Planting for Resilience: Which Trees Survive Cyclones?

Tropical Cyclone Ingrid off the coast of QLD

In the wake of another powerful cyclone sweeping through Queensland earlier this year, communities are once again assessing the damage, not just to homes and infrastructure, but to our green spaces. Uprooted trees, snapped branches, and fallen powerlines are a familiar sight.

Queensland’s coastal regions face cyclones almost every year – recent storms like Jasper, Kirrily, and Tiffany serve as fresh reminders, while major events like Yasi offer lessons in how nature responds and recovers.

As we rebuild, it’s worth asking: are some trees better equipped to withstand cyclones than others?

Lessons from Cyclone Yasi

In the weeks following Cyclone Yasi in 2011, Greening Australia and local partners conducted post-cyclone tree surveys in Townsville. The aim? To understand which species were more wind-resistant, and what traits contributed to their survival.

Some trees stood out for their strength and resilience, sustaining little to no damage:

• Tropical Ash (Flindersia schottiana) – A hardy native that maintained canopy structure and stayed upright
• Queensland Maple (Flindersia brayleyana) – Tall, timber-straight, and structurally sound
• Tulip Oak (Argyrodendron peralatum) – A deep-rooted species that resisted uprooting
• Weeping Paperbark (Melaleuca leucadendra) – Flexible and fast-recovering, ideal for waterlogged coastal soils

These species share a few key traits: they’re native to northern Queensland, adapted to high winds, and often have deep root systems and strong central trunks.

The Melaleuca leucadendra (Weeping Paperbark) is an iconic Australian tree and suited for northern Queensland conditions.

What Makes a Tree Cyclone-Resistant?

It’s not just about species. A tree’s age, structure, root development, and site exposure all play a part. Healthy trees with deep roots and a balanced canopy are more likely to survive. Poor pruning, shallow roots, or compacted soil can increase risk.

Wind-resistant trees tend to share some traits:

• Flexible branches
• Strong central trunks (a single leading stem is better than multiple weak leaders)
• Deep, well-established root systems
• Native origin – local species often cope best with local conditions

The Species That Struggled

On the flip side, the survey revealed species that consistently suffered severe damage or were completely uprooted. Many of these were exotic or ornamental street trees not evolved to withstand tropical cyclones:

• African Mahogany (Khaya senegalensis) – Uprooted in large numbers, likely due to shallow root systems
• Rain Tree (Samanea saman) – Common in parks, but large, brittle branches often snapped
• Leichhardt Tree (Nauclea orientalis) – Struggled with crown damage and branch loss
• Poinciana (Delonix regia) – Beautiful, but prone to snapping under pressure

The difference was stark – species selection clearly played a role in how well vegetation weathered the storm.

The Poinciana and African Mahogeny are beautiful – but not always an appropriate choice if extreme weather conditions are a concern.

It’s Not Just About the Tree

No garden is truly cyclone-proof, but how you maintain it can be just as important as the species you plant. Shallow root systems are one of the strongest predictors of fallen trees during storms, so encouraging deep, stable root growth is critical. One of the most effective ways to do this is through deep, infrequent watering – soaking the soil thoroughly and then allowing it to dry out – prompting roots to grow downward in search of moisture. In contrast, frequent shallow watering trains roots to stay near the surface, making plants more vulnerable. Pruning also plays a key role by reducing excess foliage, which lowers both the plant’s weight and its wind resistance, helping it stay upright when extreme weather hits.

What This Means for Replanting Today

As Queensland communities begin recovering from the most recent cyclone, we’re again faced with decisions about what to plant next. By choosing locally suited wind-resilient natives, we can reduce future risks, support biodiversity, and help nature bounce back stronger.

We encourage landholders, councils, and urban planners to consider:

• Selecting proven resilient natives over exotic ornamentals
• Prioritising species with deep root systems and strong form
• Planning for canopy diversity to avoid mass failure from monocultures
• Sourcing seed locally to ensure genetic suitability for region-specific conditions

Palm trees blowing in the wind as a cyclone approaches.

Planting with the Future in Mind

At Greening Australia, we believe restoration is about more than planting trees – it’s about building ecological resilience. The impacts of climate change mean more intense and frequent weather events. But by learning from past events like Cyclone Yasi, we can design landscapes that not only recover, but endure.

Read the full report here.

For advice on choosing plants for areas prone to cyclones, see James Cook University’s research here.

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