Deplanchea tetraphylla – Golden Bouquet Tree
Also known as Wallaby Wireless Tree
Author& Photos: Lawrie Smith
Published: Journal September 2020
Pronounced: de-PLAN-she-a tet-rar-FILL-a
Family: Bignoniaceae
Derivation: Deplanchea, in honour of Émile Deplanche (1824-1874), a French physician and natural historian. tetraphylla, reflecting the whorls of four leaves that occur in the mature tree.
Deplanchea tetraphylla is common in beach forest, monsoon forest and in rainforest margins from Hinchinbrook Island to southern New Guinea from sea level to 600m.
It is the only Australian representative of this widespread south east Asian family containing about eight species of spectacular flowering trees and vines including Tabebuia sp. and Tecomanthe hillii.
This ornamental and robust species was first collected by Banks and Solander at the Endeavour River in 1770.
In forest conditions the tree can grow to 20m but is smaller as an isolated specimen, forming a somewhat irregular but dense foliage canopy supported by a robust textured grey trunk.
Deplanchea tetraphylla tree
The attractive large wavy edged leaves up to 30cm x 15cm, are glossy with prominent veins, simple, usually obovate, opposite or whorled and clustered towards the ends of the branches.
The bright yellow corolla of the flower is trumpet-shaped each about 30mm long, with hundreds grouped closely together forming beautiful hemispherical clusters up to 30cm in diameter, displayed terminally at the end of the branches across the top of the canopy. Copious nectar is present in the flowers. Fruits are flattened woody follicles to 15cm long, with numerous seeds with papery wings to assist dispersion.
Deplanchea adapts well to cultivation preferring deep, well drained, organic rich, sandy loams and full sun.
It is frost tender but will tolerate occasional dry periods. Trees are fast growing and will flower at an early age and mature specimens offer spectacular displays of large ‘Golden Bouquets’ in spring, a deservedly popular specimen for planting in the wet tropics. A well-established specimen in Roma Street Parkland in Brisbane attempts to flower annually but the budding flowers are immediately enjoyed by possums, so floral displays here are minimal.
Interestingly Deplanchea has the common local name of 'Wallaby Wireless Tree', which alludes to the fact that wallabies are fond of the fallen flowers and this news seems to spread quickly through the wallaby population, who then assemble to enjoy the apparently tasty fare.