Alphitonia excelsa
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Alphitonia excelsa

Leather jacket · Red almond · Red Ash · Soap Tree · Wilirda

Tier 2 Difficulty: easy Water: low Light: full_sun
Temperature
20–37 °C
Soil pH
6–8
Hardiness
Zone 10–12
Click count
136
Observations
24

Description

Source: leafsnap

Alphitonia excelsa, commonly known as the red ash or soap tree, is a species of tree in the family Rhamnaceae. It is endemic to Australia, being found in New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory and the northeastern tip of Western Australia. It is used in bush regeneration as a pioneer species and for amenity planting.

Care Guide

💧 Water

Red ash thrives with moderate watering and is tolerant of drought conditions. It requires deep watering every two weeks, but not too frequently. This plant is well-suited for outdoor cultivation and benefits from natural rain cycles, efficiently storing water during the growing season.

☀️ Light Full sun

Red ash is native to open settings—such as sunny meadows and forest edges—where light is abundant. It prefers Full Sun but can endure Partial Sun, demonstrating good adaptability to different light conditions.

Ideal: Full sun
🌡️ Temperature 20–37.8°C

Red ash adapts well to heat and can handle higher temperatures and greater temperature fluctuations. In hot conditions, it's necessary to ensure adequate watering and to provide suitable shade to avoid sunburn. However, Red ash is fairly sensitive to cold. It can endure some cold, but extremely low temperatures can cause frost damage.

Ideal temperature: 20–37.8°C
💨 Humidity
Humidity:
🪴 Soil 6-8
Soil pH: 6-8
🌱 Fertilizer

Apply fertilizer to your Red ash in early spring to encourage healthy growth. Consistent feeding improves the tree’s overall health, producing vigorous growth, greater tolerance of harsh conditions, and better resistance to diseases and pests. Stick to a regular fertilization schedule to maintain foliage that is vibrant, deeply colored, and luxuriant in appearance.

🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning

Red ash is an evergreen tree that is prized for its dense canopy. To maintain its health, it's important to use key pruning techniques. These include removing dead branches and thinning the tree to improve air circulation. The best time for pruning is during the tree's dormancy in early to late winter. Additionally, it's essential to use clean tools to prevent infections, which helps promote the tree's health and maintain its structure.

🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity

Characteristics

Plant Type
Tree
Life Cycle
Perennial
Genus
Alphitonia
Family
Rhamnaceae
Hardiness Zone
10-12
Mature Height
6.1 m to 24.99 m
Mature Spread
4.88 m to 10.06 m
Leaf Color
Dark Green, Silver
Leaf Type
Evergreen
Flower Color
White
Flower Size
2.54 cm
Bloom Time
Mid fall, Late fall, Early winter
Planting Time
Spring, Summer
Harvest Time
Late winter, Early spring, Mid spring
Native Area
Indonesia, Philippines

Tags (5)

Common Names (11)

en Leather jacket
en Red almond
en Red Ash
en Soap Tree
en Wilirda
en Cooper's-wood
en Mountain-ash
en Pink-almond
en Red tweedie
en White-myrtle
en Whiteleaf