General Description:

There are approximately 30 species in the genus Stenocarpus. Most are found in New Caledonia and there are about 7 species native to Australia. S.sinuatus, the Firewheel Tree, is the best known species as it is widely cultivated both in Australia and overseas.

Stenocarpus angustifolius is a large shrub or a small tree to 5 metres.  The leaves are divided into elongated lobes when immature but the mature leaves are narrowly lance-shaped, up to 180 mm long and10-12 mm wide. The cream flower clusters occur in the leaf axils and are seen in late winter to early summer.

S.angustifolius has only received limited cultivation to date and despite its tropical origin, it appears to be adaptable to at least warm temperate to tropical climates. It may be also successful in cooler areas but its frost tolerance is not known. It seems adaptable to most well drained soils in a sunny or partly shaded location.  This plant is most commonly seen under the name ‘Doreen’ – it is unclear whether this is a cultivar name for a selected form of the species or whether it is simply a name applied to the species for commercial reasons. There appears to be little difference between the description of ‘Doreen’ and that of the species.

This species can be grown readily from either seed or cuttings but seed is not readily available.