Casuarina littoralis
| Casuarina littoralis | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 26' |
| Native to: | |
| Nitrogen Fixer | |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Casuarina littoralis (common name: she oak)
Propagation: Seed - sow late winter to early summer in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed[1]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[2][3].
Cultivation: Requires a well-drained moisture-retentive soil in full sun[3]. This species is often found growing in poor dry soils in the wild[4][3]. Judging by the plants native habitat, it is likely to tolerate maritime exposure[K].
This species is not very frost tolerant, but it might succeed outdoors in the milder maritime areas of the country[3].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil micro-organisms, these form nodules on the roots of the plants and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[2][3].
The bark is rarely corky, in spite of its synonym (suberosa means corky)[5].
Range: Australia - New South Wales, Tasmania.
Habitat: Sandy coastal heaths[3], especially on poor sandstone soils[4]. Widespread on heath and in open forests[6].
Usage: Wood - hard, durable. Used for veneer and joinery, it is also an excellent fuel[4].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Monoecious
Also Known As: C. suberosa. Otto.&Dietr.
Links
References
- ↑ Bird, R. Growing from Seed Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan, 1989.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Wrigley, John and Murray Fagg. Australian Native Plants. Collins, 1988.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Holliday, Ivan and Ron Hill. A Field Guide to Australian Trees. Frederick Muller, 1974.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Carolin, R. Flora of the Sydney Region. Reed, 1993.