About Callitris preissii Miq.
Callitris preissii Miq. can grow as either a tree or a shrub. It typically reaches a height of 1 to 9 metres (3 to 30 ft) and a width of up to 6 m (20 ft), and it grows relatively slowly. Its crown is formed from fine, dense foliage. Its leaves are rounded on the dorsal side. The plant's cones are often more than 2 cm (0.8 in) wide, and their scales do not separate from the cone base. It begins producing brown-yellow-orange cones between October and January each year. Its root system is most often moderate to deep, but it can also be shallow and spreading. It is reasonably long-lived, usually reaching over 15 years of age. This species is endemic to the Swan Coastal Plain, Rottnest Island and Garden Island in Australia. It has since become naturalised outside its original endemic range, and now has a scattered distribution across the Mid West, Wheatbelt, Peel, Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance regions. It grows on plains, slopes, the margins of salt lakes and among granite outcrops, in sandy, loamy or clay soils. This plant works well as a windbreak, shelterbelt, or shade source for livestock. Its trunks are ideal for use as fence posts, and it has good ornamental characteristics. Its pollen is useful for apiculture. In urban areas, it serves well as an ornamental plant, a free-standing street tree, and it is also suitable for use as a screen or hedge.
