Brush box Lophostemon confertus
Brush box (Lophostemon confertus) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Myrtaceae family, native to Rainforest margins and wet forest of eastern Australia (NSW and Queensland). It grows 10–20 m (33–66 ft) tall and 8–12 m (26–39 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -3 °C (27 °F). Space plants about 10 m (33 ft) apart.
Plan Brush box in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Brush box at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Myrtaceae |
| Mature height | 10–20 m (33–66 ft) |
| Mature spread | 8–12 m (26–39 ft) |
| Spacing | 10 m (33 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 5–7.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -3 °C (27 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 40 °C (104 °F) |
| Flowering | about 261–417 weeks after planting, for 3–6 weeks |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Rainforest margins and wet forest of eastern Australia (NSW and Queensland) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇳🇿 New Zealand, 🇿🇦 South Africa |
Is Brush box toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Not known to be poisonous.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Brush box
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
Keep apart or take care
- caution With Guava: Myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) infects guava, feijoa, Surinam cherry and many other Myrtaceae; it spreads by airborne spores between them. Evidence B
Questions about Brush box
- How far apart should I plant Brush box?
- About 10 m (33 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 8–12 m (26–39 ft).
- Does Brush box need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Brush box need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Brush box?
- It tolerates about -3 °C (27 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9.
- When does Brush box flower?
- About 261–417 weeks after planting, for 3–6 weeks.
- Is Brush box poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Not known to be poisonous.
- What grows well with Brush box?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Brush box. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- PlantNET: the NSW Flora Online, National Herbarium of New South Wales, Botanic Gardens of Sydney
- Australian native plant profiles, Australian National Botanic Gardens / Australian Plants Society
Notes and assumptions
- Dense, glossy evergreen canopy and red-brown bark that peels on the upper branches; tough against pollution, drought and pruning, so it is one of the commonest street trees of Sydney and Brisbane. In rainforest it grows to 40 m.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Lemon myrtle Backhousia citriodora
- Guava Psidium guajava
- Feijoa Acca sellowiana
- Surinam cherry (pitanga) Eugenia uniflora
- Cider gum (eucalyptus) Eucalyptus gunnii
- Lilly pilly Syzygium smithii
- Crimson bottlebrush Melaleuca citrina
- Mānuka (tea tree) Leptospermum scoparium