How would one tell whether their tree was claret tops or not? It wasn't labeled that way, but I'm not sure how reliable that is here in the US since people generally are not as familiar with Aussie trees here. At any rate, I'm starting some air layers, we'll see how they go. Figured the trunk has to come off anyway as it's way to tall and thin, so might as well try to get a few more projects out of it. If they don't take I'm no worse off than just a trunk chop to start.Pup wrote:M, linarifolia claret tops, is very different and does shoot back well.
G,day mate, Claret tops is as the name implies, the foliage is red in colour, mine has just had a hair cut. It does change as it matures but new foliage is red and stays that way for a while. While the species the new foliage is red at the start but fades to regular colour within a day or two.lackhand wrote:How would one tell whether their tree was claret tops or not? It wasn't labeled that way, but I'm not sure how reliable that is here in the US since people generally are not as familiar with Aussie trees here. At any rate, I'm starting some air layers, we'll see how they go. Figured the trunk has to come off anyway as it's way to tall and thin, so might as well try to get a few more projects out of it. If they don't take I'm no worse off than just a trunk chop to start.Pup wrote:M, linarifolia claret tops, is very different and does shoot back well.
Nothing at all. I didn't use rooting hormone the first time, so maybe I'll try that, or maybe I'll just take them as cuttings. Have to think on that for a bit. 
Any advice regarding a second attempt at layering vs. cutting or ideas of why it might not have worked this time would be much appreciated. 
I thought I read somewhere that regular linariifolia would not backbud well, but the claret tops variety would. My memory could easily be wrong though.Jason wrote:Yeah, as I far as I know, they do backbud quite well.
Have never tried layering them, or taking cuttings. I'm actually curious myself as to how they'd go, as I am planning on taking some cuttings or layers myself.
I think (and I should say I've never tried this) that you need to give it a tickle with a flame to encourage backbudding. I've seen a few threads that suggest thislackhand wrote:
I thought I read somewhere that regular linariifolia would not backbud well, but the claret tops variety would. My memory could easily be wrong though.
I can't see myself being THAT extreme, but if I don't get some lower buds where I need them, I might give it the old blow torch tickle. The wildfires where I'm from are a bit different - mostly pine trees, and they burn quick and hot and don't recover all that well - so I don't identify with the fire ravaged look as much.Jason wrote:I think (and I should say I've never tried this) that you need to give it a tickle with a flame to encourage backbudding. I've seen a few threads that suggest thislackhand wrote:
I thought I read somewhere that regular linariifolia would not backbud well, but the claret tops variety would. My memory could easily be wrong though.
Here is a really old thread, but you can see the outcome... although I wouldn't reccomend burning it the way this member has (bit too extreme lol): viewtopic.php?f=104&t=6869&start=30
Just had a fire not far from my place a few weeks ago, and the new growth is crazy. The natives love itlackhand wrote:I can't see myself being THAT extreme, but if I don't get some lower buds where I need them, I might give it the old blow torch tickle. The wildfires where I'm from are a bit different - mostly pine trees, and they burn quick and hot and don't recover all that well - so I don't identify with the fire ravaged look as much.Jason wrote:I think (and I should say I've never tried this) that you need to give it a tickle with a flame to encourage backbudding. I've seen a few threads that suggest thislackhand wrote:
I thought I read somewhere that regular linariifolia would not backbud well, but the claret tops variety would. My memory could easily be wrong though.
Here is a really old thread, but you can see the outcome... although I wouldn't reccomend burning it the way this member has (bit too extreme lol): viewtopic.php?f=104&t=6869&start=30
Some natives respond to the heat and chemicals produced by the fire which initiate growth and flowering
Most Australian native plants have developed mechanisms that enable them to survive bushfire. These include the capacity to reshoot from underground stems and buds protected by bark, and woody capsules to protect seed from the flames. Some plants are even dependent on fire to regenerate and grow. Of concern are ecosystems, such as rainforest, and species, such as the Ash eucalypts that are seed dependent regenerators, that are not well adapted to survive fire.
lackhand wrote:Well I put some air layers on this tree when I first got it, pulled them off today to check about six weeks later, and not even a hint of roots.
Interestingly, this tree does not appear to be a claret tops, as it is pushing some new growth now and it is not red. But it is also back budding on old wood. Maybe an effect of the air layers? Who knows. Seems like more questions than answers with this tree but that's the way it goes sometimes.
