AusBonsai

Casuarina in the pot shown above.
Grant

Depending on the actual species though, but generally I do love a good lean for my Casuarinas. Is this the final angle of the trunk? I like it.
A long way to go on the branches, but a nice start.

Perhaps not one, but a few suckers at base will be a perfect replica of them in the wild too, embodying all the straggly awesomeness. I love the look of the off shoots that sucker up from the exposed roots too.

I'm curious. Do you pluck the growth to promote ramification more on this, as I presume you are happy with the branch placements and trunk size. Or do you simply grow and then cut back the branches hard to promote the ramification more. ie. Once you are happy with the branch size/thickness relative to the other branches of course, what is your preferred method of growth. Is this cunninghamiana? The absence of aged bark down low makes it an interesting ID. Hard to see so far out, but the trunk doesn't resemble short needled equisetifolia, but your needles look like it or you are a growth plucker.

Is it in full sun? Looks healthy.

The history of this species or selection goes back a bit.

It allegedly involved smuggling into Australia from Hawaii. In Hawaii Casuarina was introduced from Australai as a windbreak for pineapple plantations because it could withstand salty wind.

It was in Australia for a number of years before I was given a cutting and I propagated it and passed some onto Ray Nesci and sold a few here and there myself. Even in Sydney it was a slow grower so I assumed it was a dwarf selection of C eqesitfolia; but now I am not sure as it grows much quicker in Qld.

It has a smooth bark, it fattens quickly In Sydney and further south but in Qld it stretched and grew much quicker. It buds back freely all over, especially after damaging or dry out.

It can be touchy and a number of people have lost or damaged them for a variety of reasons.

Tess Simpson did all the training on the tree that is evident. I had intended to style it in a Bunjini , twin trunk style but accidentally snapped off the second trunk at ground level. A bud emerged and I will let that grow for a few years.

I have plucked off a little growth under the branches only.

Grant

At first look I though it was Gynostoma australianum (common name Daintree Pine). Very similar growth pattern and bark. Gynostoma is a monotypic genius from the Casuaraceae family and no more a pine than She Oaks are Oaks.

Grant Bowie wrote:It was in Australia for a number of years before I was given a cutting and I propagated it and passed some onto Ray Nesci and sold a few here and there myself. Even in Sydney it was a slow grower so I assumed it was a dwarf selection of C eqesitfolia; but now I am not sure as it grows much quicker in Qld.

It has a smooth bark, it fattens quickly In Sydney and further south but in Qld it stretched and grew much quicker. It buds back freely all over, especially after damaging or dry out.

It can be touchy and a number of people have lost or damaged them for a variety of reasons.

Ahh yes, I know the stock you are talking about Grant. I have purchased a few of them myself from Ray - he hasn't got any stock left - but will be propagating again in Spring if anyone is interested. Not sure if he meant still growing, or will start in Spring, but for those interested just call Ray. It is a very nice Cas and makes for a great stock, with minimal pinching required.

Yes, it is definitely a casuarina, produces beautiful short needles making it easy to keep compact, and mine shoot all over as well. I purchased 4 from Ray, but lost the first 2 over a year ago. I think I overwatered them and didn't give them enough sun, but I hopefully learnt from the first 2 deaths. The remaining 2, I repotted them and stripped the old very heavy soil off and they have been okay for a year so far in the sunniest spots we have.

Mine are slow to grow too, it rivals cas distyla for its slow growth. I have noticed they really do love their sun, and really don't do well when shaded.