it’ll respond cleanly.
Pests rarely bother it, and we’ve found it to be reliably low-maintenance across a range of conditions.
This is a plant-and-go tree — good structure out of the bag, and easy to manage after.
Through the seasons
Spring: Coppery new growth softens the shape and catches the light
Summer: Yellow-gold flowers appear, subtle but welcome
Autumn: Canopy holds dense, neat and upright
Winter: Smooth bark takes the visual lead
Even when nothing else is happening in the landscape, 'Luscious' stays green and gives you something clean to work with.
A few notes if you’re specifying it
Pre-order your 400mm stock sizes early if you want autumn installs
We can help if you’re after a tighter screen line
Let us know if you want to visit – we’re happy to talk through structure, uniformity or anything else
Thinking ahead?
We’ve got strong, clean Tristaniopsis laurina 'Luscious' nearly ready to go in 400mm pots and potting up the advanced 100L for the next season.
It’s the tree we back when we want glossy, grounded, and good all year. If it’s on your radar, let’s talk.
Contact us to reserve stock or line up a time to visit the block.
