Toona ciliata - Australian Red Cedar

[JamesLee]

Hi there,

I have a huge Australian red cedar at the end of my yard, and every year, a little bit before Autumn, it flowers, then drops all its seeds. These seeds grow like mad wherever they land.
So I decided to pot some of these saplings and seeds.

20130506_101401.jpg

This one normally has more leaves, but Autumns come around, so yeah.

But what do you think? This one has been in this mug for about a year now.

[bodhidharma]

Does the mug have a hole in it for the water to drain.

[JamesLee]

Nope. I just don't water it as often. It seems to be doing fine in the year its been there.

[shibui]

I have been playing with some for a few years. Seems to take root pruning well but does not ramify very quickly.
Anything except a stick with a few leaves is going to take a Loooong time.

[kcpoole]

Nope. I just don't water it as often. It seems to be doing fine in the year its been there.

now thats cool
Ken

[MattA]

James, I like it Any chance I can get a load of seed off you?

Long term think more along the styling of Rhus (lacquer tree) Rhus google images Hope that works

Shibui, I am ground growing one at the moment and keen to hear your experiences with them, particularly root pruning.

[JamesLee]

James, I like it Any chance I can get a load of seed off you?

Long term think more along the styling of Rhus (lacquer tree) Rhus google images Hope that works

Shibui, I am ground growing one at the moment and keen to hear your experiences with them, particularly root pruning.

Oooooh. That looks cool! I think it would be good for one of these.
As for giving you a load of seeds, I live in the Hunter Valley in NSW. Do they allow seeds to be posted? Never thought of it before.

[shibui]

James - no problem posting seed within the eastern states and I think Matt is not too far from you - but quarantine prohibits most plant material from going into WA and Tas.

Matt, No problem so far with pruning roots though i have only done quite young plants, taking off about half the root ball in late spring. I'll try again this year in late spring or early summer.

There is a tree at one of my worksites that also drops bucketloads of seed every summer.

[MattA]

James, I am at West Wallsend in the lower hunter

Shibui, likewise, I am also working with only a young tree. The first rootpruning I took about 50% off, last spring I went alot harder (80+%) It was a bit slow to get going tho lack of water in that area of the garden may have contributed to that slowness...

[JamesLee]

James, I am at West Wallsend in the lower hunter

Thats pretty close by, but I had a look for some seeds, but cant find many. BUT, I did find, on the other hand, about 6 little saplings growing around the yard. I could easily pot them up perhaps.

[MattA]

I would be happy with any seed or even saplings if you don't mind parting with them. I can come to you or your welcome in my garden anytime
Will pm you with contact details.

[dansai]

I'm also playing with a few. One I got from a nursery I was working at was in a 150mm pot and had grown out the bottom. It was 2m high and about 40mm diameter. I took it home cutting all root sticking from the pot, there was virtually none in the pot. I chopped it down to 40cm high, potted it up and it shot another meter in about 6 months.

Tough buggers.

Only thing is, it went straight up and fast. What side branches shot, about 3, all perished in hot weather while I was away working. They were pretty spindly.

Have another with beautiful shape to it. Had some interesting branches which also perished in the heat. Both lost their top leaves too, but bounced back with a good soaking.

[JamesLee]

I'm also playing with a few. One I got from a nursery I was working at was in a 150mm pot and had grown out the bottom. It was 2m high and about 40mm diameter. I took it home cutting all root sticking from the pot, there was virtually none in the pot. I chopped it down to 40cm high, potted it up and it shot another meter in about 6 months.

Tough buggers.

Only thing is, it went straight up and fast. What side branches shot, about 3, all perished in hot weather while I was away working. They were pretty spindly.

Have another with beautiful shape to it. Had some interesting branches which also perished in the heat. Both lost their top leaves too, but bounced back with a good soaking.

Being an Australian species, *Is it native?*, it is tough I know that. I only water mine about once a week in cooler weather. I haven't cut the roots yet. I will do that after winter once it warms up a little more.

[bodhidharma]

Being an Australian species, *Is it native?*, it is tough I know that.

No, it is South american in origin and is a close relative to poison ivy.

[MattA]

Being an Australian species, *Is it native?*, it is tough I know that.

No, it is South american in origin and is a close relative to poison ivy.

If it is not native why the common name of Australian Red Cedar!!!

Its natural range extends from Afghanistan to Papua New Guinea and Australia, in Australia it is found in Queenland & down thru into NSW but alot of its habitat (rainforest) has been cleared.