Firewheel tree (wheel of fire) Stenocarpus sinuatus
Firewheel tree (wheel of fire) (Stenocarpus sinuatus) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Proteaceae family, native to Rainforest of coastal Queensland and northern New South Wales. It grows 10–15 m (33–49 ft) tall and 5–8 m (16–26 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -3 °C (27 °F). Space plants about 6 m (20 ft) apart.
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Firewheel tree (wheel of fire) at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Proteaceae |
| Mature height | 10–15 m (33–49 ft) |
| Mature spread | 5–8 m (16–26 ft) |
| Spacing | 6 m (20 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 5 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 5–7 |
| Cold hardiness | About -3 °C (27 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 38 °C (100 °F) |
| Flowering | about 313–521 weeks after planting, for 4–9 weeks |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Rainforest of coastal Queensland and northern New South Wales |
| Common in gardens of | 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇳🇿 New Zealand, 🇿🇦 South Africa |
Is Firewheel tree (wheel of fire) 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 Firewheel tree (wheel of fire)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
Questions about Firewheel tree (wheel of fire)
- How far apart should I plant Firewheel tree (wheel of fire)?
- About 6 m (20 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 5–8 m (16–26 ft).
- Does Firewheel tree (wheel of fire) need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 5 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Firewheel tree (wheel of fire) need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Firewheel tree (wheel of fire)?
- It tolerates about -3 °C (27 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9.
- When does Firewheel tree (wheel of fire) flower?
- About 313–521 weeks after planting, for 4–9 weeks.
- Is Firewheel tree (wheel of fire) 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 Firewheel tree (wheel of fire)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Firewheel tree (wheel of fire). 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
- Like other Proteaceae it has cluster roots that make it very sensitive to phosphorus: feed only with a low-phosphorus native-plant fertiliser, or not at all.
- Flowers grow straight from the branches in wheel-like clusters of scarlet and yellow tubes, like the spokes of a wheel, in late summer and autumn. Slow, upright and glossy, with deeply lobed young leaves.
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
- Macadamia Macadamia integrifolia
- King protea Protea cynaroides
- Pincushion protea Leucospermum cordifolium
- Rosemary grevillea Grevillea rosmarinifolia
- Coast banksia Banksia integrifolia
- Waratah Telopea speciosissima
- Silver tree (witteboom) Leucadendron argenteum
- Oleander-leaf protea Protea neriifolia