I don't think the flower of the silky oak looks like much close up but when the tree is a mass of flowers, the effect is quite different. They're in flower all around the Sunshine Coast at the moment and the yellow and brown of the flowers makes quite a statement and because the trees are often so tall, they are easily seen, hogging the skyline all around the Coast. I was interested to read that they are cultivated extensively in other countries, for instance in South Africa where native timbers can no longer be cut for timber. The timber of the silky oak is very striking and was used in furniture making extensively.
