PlantFiles: Sweetshade, Native Frangipani
Hymenosporum flavum

fairly slow growing and a little weak wooded. fragrance is well worth it. great subtropical tree, light shade makes gardening around it easy.

In Australia this tree is called the Native frangipani because the scent of the flowers resembles that species.

Some authorities claim this is the most beautiful Australian tree. An exaggerated claim, although it is lovely in flower. The flowers start a creamy white and darken as they age to a deep yellow. When flowers of all ages are on a mature tree at the one time the effect is spectacular.

I have a young tree that after 2 years in my garden is now about 6ft having been a sapling in a tree tube. It flowered in its first Spring. It casts no significant shade but has a ring of side branches each 12-18 inches up the trunk.

large, dark-green Australian native with profuse, small, 5 petal pale yellow to white flowers in early spring. Foliage pretty dense- makes a dark, sweet smelling shade but not a very spreading tree, so shade itself limited.

I just discovered this is the tree that is planted all over southern California that I always thought was a tree version of mock orange... smells great and spectacular tree in full flower. Common in industrial landscaping around Los Angeles and Orange County.