Return to the Gardening in Oz Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
Virgillia Trees
| | |
Posted by grannymum Waikato NZ (My Page) on Fri, Jul 1, 05 at 6:38
| Can anyone advise me as to how much frost can the Virgillia tolerate? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Virgillia Trees
| | |
I used to have one growing here in Melbourne, they are quite common here. We get the odd quite heavy frost but mostly mild frost.
Cheers,
Dee. |
RE: Virgillia Trees
| | |
| Hi Dee, thankyou for your response. Did your tree survive the frosts? We get up to minus 3 or 4 occassionally. You mention 'used to" . Did you like it/ I plan on planting a hedge of them for quick screening |
RE: Virgillia Trees
| | |
Hi GM I grew one when I lived in Melbourne also, there were frosts there too. It grew Ok but I do remember that it was short lived, trying to recall but I think it only lived for about 5-6 years. Hope this helps.
Cheers.....MM. |
RE: Virgillia Trees
| | |
The Plamers Manual of Tree and Shrubs says to protect them for the first winter .
They sound a bit tender for the Waikato, they can be an untidy tree .
I am sure there would be something better for a hedge.
V divaricata is the tidier variety, life expectancy for both is about 15 years . They are also shallow rooted and would topple if you get strong winds.
Heather |
RE: Virgillia Trees
| | |
| My tree was not affected by frost, but I must admit it was in a fairly sheltered position. MM has a very good point about them being short lived. They grow like stink but drop dead very suddenly. They are supposed to live for 15 yrs. but most don't. They seem to live longer when kept pruned tight or hedged. Heather is right, they fall over easily, especially in wet windy weather. This was the reason I 'used to' have one. They are great trees as fillers while your slower growing ones establish themselves. Cheers,
Dee. |
RE: Virgillia Trees
| | |
| Thanks everyone. Perhaps I have not made the best choice but it is too late I have already bought 12.! They are for a hedge along a 1.8 meter high wooden fence. They are for quick screening while the other shrubs/trees grow. When searching some sites say they are frost tolerant, but protect in the first season & others say frost will kill them. All a bit confusing really |
RE: Virgillia Trees
| | |
| If your trees do happen to get hit by frost, you can save them by hosing them off before sun hits the leaves. It is the thawing process in the sun that causes the damage. I'm sure that because you are planning to hedge them, you will find they are less likely to blow over. They have a lovely flower and very pretty foliage. I personally think they are worth the risk. Just make sure you prune them AFTER flowering. Enjoy!
Dee. |
RE: Virgillia Trees
| | |
| I've got a three year old one in my backyard here in Ballarat. Never bothered to protect it from frost when I planted it and had no problems, it's now already 3 metres tall. Having said that, I noticed that after the frosts in the past couple of weeks many of the leaves on it went a very dark colour, don't think the damage is serious though. Our neighbour is in the process of cutting down what's left of their enormous one which lasted for around 20 years before succumbing to drought. |
RE: Virgillia Trees
| | |
| I thought I had replied to your kind answers so my apologies for not replying sooner. I have purchased them and they are about 2 feet tall and are like long sticks with leaves at the top. When should I start to prune/shape them ? |
RE: Virgillia Trees
| | |
Hi again Christine,
It would not hurt to start straight away. Just don't get too carried away though! Just cut a couple of centimetres off any longish bits and it will help them to thicken up.
I'm sure you will be happy with your purchase. They really are a very pretty tree, even when not in flower.
Enjoy!
Cheers,
Dee. |
|
|
|
|
