Common Name:

General Information

Callitris preissii is an evergreen shrub or small tree, often with several stems, with a spreading or erect crown; it can grow up to 20 metres tall, though is usually smaller[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for itd wood and resin. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental and makes an excellent windbreak and soil stabilizer.
Callitris preissii is treated here in its wider sense to include Callitris tuberculata R.Br. Ex R.T. Baker and H.G. Smith and Callitris gracilis R.T. Baker. Despite some loss of habitat throughout its range, the plant remains very widely distributed and relatively frequent. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

South Australia - Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia

Habitat

Usually found on coastal and inland sand dunes (often calcareous); sandy floodplains and low ridges; skeletal soils on steep, rocky sites; somewhat alkaline clay soils; often in mallee woodlands and sometimes forming dense stands[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	12.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Callitris preissii is found in warm temperate to subtropical regions of southern Australia, usually growing in areas with low rainfall, usually around 800 - 900mm per year. It is not very frost hardy, tolerating occasional, short-lived frost to around -5°c and can only be grown outdoors in areas with mild winters, generally growing well in Mediterranean climates such as southern Europe, northern Africa and California[, ].
Requires a sunny position, growing well in sandy, well-drained soils[]. Grows well near the coast[]. Tolerant of saline soils and, when established, of drought[]. Tolerant of maritime exposure[].
Plants are highly flammable and so should not be planted near buildings in areas prone to bush fires[].
Plants are adapted to growing in regions subject to periodic bush fires - the seed is usually only released after a fire, germinating rapidly to re-occupy the site[].
A fairly slow-growing plant[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant has excellent potential for erosion control of sandy, alkaline coastal sites[].
Tolerant of maritme exposure, the tree makes an excellent windbreak[].

Other Uses

A resin obtained from the trunk was traditionally used as a cement for fastening barbs to spears[].

The wood is durable and insect-resistant[]. It is used locally for turnery, furniture, light construction, fencing etc[338. 707]. Aborigines on the Murray River made a combined canoe pole and fish spear nearly 4 metres long from the wood of the tree[].
The wood is a high quality fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - does not require stratification, germinating at any time of the year if it becomes moist[]. Sow in early spring in a greenhouse. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter, planting them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.