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Pencil Cedar
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Posted by smithy NSW Australia (My Page) on Sun, Jan 23, 05 at 22:27
| I want to plant a pencil cedar (Polyscias murrayi) in my Sydney garden.
Does anyone have experience growing this beautiful rainforest tree? If so could you pass on a few tips on aspect, water regimes, growth rates etc.
Thanks in anticipation. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Pencil Cedar
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Smithy,
this species is an easy one to grow, it hates wet feet and should be planted in well drained soil.
Full sun to part shade, it can grow 3 metres in the first year.
Can be prone to borer attack which can kill the tree if it has only 1 stem- which they frequently do until about 6-10 m tall.
Good one for reveg as they usually have no branches down below with a canopy that lets enough light in for the trees below.
Doesnt tend to like frosts, when over 1m tall a light frost should be ok.
The branches are prone to snapping in wet and windy weather.
We have a pair of Tawny Frogmouths nesting in one of my P. murrayi in the branch fork.
if the roots arent well developed/twisted this species easily comes down in a strong wind due to its top heavy nature.
Cheers from Kris |
RE: Pencil Cedar
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| I hope you have a big backyard as they can get pretty tall. I have them growing in my garden and they have reached an easy 10 metres and are still growing strong. My garden is on a two acre block. Kris has pretty much said it all. However if you garden is on the small side I would think carefully about planting them. I have seen them growing with Lilly-pillies and they looked great. |
RE: Pencil Cedar
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- Posted by Popi NSW Aust (My Page) on
Thu, Jan 27, 05 at 1:49
| Robert, Did you buy your Polyscias at a nursery? I have seen them growing in the wild, in a patch of rainforest, where I live. A really striking tree, well worth having in the garden. They are not easy to propagate from seed, although Kris might know more about that. Popi |
RE: Pencil Cedar
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| Are you on the Central Coast or in the Sydney area? You can get them from Palmlands Nursery on Mona Vale Road in Terry Hills. They also trade as The Sydney Wildflower Nursery. They have a section of native rainforest plants and have Polyscias there. Or you can check out The Sydney Rainforest Nursery in Dog Trap Road, Ourimbah, on the Central Coast. Or, you can get them sent down from any of the Bush Regeneration nurseries along the north coast of NSW. I have often got stuff from Burringbar Rainforest Nursery and Dingo Creek Nursery. They are listed on the ASGAP web page. |
RE: Pencil Cedar
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Germination tip, collect the regurgitated/poo'd remains of the fruits from under the trees. The acids within the birds crops may help to initiate germination.
Kris |
RE: Pencil Cedar
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- Posted by Popi NSW Aust (My Page) on
Fri, Jan 28, 05 at 3:44
| Thanks Robert for you sources for the Polyscias, I will get onto that. Thanks Kris for germination tip, will add that to my notes. Popi |
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