Comments for Mallee Native Plants

Comment on Eucalyptus ficifolia (Western Australian Flowering Gum) by Corinne

Corinne — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 16:56:11 +0000

I have heard of this sort of thing happening, but I do not know what insect is involved. Is it possible to spray the tree? ie is it low enough for you to do this? At the time of these insects to spray with a systemic spray may kill enough of the larvae to allow some flowers to open. This must be a great disappoinment to you. maybe someone has more specific information.

Comment on Eucalyptus ficifolia (Western Australian Flowering Gum) by Dianne

Dianne — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 04:00:50 +0000

PLEASE HELP!!
I have a Eucalyptus Ficifolia (now Corymbia Ficifolia), which is 21 years old and up until now has never flowered. A couple of times there have been one or two fronds of buds but in the early stages they have all dropped off from what appears to be a larvae having eaten them from the inside out. This year for the first time it was covered in buds but over 2/3rds have similarly dropped off. The ones that have grown bigger nearly all have a hole in them where I assume the larvae have eaten its way out. The only thing I have noticed on the tree during budding time is a whole mass on fly like insects but more elongated and more translucent than house flies. I have searched the internet and asked nursery people and no one has heard of this problem. Can anyone please shed any light on it?

Thank you, Dianne

Comment on Chloris truncata (Windmill Grass) by Jared

Jared — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 10:09:11 +0000

How did you end up going with this? I had a square metre of naturally occuring windmill grass lawn…If I’d been more diligent over the last 12 months, I could’ve let it take over. Instead have started from scratch with a few native varieties, but I notice that windmill grass is quite happy to be transplanted and watered in. Given that there’s lots of it around our area on vacant blocks, I’m going to transplant a bit in anyway, even though I’m sure it’s already establishing again.

Comment on Xanthorrhoea species (Grass Trees) by Corinne

Corinne — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 07:55:42 +0000

Are you perhaps over watering? At this time of the year they shouldn’t need very much unless you missed out on winter rains. My source suggests it may be beneficial to use a fungicide to drench the soil around the rootzone, then use a seaweed type product that promotes root growth. You may have fungal issues around the rootzone.

Comment on Xanthorrhoea species (Grass Trees) by Sandra

Sandra — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 01:55:21 +0000

I have two mature grass trees about 2 metres high planted three years ago and gets most of the late morning sun.

We have clay soil and have removed the pots when we planted (a big no no according to many websites)

They was not much change for the for two years, then they produced their flower stalks but the never flowered, so I was told to cut them off to reduce any stress.

One tree has not produced any new leaves at all but the other has, and they seem to be browning on the ends of the foliage, in fact, each time I trim the older leaves back to halfway, they seem to brown again even futher up the foliage. Even the new leaves are beginning to brown on the ends.

I have treated them with Ground Breaker and Seasol in the past and have kept up their watering.

Can you please advise why this is happening and how can I improve their health – I dont want to lose them as they’re a great feature.

Comment on Swainsona formosa (Sturt’s Desert Pea) by Corinne

Corinne — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 21:26:09 +0000

Try Blackwood Seeds in SA and Nindethana seeds in WA. See websites. There are other companies, but these will sell smaller lots for the home gardener.

Comment on Swainsona formosa (Sturt’s Desert Pea) by Karen Pearce

Karen Pearce — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 02:59:58 +0000

Where can I get seeds?

Comment on Carpobrotus rossii (Pig Face) In Flower by Corinne

Corinne — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:58:02 +0000

These are very easy plants to propagate as you have found! Congratulations. In fact they can be propagated from quite small pieces. As you say, they are very drought tolerant. Some moisture will keep them spreading as I have discovered with mine this year as a result of last summers rains and better than average autumn rains. The plants in our scrub look wonderful this year.

Comment on Carpobrotus rossii (Pig Face) In Flower by MsDaisy

MsDaisy — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 11:42:09 +0000

I was given a small cutting of the shimmering pink pigface plant. I simply stuck it in soil and left it. It gets water once a month (no joking) and it is huge and full of blooms. I took a cutting from that one and did the same. I am now the proud owner (haha) of two gorgeous pig face plants.

Comment on Xanthorrhoea species (Grass Trees) by Corinne

Corinne — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 08:23:50 +0000

You are correct! I just checked my books and must have muddled them at the time of writing. Thanks for letting me know. I have edited the original post. My plant of X semiplana is beginning to take off. I raised it from seed years ago.