Research in Context
Tree species with area of origin Australia and Oceania
Brachychiton discolor
Malvaceae
Distribution in Athens. Although Brachychiton acerifolius is among the most common urban trees in Athens, the species B. discolor is only occasionaly used. At the boroughs of the Psychiko-Philothei and Ilioupoli.
Biomes seasonally dry tropical
Countries and regions (POWO Database)
Area of Origin. Australia
Regions in the area of origin. New South Wales, Queensland
Global Distribution (introduced)
EUROPE: Sicilia (Italy)
Cities worldwide (GUTI Database)
Tree inventories around the world. In 34 inventories around the world:
OCEANIA
Australia: Albury, Banyule, Brimbank, Cairns, Darebin, Greater Geelong, Gold Coast, Greater Bendigo, Marrickville, Melbourne, Mildura, Moreland, Nedlands, Perth, Port Phillip, Stonnington, Sydney, Whittlesea, Wyndham.
AMERICAS
Argentina: Buenos Aires
Chile: Santiago de Chile
USA: Claremont, San Diego, San Francisco
EUROPE
Greece: Arta
Spain: Barcelona, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Valencia.
ASIA
China (Hong Kong)
Israel (Tel Aviv).
AFRICA
South Africa (Somerset East)
Performance. It appears to be well adapted to Athens climate conditions.
Literature references on future climate resilience ARDEM project - INRAE 2022, Proteaceae Family Website, BEST MEDIUM TO LARGE-SIZED TREES FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S CLIMATE FUTURE (SelecTree 2025).
References on Brachychiton discolor
References on Brachychiton populneus
TREE SPECIES DATABASES
SelecTree. UFEI.
Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo.
QUEENSLAND LACEBARK Brachychiton discolor
Brachychiton populneus
Malvaceae
Distribution in Athens. Although Brachychiton acerifolius is among the most common urban trees in Athens, the species B. populneus is used less often. At the Ancient Agora Park and the boroughs of the city of Athens and Ilioupoli .
Biomes Subtropical
Countries and regions
Area of Origin. Australia (SE. Queensland to E. Victoria).
Regions in the area of origin. New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria
Global Distribution (introduced)
EUROPE: Greece (East Aegean Is.), Spain
ASIA: Pakistan
AMERICAS: Ecuador, Trinidad-Tobago.
Cities worldwide
Tree inventories around the world. In 73 inventories around the world:
OCEANIA
Australia: Albury, Ballarat, Banyule, Bathurst, Brimbank, Burnside, Cairns, Campbelltown, Canberra, Corangamite Shire, Darebin, Greater Geelong, Glenelg, Gold Coast, Greater Bendigo, Hobson Bay, Knox, Launceston, Manningham, Marrickville, Melbourne, Mildura, Mitcham, Moonee Valley, Moreland, Muswellbrook, Nedlands, Perinth, Perth, Port Phillip, Shepparton, South Grampians Shire, South Perth, Stirling, Stonnington, Subiaco, Sydney, Whittlesea, Willoughby, Wyndham.
New Zealand: Christchurch.
AMERICAS
Argentina: Buenos Aires, Difunta Correa, Santiago del Estero, Vallecito.
Brazil: Porto Alegre
Chile: Santiago de Chile.
USA: Claremont, El Centro, Las Vegas-Clark County, Los Angeles, Palo Alto, Pasadena, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Monica.
EUROPE
Spain: Barcelona, Caceres, Costa Brava, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Santa Maria, Valencia.
Portugal: Lisbon
ASIA
Palestine: Gaza
Turkey: Karşıyaka
Israel: Karmiel, Tel Aviv.
AFRICA
South Africa: Grahamstown, Somerset East.
Performance. It appears to be well adapted to Athens climate conditions. It is considered to be more attractive than B. acerifolius.
Literature references BEST TREES FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S CLIMATE FUTURE (SelecTree 2025)
References on Brachychiton populneus
TREE SPECIES DATABASES
SelecTree. UFEI.
Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo.
"SMALL TO MEDIUM-SIZED TREES FOR CALIFORNIA'S CLIMATE FUTURE"
https://selectree.calpoly.edu/list/421
"BEST MEDIUM TO LARGE-SIZED TREES FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S CLIMATE FUTURE"
https://selectree.calpoly.edu/list/67
KURRAJONG Brachychiton populneus
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Lagunaria patersonii
Malvaceae
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Distribution in Athens. At the southern boroughs of Illiopolis and Argyroupoli and the city of Piraeus (Eupolis pocket park). However it has been a preferred species for new street tree plantings at the City of Athens borough. With Jacaranda mimosifolia and Bauhinia variegata, it is used to replace mulberry trees that have been ravaged by a beetle.
Biomes Wet Tropical
Countries and regions
Area of Origin. Australia
Global Distribution. California, Ethiopia, Tunisia
Cities worldwide
Tree inventories around the world.
OCEANIA: Australia (Melbourne, Perth, Sydney),
AMERICAS: Argentina (Buenos Aires), USA (Alameda county, Berkeley, Honolulu, New Orleans, Oakland, Palo Alto, Pasadena, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Monica)
EUROPE: Spain (Barcelona, Caceres, Santa Cruz, Valencia), Portugal (Lisbon),
ASIA: Israel (Tel Aviv),
AFRICA: South Africa (Grahamstow, Somerset East), Kenya (Nairobi).
Performance. It appears to be well adapted to current Athens climate conditions. Particularly as specimens in parks.
Acacia dealbata
Fabaceae
Tree row with Acacia dealbata in front of a building with green facade, on Vasilissis Sofias avenue. 2026
Distribution in Athens. It is present in private gardens, parks and more rarely in streets. At the boroughs of the city of Athens, Glyfada, Ilioupoli, Kifissia, Zografou and Mandra-Eidyllia (municipality in West Attica).
Biomes Temperate
Countries and regions
Area of Origin. SE. Australia.
Regions in the area of origin. New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria
Global Distribution (introduced)
EUROPE: Albania, Azores, Canary Islands, France, Italy, Madeira, NW. Balkan Pen., Portugal, Romania, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Transcaucasus.
ASIA: Assam, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, West Himalaya,
AFRICA: Cape Provinces, DR Congo, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Northern Provinces, Réunion, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe,
AMERICAS: Argentina Northeast, Brazil South, Chile Central, Chile South, Costa Rica, Desventurados Is., Easter Islands, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Juan Fernández Is., Uruguay.
USA (California, Oregon)
OCEANIA: Amsterdam-St.Paul Is., New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Norfolk Island, South Australia
Cities worldwide
Tree inventories around the world. In 63 inventories around the world:
OCEANIA: Australia (Albury, Ballarat, Banyule, Brimbank, Burnside, Campbelltown, Corangamite Shire, Darebin, Greater Geelong, Gold Coast, Greater Bendigo, Hobson Bay, Knox, Launceston, Manningham, Marrickville, Melbourne, Mildura, Mitcham, Moreland, Nedlands, Parramatta, Port Phillip, Shepparton, Stonnington, Whittlesea, Wyndham), New Zealand (Christchurch).
AMERICAS: Argentina (Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires), Brazil (Ponta Grossa), Chile (Santiago de Chile), Ecuador (Quito).
USA (Berkeley, New Orleans, Palo Alto, San Francisco)
EUROPE:
France (Bordeaux, Lyon, Paris)
Italy (Florence, Merano, Prato, Turin)
Portugal (Lisbon)
Spain (Barcelona, Caceres, Costa Brava, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Valencia)
UK (London, Camden, Sidmouth)
Switzerland (Geneva)
ASIA: China (Chengdu, Hangzhou, Kunming, Nanchang, Shanghai), Turkey (Trabzon)
AFRICA: Egypt (Cairo)
Performance. It is susceptible to cold temperatures. The limbs and branches are susceptible from snowfall.
Literature references
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Grevillea robusta
Proteaceae
Distribution in Athens. At the southern boroughs of Agios Dimitrios, Ilioupoli, Glyfada, and Palaio Faliro. Also in the city of Athens, Dafni - Hymettos.
Biomes Subtropical
Countries and regions
Area of Origin. Australia, the region of SE. Queensland to NE. New South Wales.
Global Distribution (introduced)
EUROPE: Canary Islands, Italy
ASIA: Assam, Bangladesh, India, Jawa, Lesser Sunda Islands, Pakistan, Vietnam.
AFRICA: Cameroon, Cape Verde, Comoros, DR Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Gulf of Guinea islands, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Réunion, St.Helena, Tanzania, Zambia.
AMERICAS: Argentina Northeast, Costa Rica, Cuba, Easter Islands, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Marianas, Mexico Southwest, Trinidad-Tobago, USA (California, Florida, Hawaii), Venezuela, Venezuelan Antilles.
OCEANIA: New Zealand North, Marshall Islands, Norfolk Island, Society Islands, Solomon Islands
Cities worldwide
Tree inventories around the world. In101 inventories around the world:
OCEANIA: Australia, New Zealand
AMERICAS: Argentina (Buenos Aires), Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru (Lima), Puerto Rico, USA (Berkeley, Honolulu, Palo Alto, Pasadena, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Monica, Tampa)
EUROPE: France (Montpellier), Spain (Barcelona, Valencia), Portugal (Lisbon)
ASIA: Israel (Tel Aviv)
AFRICA: Morocco (Casablanca), Botswana, Rwanda, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya (Nairobi).
Performance. It appears to be well adapted to current Athens climate conditions. In tree lines near coastal avenues.
Literature references ARDEM project - INRAE, Proteaceae Family Website.
Melaleuca citrina
syn. Callistemon citrinus
Myrtaceae
Distribution in Athens. Very common as an ornamental shrub. However only recently it has been planted as a central-leader small tree. In tree rows in the borough of Agios Dimitrios, on islands of a central avenue. Also in parks or as street trees in the boroughs: Kifissia, Petroupoli, city of Athens, Papagou-Cholargos.
Biomes Subtropical
Countries and regions
Area of Origin. Eastern & SouthEastern Australia.
Global Distribution (introduced) Andaman Islands, Assam, Comoros, India, Kenya, Marianas, New Zealand North, Nicobar Islands, Tanzania, NorthWestern Balkan Peninsula, Mexico Gulf, USA (California, Louisiana), Trinidad-Tobago
Cities worldwide
Tree inventories around the world. In 62 inventories around the world:
OCEANIA: Australia
AMERICAS: Colombia, Peru (Lima), Puerto Rico, USA (Berkeley, Honolulu, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco).
EUROPE: Spain, United Kingdom (London).
ASIA: Pakistan, Turkey (Trabzon), Palestine (Gaza).
AFRICA: South Africa, Kenya (Nairobi).
Performance. It appears to be performing well in the dry and hot summers in Athens.
Literature references "SMALL TO MEDIUM-SIZED TREES FOR CALIFORNIA'S CLIMATE FUTURE" (SelecTree 2025).
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Ficus macrophylla
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Distribution in Athens. In coastal urban areas, species of Ficus are regularly for tree rows or parks. Occasionaly Ficus macrophylla is used. In the boroughs of Ilioupoli and Palaio Faliro.
Biomes Seasonally dry tropical
Countries and regions
Area of Origin. Eastern Australia, Lord Howe Island.
Global Distribution (introduced) India, Spain.
Cities worldwide
Tree inventories around the world. In 54 inventories around the world.
OCEANIA: Australia
AMERICAS: USA (Honolulu, Palo Alto, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Monica).
EUROPE: Spain (Barcelona, Valencia), Portugal (Lisbon).
Performance. It appears to be performing well in the dry and hot summers in Athens.
REFERENCES
RESEARCH PROJECTS
ARDEM PROJECT, INRAE
Ducatillion Catherine and Delorme, Sarah. 2022. ARbres de Demain En Méditerranée (ARDEM) projet brochure. Villa de Thuret, INRAE. 2022.
https://jardin-thuret.hub.inrae.fr/content/download/6148/49641?version=1
INRAE. |Rédaction by Rose-marie Bugeaud. “Arbres de demain - Fiches espèces.” Jardin Botanique Villa Thuret. Created on December 23, 2022. Modified on March 25, 2024.
https://jardin-thuret.hub.inrae.fr/actualites/presentation-des-fiches-especes
TREE SPECIES DATABASES
SelecTree
"SMALL TO MEDIUM-SIZED TREES FOR CALIFORNIA'S CLIMATE FUTURE"
https://selectree.calpoly.edu/list/421
"BEST MEDIUM TO LARGE-SIZED TREES FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S CLIMATE FUTURE"
https://selectree.calpoly.edu/list/67
KURRAJONG Brachychiton populneus
https://selectree.calpoly.edu/tree-detail/214
LEMON BOTTLEBRUSH Callistemon citrinus
https://selectree.calpoly.edu/tree-detail/238
PAPERS
Maribel Carol-Aristizabal, Jérôme Dupras, Christian Messier, Rita Sousa-Silva. 2024. “Which Tree Species Best Withstand Urban Stressors? Ask the Experts”. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF) Jan 2024, 50 (1) 57-75.
https://doi.org/10.48044/jauf.2023.026
WEBSITES
Proteaceae Family. Grevillea robusta. 2024.
https://proteaceae.com.au/full-genus-list/grevillea-robusta/
BOOKS
Sjöman, Henrik, and Anderson, Arit 2023. The Essential Tree Selection Guide: For Climate Resilience, Carbon Storage, Species Diversity and Other Ecosystem Benefits. London: Filbert Press