How can I encourage flowers on A/Casuarina?

[Phil Rabl]

I have been reading up on Casuarina and Allocasuarina as bonsai (and thanks to those who have posted such useful information on this site) but have so far drawn a blank on how to encourage flowering on a Casuarina or Allocasuarina. I mean a mature tree, not one still in the development stage. E.g. when do the flower buds develop (and therefore, when should I stop the trimming that will remove the buds)? I appreciate that the timing of flowers will vary from climate to climate (I am in Canberra) but I would expect the length of time from buds developing to flowers appearing would be pretty much the same everywhere. According to the Coromandel Native Nursery in SA, male flowers grow on 1-yr-old growth and female flowers are usually produced on 2-yr-old wood in A. littoralis. Is this true of A/Casuarina generally?

All and any advice welcome. Thanks

Phil

[Rory]

Now that's an interesting question I've not thought much about.
I can't imagine you'll have much luck, as in the refinement stage we're constantly trimming back so as not to allow thickening which develops really quickly on Allocasuarinas.
I'll be interested to see what others say.

Allocasuarina nana however, is spectacular for flowering. Every year they flower profusely and all over the tree for me... even in semi shade. As the needles are relatively short, there is no real need to trim back the shorter needles (only occasional rogue ones), thus you always get incredible flowering.
Funnily enough, I acquired the nana seedlings from a very small nursery just outside Canberra.