Australian Pine / Beach Sheoak / Horsetail Tree / Coastal She-Oak

Source Data

Casuarina equisetifolia, Australian Pine, Casuarina equisetifolia.

Description:
An evergreen tree up to 35 m tall, with soft, needle-like leaves. The bark is light brown. The graceful, bright green branches are covered with scales—reduced leaves.

In the fall, rather inconspicuous small, perianth-less, unisexual flowers bloom. The male flowers are in thin terminal racemes, while the female flowers are several in spherical, woody inflorescences. In the spring, the winged nut-shaped fruits ripen.

Use:
In Russia, it is grown primarily as an indoor ornamental plant and rarely grows more than 2 m. It is suitable for bonsai cultivation.

Growing conditions:
Casuarinas should be planted in a sunny location in fertile, moist, well-drained soil. The trees themselves are graceful, fast-growing, resistant to strong winds, and tolerate very dry conditions. They can withstand short-term frosts down to -7°C (16°F).

USDA Hardiness Zone:
9 (-7°C to -1°C (23°F to 32°F)).

Growing from seeds:
Method 1. Scarification (not always necessary): soak the seeds in hot water (about 60-70°C (140-158°F)) for 5-10 seconds, then quickly cool them in cool water.
Soak the seeds in warm water or a weak solution of a stimulant (Epin, Zircon) for 12-24 hours. Sowing:
Spread the seeds on the surface of a moistened substrate: a mixture of peat and perlite (vermiculite) or fine sand (1:1), press lightly, and moisten.
Germination Conditions:
Temperature: Optimally +22-+26C.
Humidity: Cover the container with a transparent lid, glass, or film to create a greenhouse effect. Ventilate daily.
Lighting: Bright, diffused light.
Watering: Only through the tray or with a spray bottle, so as not to disturb the seeds.
Sprouting:
Seeds can take 1-2 weeks to 1-2 months to germinate. Be patient.
The seedlings are very delicate. When the first true leaves (needles) appear, gradually remove the covering.

Method 2: To increase germination
Cold stratification: Mix the seeds with slightly damp, sterilized sand or vermiculite.
Place the mixture in a sealed zip-lock bag and store in the refrigerator's vegetable drawer (temperature +2-5°C) for 4-6 weeks. Check periodically to ensure the mixture doesn't dry out or become moldy.

After stratification, sow the seeds superficially as described in Method 1.

Instructions

1. Pre-treatment: Cold stratification 4-6 weeks.
2. Scarification required before sowing.
3. Sowing: Sow seeds in well-draining seed compost.
4. Germination temperature: 18–22°C.

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