Corkwood or Bootlace Oak
Hakea lorea
Appearance
- Small tree with distinctively deeply fissured, corky and rough bark.
- Size: it can grow to about 6 metres tall.
- Leaves: Shiny, dark green needle like leaves are up to 40 cm long.
- Flowers: Each bright orange to dull lemon-coloured flower is about 1.5 cm long but is grouped into a spectacular raceme up to 12 cm long.
- Fruit and seed: woody and slightly curved pods that are 3.5 cm across.
What to Observe
- First fully open single flower
- Full flowering (record all days)
- End of flowering (when 95% of the flowers have faded)
- Not flowering
- Fruit fully ripened/berry reached full size (record all days)
- Open seed pods (record all days)
ClimateWatch Science Advisor
We expect plants to start shooting and flowering earlier in the year as a result of climate change warming the Earth. They may also start appearing in new areas, as warmer temperatures enable them to live in environments that were previously too cold for them.
When To Look
- April to September
Where To Look
- Throughout northern and inland Australia.
- Corkwood likes the well-drained soils on rocky hillsides.
Corkwood or Bootlace Oak distribution map - GBIF
Where To Look
Maps of Habitat Suitability

Current probability of occurrence |
2070 probability of occurrence (RCP 8.5) |
Species range change from current to 2070 probability |
Above, the left and middle maps show the modelled habitat suitability for the the species under current and potential future climate conditions. The colours indicate the predicted habitat suitability from low (white) to high (dark red).
The future habitat suitability is modelled for the year 2070 under a climate change scenario that represents 'business as usual' (RCP 8.5). The map on the right shows how the range of the species might change between now and 2070, with orange areas indicating where the species might disappear, green areas where the species range might expand, and blue areas where the habitat is predicted to be suitable for the species now and in the future.
The models for this species were run in the Biodiversity and Climate Change Virtual Laboratory. Please note that while models can be very informative, they are only a representation of the real world and thus should always be viewed with caution. You can read more about the science behind these models here.
Sightings
References
Napier J & van Leeuwen S. 2008, Common Plants of the Pilbara. Department of Environment and Conservation.
Woodley M et al. Wangalili Yindjibarndi and Ngarluma Plants. Juluwaru Aboriginal Corporation.
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What Else?
Hakea chordophylla: has longer, thicker striated leaves with distinctive yellow petioles.
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Did You Know?
The corky bark protects this hakea from fire.
The sweetly scented flowers are an important source of nectar for honeyeaters in the arid landscape.
Unlike other hakeas, corkwood sheds its seeds on maturity.
Lorea is latin for 'made of thongs' or 'long strips of leather'; referring to the long terete leaves of this species.