Luscious is the new denser improved form of Tristaniopsis laurina.
The Luscious features larger, shinier leaves almost double the size of the common Tristaniopsis laurina. The foliage is a lush, dark green with a shiny appearance, topped off with a distinctive copper coloured new growth.
The dense form makes Luscious a native alternative to the popular exotic Magnolia grandiflora Little Gem.
Luscious bares yellow flowers being produced in short clusters with a sweet perfumed scent and will flower through January and early February.
As new branches grow they develop a port colour that peels back, revealing a patchwork of mottled cream bark.
Luscious is suited for use in street tree plantings, parks, reserves, as a garden feature or as a shade tree. It will grow well in full sun to part shade and will grow to an approximate height of 7-12m. It will rarely attain a large size in southern parts of Australia.
It will tolerate frosts and periods of drought, but it is not suited to very dry inland areas which are exposed to hot dry winds without regular irrigation.
Luscious is available from Downes Wholesale Nursery.