Tree of the month – Lagerstroemia ‘Tuscarora’
Tree of the Month: Lagerstroemia ‘Tuscarora’ for the summer win.
We’re heading into high summer, and the Lagerstroemia ‘Tuscarora’ rows are hitting their peak.
Right now on the farm, flowering is underway, and the canopies are full and symmetrical. You can spot them across the blocks; coral-pink panicles lighting up the rows with consistent colour. Bark is beginning to exfoliate, the leaves are glossy and strong, and even under warm, dry conditions, they’re holding shape beautifully. This is what we like to see in January; a trusted performer doing what it does best.
We chose Tuscarora as our Tree of the Month not just for its summer colour, but for its consistency. Each year, it brings reliability to heat-stressed sites, looks good through tough conditions, and proves itself in a wide range of urban applications.
Why tuscarora works for urban and civic plantings.
Tuscarora is one of those reliable, mid-sized trees that slots easily into landscape plans. Whether it’s a narrow median, civic forecourt, car park perimeter or suburban streetscape, its size, form and tolerance make it an easy fit.
Grows to around 6 m tall with a neat, rounded canopy
Compact roots: low risk near paths, paving and services
Manages heat, moderate frost and humidity; ideal for VIC, NSW and SE QLD
Part of the Indian Summer series, bred for mildew resistance
We’ve seen it work well in council streetscape programs, and it’s been particularly successful in avenues where form and repeat flowering are critical.
Clients tell us it’s a dependable go-to when they need colour and canopy without infrastructure headaches.
Talk to Zac about how it Tuscarora can fit into your planting plans.
What we’re seeing this season: colour, form, consistency.
Flowering: The coral-pink panicles are starting strong, and we expect flowering to continue well into early autumn. Even during the December heat, colour is holding up, and flowers remain upright and showy, which is a big plus in public sites where visual impact matters.
Foliage & Bark: The canopies are lush and even, with that signature glossy green foliage catching the sunlight. Bark exfoliation is already beginning with soft tones of cream, grey and cinnamon coming through, adding extra textural interest.
Structure: This season’s batches are forming well with clean leaders, even branching, and consistent heads. We prefer to grow single trunk form, and it’s showing strong symmetry for avenue work.
Proven versatility across eastern Australia.
Tuscarora’s strength lies in its adaptability:
Victoria: Thrives in temperate zones, handles dormancy, and bounces back strongly in spring.
NSW + SE QLD: Responds well to humid summers and handles reflected heat from paving or walls.
Performs in clay loams and sandy soils alike, as long as the drainage is there.
Whether it’s a school forecourt in Melbourne or a streetscape in northern NSW, Tuscarora offers performance that scales.
Functional benefits that matter to projects.
When specifying trees for civic or commercial projects, practical traits matter as much as aesthetics:
Compact root system helps prevent pavement lift
Medium height suits areas with overhead wires
Drought-tolerant once established = lower maintenance
Year-round value: flowering, foliage and bark provide interest
Allergy-safe and non-invasive; a good fit near public amenities
Tuscarora ticks those boxes. Landscape architects often comment on how it makes a low-risk choice for mixed-use precincts. It’s a tree that offers visual punch without long-term management concerns.
Tips for success: getting the best from Tuscarora.
Plant in full sun to maximise flowering and form
Water well during establishment - deep, spaced irrigation works best
Light formative pruning helps if a single trunk is preferred
Avoid heavy cuts. Gentle shaping post-flowering is all that’s needed
Cut off spent flowerheads in autumn to support stronger flowering next season, or prune during the flowering period to encourage a second flush within the same season.
Across our rows, we’ve found that a slight shift in irrigation timing (earlier in the morning) helped preserve canopy density on hotter days. It’s little adjustments like this that keep things consistent through peak summer.
What to plan for in 2026.
Stock is moving steadily, and Tuscarora always sees early interest as summer flowers take off. If you’re planning ahead for autumn planting or already lining up next spring’s works, now’s the time to check availability.
We’ve got strong 400 mm, 75L, 100L & 150L stock ready to go now, all on single leader tree form.
Tuscarora suits multi-stage civic or commercial projects. It’s especially effective when used in repetition for rows, avenues or tiered landscape layers.
A reliable summer performer.
Tuscarora always holds its own through summer. It flowers when it counts, and stays clean and structured without too much maintenance.
We’re proud of how it’s looking this season. If you’d like to walk the rows or lock in stock for your next project, talk to Zac - we’re ready when you are.
