Brisbane tree guide

Tuckeroo tree

Cupaniopsis anacardioides · also called Carrotwood

The tuckeroo tree is a tough, evergreen native of coastal scrubs and estuaries, first described from a specimen collected at Moreton Bay, and it is widely planted in Brisbane streets and parks. It forms a neat, rounded crown of glossy leaves, copes with salty wind and carries bright orange fruit that birds love. Brisbane City Council lists it as an 8 to 12 metre street tree.

Native to South East Queensland
8 to 12 m tall

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A tuckeroo tree in Queensland — Photo: Steve Fitzgerald, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Tuckeroo at a glance

Height: 8 to 12 m
Leaves: Evergreen
Flowers: Small and easy to miss
Roots: Gentle
Origin: Coastal scrubs and monsoon forests from the Kimberley across northern Australia and down the east coast to central NSW
Power lines: Not on the council's list for under power lines
Family: Sapindaceae

How to identify a tuckeroo

Tuckeroo has a dense, rounded, evergreen crown on a fairly short trunk with grey bark marked by raised horizontal lines. Each leaf carries 4 to 11 leathery, glossy leaflets, oblong in shape with a blunt or slightly notched tip, and the veins show on both sides. The tiny creamy green flowers are easy to miss. The fruit is what stands out: three-lobed capsules that turn bright orange, then split open to show black seeds in a red coat. Brisbane City Council also plants a separate species, the small-leaved tuckeroo (Cupaniopsis parvifolia).

Tuckeroo flowers up close — Photo: Steve Fitzgerald, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Growing a tuckeroo in Brisbane

Tuckeroo is a local tree that handles Brisbane conditions well. Brisbane City Council uses it as a street tree in coastal, plains and higher land areas and on arterial road medians, giving it a height of 8 to 12 metres with a medium crown, on verges at least 2.5 metres wide and away from power lines. It grows in full sun or part shade and adapts to most soils, but it dislikes waterlogged roots. It also tolerates strong, salt-laden wind, which suits bayside suburbs.

Pruning and care

Tuckeroo needs little attention. Prune lightly to shape young trees and to lift the canopy over paths or driveways, and remove dead or crossing branches as needed; regular light trimming keeps the crown dense and rounded. Mulch and water young trees until they are established, which takes about three months. Avoid spots where water sits around the roots. Bigger crown work on a mature tree is a job for a qualified arborist.

Tuckeroo: your questions

Short answers, from the sources below.

Back to the tree guide

How tall does a tuckeroo grow?

Brisbane City Council's street tree list gives the tuckeroo tree a height of 8 to 12 metres with a medium-sized crown. In Adelaide's cooler climate it reaches about 5 to 8 metres after 20 years.

Are tuckeroo roots invasive?

Tuckeroo is described as having non-invasive roots, which is one reason councils use it in streets and gardens. As a general rule, Urban Utilities still suggests planting any tree at least 3 metres from a sewer pipe.

Is tuckeroo good for coastal gardens?

Yes. It grows wild in coastal scrub and beside estuaries, and it tolerates strong, salt-laden winds.

Is tuckeroo native to Brisbane?

Yes. It grows naturally in coastal forests from northern Australia down to central New South Wales, and it was first described from a specimen collected at Moreton Bay.

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Sources and credits

Photo: Steve Fitzgerald, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Second photo: Steve Fitzgerald, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Checked October 2026. Weed listings and council rules change: check the council's and the Queensland Government's pages before you act.