Skip to content

Volume Discounts Apply At Checkout

Callitris rhomboidea – Oyster Bay Pine / Port Jackson Pine

About Your New Callitris rhomboidea – Oyster Bay Pine / Port Jackson Pine

Callitris rhomboidea, the Oyster Bay Pine or Port Jackson Pine, is an Australian native conifer with a dense, narrow, pyramidal crown. The foliage is fine and scale like, deep green, and can take on a bronze cast through cold weather. Small woody cones sit tight against the branches and persist for years.

It wants full sun and soil that drains, including sandy and rocky ground, and it is at home on coastal and inland sites alike. Once established it is both drought and frost tolerant. Growth is moderate at 30 to 50 centimetres a year, and it holds its form without any pruning.

Plant it as a feature, in a row as a windbreak, or in loose groups for screening on a rural block. It suits revegetation work and civic planting where a hardy native conifer with year round density is needed. Upkeep after the first two summers is close to nothing, which matters on large jobs.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Oyster Bay Pine

What is Callitris rhomboidea?

Callitris rhomboidea is an Australian native conifer known as Oyster Bay Pine or Port Jackson Pine, found naturally along the east coast and in Tasmania. It forms a dense, narrow, pyramidal tree with fine scale like foliage and small woody cones. Being a conifer it produces cones rather than flowers, and it is evergreen.

How big does Oyster Bay Pine grow?

In cultivation it typically reaches 5 to 12 metres tall and 3 to 5 metres wide, with the lower end of that range more common on exposed or dry sites. Growth stays upright and dense from the base, so it does not lift into a bare trunk the way many other conifers do.

How fast does it grow?

Moderate, about 30 to 50 centimetres a year once established. That is quicker than most native conifers but not fast, so plant advanced stock where screening is wanted sooner. Growth is steady rather than sporadic, and the tree keeps a tidy outline as it goes rather than needing corrective pruning later.

Is it drought tolerant?

Yes. It is a genuinely tough tree, native to dry sandy and rocky sites, and established specimens hold up through extended dry without supplementary water. Give it regular water through the first two summers to get roots down. Drainage matters far more than soil fertility, and heavy wet clay is the one situation to avoid.

Does it make a good windbreak or screen?

Yes, it is one of the better native options for both. Foliage is dense to ground level, so a row planted 3 metres apart forms a solid windbreak within a few years. For screening, plant 1 to 1.5 metres apart for a continuous face, or group three to five trees for a looser, natural effect.

Where does it grow best in Australia?

It grows well through temperate and warm temperate districts, coastal and inland, including Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Tasmania. Coastal exposure and poor sandy soils are handled without fuss, and frost is no problem once established. It is less suited to wet tropical conditions and to heavy soils that stay saturated through winter.

How do I care for an Oyster Bay Pine?

Water deeply through the first two summers and mulch the root zone, keeping mulch off the trunk. After that it needs almost nothing. No pruning is required to hold the form, though lower branches can be lifted if clearance is wanted. Avoid high phosphorus fertilisers and heavy irrigation, since both do more harm than good.

Evergreen Trees Direct Has Been Featured In:

Load video:

Plant Your Callitris rhomboidea – Oyster Bay Pine / Port Jackson Pine With:

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

Type: Garden Supplies

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

Regular price $21.95
Sale price $21.95 Regular price
Syzygium australe 'Resilience' Lilly Pilly

Type: Hedging and Screening Trees

Syzygium australe 'Resilience' Lilly Pilly

Regular price From $255.00
Sale price From $255.00 Regular price
Syzygium australe 'Straight & Narrow' - Lilly Pilly - Evergreen Trees Direct

Type: Hedging and Screening Trees

Syzygium australe 'Straight & Narrow' Lilly Pilly

Regular price From $140.00
Sale price From $140.00 Regular price
Syzygium 'Resilience' Standard Lilly Pilly Topiary

Type: Hedging and Screening Trees

Syzygium 'Resilience' Standard Lilly Pilly Topiary

Regular price From $170.00
Sale price From $170.00 Regular price
Syzygium australe Resilience Cones

Type: Australian Native

Syzygium australe 'Resilience' Cones

Regular price From $1,200.00
Sale price From $1,200.00 Regular price
Westringia ‘Wynyabbie Blue’ – Wynyabbie Blue Coastal Rosemary - Evergreen Trees Direct

Type: Structural Foliage

Westringia ‘Wynyabbie Blue’ – Wynyabbie Blue Coastal Rosemary

Regular price $250.00
Sale price $250.00 Regular price
Callistemon citrinus 'Harkness' - Evergreen Trees Direct

Type: Australian Native

Callistemon citrinus 'Harkness' – Harkness Bottlebrush

Regular price From $160.00
Sale price From $160.00 Regular price

Uses in my Garden

  • Feature Tree
  • Screening or Privacy
  • Windbreak
  • Council or Civic Landscapes

Callitris rhomboidea – Oyster Bay Pine / Port Jackson Pine works in an:

  • Australian Native Garden – celebrates local plants with natural character.
  • Coastal Garden – relaxed, seaside feel with hardy, textural plants.
  • Formal Garden – structured, symmetrical design with clipped shapes.
  • Low-maintenance Garden – resilient choices for easy care and year-round appeal.

youtube Load video:

Planting Information

youtube Load video:
Evergreen Trees Direct
Evergreen Trees Direct
Evergreen Trees Direct

Elevate Your Garden

Follow Us On Instagram

@evergreentreedirect
Evergreen Trees Direct
Evergreen Trees Direct