Tree collection details will be announced in late April. Please register your interest below.
This community tree giveaway aims to support greener, cooler, and more liveable neighbourhoods across the Whitehorse City Council.
Trees play a vital role in reducing urban heat, improving air quality, supporting local wildlife, and creating healthier outdoor spaces where we live. By planting trees in private gardens, we can collectively grow local canopy cover and create long-term environmental benefits at a local scale.
Council is offering a limited number of advanced stock trees to Whitehorse residents only, with one tree available per household. Trees must be planted in a Whitehorse address and collected from a nominated pickup location during the scheduled time window.
"The best time to plant a tree was 30 years ago. The second best time is now."
Important Information
- This giveaway is open to City of Whitehorse addresses only.
- A total of 80 trees are available, limited to one tree per household.
- Registrations will close once all allocations have been exhausted.
- As a general rule, trees should be planted at least 3.5m away from built structures (houses, fences etc.).
- Trees will be supplied as advanced stock in 18 L rocketpots and collected from a nominated pickup location during the scheduled time window.
- Participants are encouraged to plant their tree soon after collection.
- After collection, participants are responsible for the care and maintenance of their tree.
Register your interest
Long-leaved Box - Eucalyptus goniocalyx
Mature Height: 8-15m
Mature Width: 6-15m
Origin: Indigenous to Whitehorse
Description
A fast-growing medium tree with a crooked trunk and a large, rounded crown. The trunk is covered in creamy-brown fibrous bark that becomes coarse and thickened with age. Juvenile foliage is silvery and decorative. Creamy flowers appear from February to June.
Growing Conditions
Naturally occurs on drier, rockier sites such as ridges and shallow soils in warmer areas. Suits well-drained soils in areas of moderate rainfall. Tolerates dry conditions and poor soils, and grows best in full sun to semi-shade. Cold tolerant once established.
Why Plant Me?
Provides strong local character and is well suited to general landscaping, shade, screening and shelter. Its tolerance of a wide range of soils and conditions makes it a resilient choice for urban and suburban settings.
Red Stringybark - Eucalyptus macrorhyncha
Mature Height: 10-25m
Mature Width: 10-20m
Origin: Indigenous to Whitehorse
Description
A medium to tall upright tree with a compact, rounded canopy. The bark is reddish-brown, rough and stringy, extending to the smaller branches. White flowers appear from January to April and often have a noticeable sweet, honey-like scent.
Growing Conditions
Best suited to well-drained clay loam soils but also grows on infertile, shallow, gravelly or rocky sites. Does not tolerate alkaline soils, prolonged drought, waterlogging or root compaction. Grows in full sun to semi-shade.
Why Plant Me?
Valued for its excellent nectar production and honey aroma, supporting pollinators and birds. Provides good shade and structure, particularly on well-drained sites.
Silver-leaved Stringybark - Eucalyptus cephalocarpa
Mature Height: 8-15m
Mature Width: 5-15m
Origin: Indigenous to Whitehorse
Description
An iconic Whitehorse species with distinctive silver-coloured leaves. A medium-sized tree that may grow straight or slightly crooked, with a dense, rounded blue-green canopy. The bark is thick, fibrous and furrowed, extending to the smaller branches. Profuse creamy flowers appear from February to April.
Growing Conditions
Prefers moist soils and can withstand short periods of inundation. Grows well in full sun to semi-shade and is adaptable to a range of site conditions.
Why Plant Me?
A reliable, problem-free species suitable for ornamental planting, shade, screening and shelter. Its silver foliage makes it a standout feature tree while still supporting local biodiversity.
Yarra Gum - Eucalyptus yarraensis
Mature Height: 6-15m
Mature Width: 5-10m
Origin: Indigenous to Whitehorse
Description
A small to medium tree with a short trunk and a dense, spreading crown. It is fast-growing and forms an effective canopy for shade and shelter. White flowers appear from August to October.
Growing Conditions
Naturally occurs on poorly drained sites and tolerates heavy soils and periods of waterlogging. Grows best in full sun to semi-shade and is well suited to areas with limited drainage.
Why Plant Me?
An excellent shade and windbreak tree for wet or heavy soils. A rare species in Victoria and listed as critically endangered, making it an important choice for conservation-minded plantings.