Casuarina torulosa
| Casuarina torulosa | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 49' |
| Native to: | |
| Nitrogen Fixer | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Casuarina torulosa (common name: forest 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]. Succeeds in most soils and aspects in Australian gardens[2].
Tolerates temperatures down to at least -7°c in Australian gardens[2] although this cannot be translated directly to British gardens due to our cooler summers and longer, colder and wetter winters. It experiences frost and snow in parts of its native range and so some provenances should succeed outdoors at least in the mildest areas of the country[K].
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].
A dioecious species, at least one male plant is required for every 5 - 6 females in order to produce seed[4].
Range: Australia - New South Wales, Queensland.
Habitat: Coastal eucalyptus forests and on moist fertile soils in hilly eucalyptus forests[5]. Experiences frost and snow in the south of its range[5].
Usage: Wood - tough, durable. Used for veneer and joinery, it is also a very good fuel[6][5].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Dioecious
Also Known As: Allocasuarina torulosa.
Links
References
- ↑ Bird, R. Growing from Seed Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan, 1989.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Wrigley, John and Murray Fagg. Australian Native Plants. Collins, 1988.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Carolin, R. Flora of the Sydney Region. Reed, 1993.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Holliday, Ivan and Ron Hill. A Field Guide to Australian Trees. Frederick Muller, 1974.
- ↑ Cribb, Alan. Useful Wild Plants in Australia. William Collins, 1981.