Benefits of trees
Trees are an important part of any City and provide various benefits. Trees may increase property values, reduce heat in our suburbs and promote well-being. Trees clean the air, create natural screens and provide habitat. They also act as wind and noise buffers and reduce the need for artificial cooling in adjacent buildings.
Street trees for residents
A street tree is a tree the City takes care of that's growing in the area within a road reserve, verge, or median strip. The portion of a road reserve that adjoins a lot or reserve and is bounded by the road is referred to as the ‘nature strip’ or ‘verge’.
The City supplies street trees of 35L-90L container size for resident's verges, covering the cost of purchasing, planting and future pruning. The City will water the tree for the first three years, although residents are encouraged to supplement these waterings and inform the City if they have irrigation as this will allow us to reduce watering.
Request a street tree
You can request a street tree by completing the form below.
Request a street tree form
What tree species can I choose?
The type of tree species received depends on:
- Where the resident lives (zone), as different species are suited to different environments
- Width of the verge
- Overhead power lines
- Context of where the tree is likely to be planted.
The City aims for a diverse mix of tree species to help resilience against pests. While many native trees are planted in Cockburn, there is a limited range of suitable trees due to the smaller lot sizes in current developments.
Native trees, typically large evergreens with invasive roots, may not be suitable for smaller verges. As a result, smaller, non-native deciduous trees are often preferred. These trees shed their leaves in winter, allowing sunlight to warm homes and brighten interiors during the colder months. View the list of street tree species in the table below.
List of street tree species
| Common Name |
Species |
Approximate Mature Height and Width
*at 20 - 30 years
|
Suitable for Narrow Verges (Yes/ No) |
Suitable below Powerlines (Yes/ No) |
| WA Weeping Peppermint |
Agonis flexuosa |
6m-10m x 8m |
No |
Yes |
| Smooth-barked Apple |
Angophora costata |
10m-30m x 12m |
No |
No |
| Red Flowering Gum |
Corymbia ficifolia |
6m-15m x 10m |
No |
Yes |
| Tuckeroo |
Cupaniopsis anacardiodes |
6m-12m x 7m |
Yes |
Yes |
| Bottlebrush |
Callistemon kings park special |
5m x 6m |
Yes |
No |
| Weeping Bottlebrush |
Callistemon viminalis |
7m x 5m |
Yes |
Yes |
| Yellow Gum |
Eucalyptus leucoxylon ‘rosea’ |
10m-15m x 7m |
No |
Yes |
| Red Ironbark |
Eucalyptus sideroxylon ‘rosea’ |
15m-20m x 10m-15m |
No |
No |
| Coral Gum |
Eucalyptus torquata |
6m x 3m |
Yes |
No |
| Jacaranda |
Jacaranda mimosifolia |
15m x 10m |
No |
Yes |
| Crepe Myrtle |
Lagestroemia sp. |
6m-8m x 4m |
Yes |
Yes |
| Crepe Myrtle |
Lagerstroemia indica |
6m-8m x 4m |
Yes |
Yes |
| Broad Leaf Paperpark |
Melaleuca quinquenervia |
8m-12m x 2m-4m |
No |
Yes |
| Pin Cushion Hakea |
Hakea laurina |
5m x 4m |
Yes |
Yes |
| Water Gum |
Tristaniopsis laurina “luscious” |
7m-12m x 4m |
No |
Yes |
| Spotted Gum |
Corymbia maculata |
20m x 10m |
No |
No |
| Illyarie or Red Cap Gum |
Eucalyptus erythrocorys |
6m x 6m |
No |
No |
| Fuchsia Mallee |
Eucalyptus forrestianna |
6m x 3m - 4m |
No |
Yes |
| Tuart Tree |
Eucalyptus gomphocephala |
30m x 10m |
No |
No |
| Swamp Mallet |
Eucalyptus spathulata |
6m-8m x 4m |
Yes |
Yes |
| Red Flowering Paperbark |
Melaleuca viridiflora "Red" |
8m x 4m |
Yes |
Yes |
| Chinese Pistachio |
Pistacia chinensis |
8m x 6m |
No |
No |
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has identified several tree species as reproductive hosts for the Polyphagous Shot-Hole Borer (PSHB). In response, the City is proactively managing the spread and potential tree loss by removing these identified species listed in the table below.
Please note that this list may be updated in the future as the City receives new information regarding PSHB control measures.
List of removed PSHB reproductive host tree species
| Common Name |
Species |
| Illawarra Flame Tree |
Brachychiton acerfolia |
| Red Cottonwood |
Hibiscus tilaceus rubra |
| Liquidamber |
Liquidamber styraciflua |
| Olive Tree |
Olea europa |
| Ornamental Pear |
Pyrus calleryana "Cleveland select" |
| Ornamental Pear |
Pyrus calleryana capital |
| Manchurian Pear |
Pyrus ussuriensis |
| Chinese Elm |
Ulmus parvifolia |
| Norfolk Island Pine |
Araucaria heterophylla |
| Hong Kong Orchid |
Bauhinia x blakeana |
| Kurrajong |
Brachychiton populneus |
| Queensland Bottle Tree |
Brachychiton rupestris |
| Royal Poinciana |
Delonix regia |
| Coral Tree |
Erythrina sykesii |
| Claret Ash |
Fraxinus oxycarpa "Raywood"
|
| Honey Locust |
Gleditsia triacanthos |
| Honey Locust |
Gleditsia tricanthos inermis |
| Paulownia |
Paulownia tomentosa |
| London Plane Tree |
Platanus acerfolia |
| Oriental Plane Tree |
Platanus orientalis |
| Ornamental Flowering Plum |
Prunus cerasifera sp. |
| Chinese Tallow Tree |
Sapium sebiferum syn Triadica sebiferum |
When will my verge tree be planted?
Once the tree species has been decided, the City adds it to its seasonal tree order which is submitted to the nursery approximately 12 months before the planting season. Most residential verge trees are planted from May to October each year. Depending on when you request a tree, it can take between one to 12 months for it to be planted on your verge.
More information and contact