An enormous palm tree in Kyneton has been nominated for the Victorian Tree of the Year, where it will stand off against eight other leafy contenders.
According to the Victorian Heritage Database, the Chilean wine palm located at the entrance of the Kyneton Botanic Gardens was planted in the 1870s and was 13.5 metres tall when it was last measured in in the early 1980s.
Now endangered, Chilean wine palms are native to South America and boast a thick trunk and a dense crown of leaves.
They are one of the largest palms in the world, and this particular tree in Kyneton is the largest of the species in Victoria.
Hosted by heritage organisation the National Trust of Australia, the annual Victorian Tree of the Year competition celebrates well-known trees in the state and aims to highlight the importance of trees in communities and the environment.
National Trust of Australia (Victoria) acting chief executive Brook Powell said that the competition is an opportunity to appreciate the trees around us.
“These trees provide their local communities with serenity and respite and represent the diverse and awe-inspiring beauty of Victoria’s natural environment,” Ms Powell said.
“We encourage all Victorians to have their say in recognising these majestic members of our community.”
Other Victorian trees shortlisted as finalists include a mountain ash in Mt Fatigue and a 40-metre-tall ponderosa pine in the Ballarat Botanic Gardens.
Voting is now open and will close at midnight on Tuesday, October 29, with a winner announced on Tuesday, November 12.
Details: nationaltrust.org.au/treeoftheyear
Oscar Parry
