Does anyone know how long til a Silky Oak flowers? We planted a seedling about 2 years ago. It’s growing wonderfully. Around 5ft now. Just wondering when it might flower.

I told The Man that when it gets to about 18ft we’re going to knock the top off it. I think it was Longie that sent through a picture a few years ago of his silky that got hit by lighting. I want a big full tree like that; instead of the spindley stalks that a lot of them turn into.

mine took no longer than five to six years to attain a full head of flower but don’t be surprised to see the odd flower before that.

I shocked some friends of mine by removing the side branches.. I had t tell them that I wanted other parts of my yard to get sunlight in winter.

Lovely trees but soooooo messy.

Yes they are lovey —in a park—I wish mine had never been planted—the leaves never seem to break down and make a real mess—they should be due to come into flower very soon.

The leaves do break down eventually. I drag them all over the yard as mulch and put them through composting. They are a more desirable mulch an easier to break down than plane tree leaves.

They really only drop stuff at this time of year anyway. Mine has been in flower for at least three weeks.

They are not considered to be the be all and end all of trees particularly by Northern Hemispherical traditionalist standards but by their own sheer temerity they have forced their way into avenues in The USA.

Anyway one good use for Grevillea robusta is as a standard roostock.

Yes they do use it for growing standards etc don’t they

who’s they?

I use it

I’d better qualify that.. I am a native plant nurseryman. Which means I have actually grafted onto Grevillea robusta as a stock.

They meaning folks like you Roughbarked—clever they are

There’s a lot who don’t see me as clever at all .. So thanks for the vote of confidence. ;)

http://articles.latimes.com/2007/may/31/home/hm-silkoak31

The one thing that article doesn’t mention is the wood. Silky oak (or fiddleback or fiddlewood or something like that, as it’s known in the States) is a much prized and coveted wood for fine wood work. And very hard to come by.

SueBk said:

The one thing that article doesn’t mention is the wood. Silky oak (or fiddleback or fiddlewood or something like that, as it’s known in the States) is a much prized and coveted wood for fine wood work. And very hard to come by.

Also is the same or similar status in Australia.. Makes fine furniture but not in great supply.

When these finish uploading.. you can see that I have a couple of good mill logs. However many people allow a silky to become diseased and die rather than to cut for timber or to be a healthy specimen.

I built a lean to on the side of the carport these silky’s shade. WhenI was trying to put concrete down.. there was 25 cm deep humus under the mulch which was 30 cm deep so = 55 cm of root and soil protection .. This is a tree that knows how to look after itself.

Just go to flickr and type in roughbarked.

SueBk said:

The one thing that article doesn’t mention is the wood. Silky oak (or fiddleback or fiddlewood or something like that, as it’s known in the States) is a much prized and coveted wood for fine wood work. And very hard to come by.

Also is the same or similar status in Australia.. Makes fine furniture but not in great supply.

When these finish uploading.. you can see that I have a couple of good mill logs. However many people allow a silky to become diseased and die rather than to cut for timber or to be a healthy specimen.

I built a lean to on the side of the carport these silky’s shade. WhenI was trying to put concrete down.. there was 25 cm deep humus under the mulch which was 30 cm deep so = 55 cm of root and soil protection .. This is a tree that knows how to look after itself.

Just go to flickr and type in roughbarked.

Ah.. firefox has changed its mind about allowing me in.. anyway.. or just use this link.. as per the last post http://www.flickr.com/photos/99559986@N00/

Kind of off topic, but for the first time in years, I have seen a yellowwood (part of brigalow schell??? scrub) in flower…so chuffed…will see if I can get some seeds to start, or do they prefer cuttings?

re ^ yellow wood

I’ll need more info that what you have given,.. to comment.

Other than that flowering plants make seeds for a reason and that any plant will propagate from a cutting if the correct conditions are maintained for the length of time required.

roughbarked said:

re ^ yellow wood

I’ll need more info that what you have given,.. to comment.

Other than that flowering plants make seeds for a reason and that any plant will propagate from a cutting if the correct conditions are maintained for the length of time required.

http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/health/4214.html

Shame, it is not good for cattle (or sheep)…maybe they won’t eat it unless desparate?

I just love this shrub, OK I love brigalow scrub – especially after the rain…I see where yellow-wood suckers and likes my soil so maybe I could just grow it in the house yard….

http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/AR9880235.htm

roughbarked said:

http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/AR9880235.htm

Yes, but according to the Qld DPI article, it buggers their livers and kidneys sufficiently to make them crook enough that they don’t gain weight…

What the DPI article did not say, which I find surprising, is just how badly hungry the beasts have to be before they forage on the yellow-wood?

My cows (and sometimes the pony) kept an acacia tree nicely trimmed (it looked like a musroom from the distance) when the paddock was bare, but if there was plenty of ground grass they didn’t bother…

I still think I will try to grow it inside the house yard…have a spot on the south where the castellemons have carked it from the drought…it’s about 10 metres from the house…I was thinking of powder-puff shrubs …already have a couple of small-leafed local bauhinia shrubs established (don’t think they will be trees)…and a gum tree…and a – can’t think of the name of it but it was a $2 Special about 14 years ago and is showing signs of struggle…a small-leafed, really tough drought-resistant Australian shrub…could be a melaleuca?

While I’ve got you Rough Barked, if I can get the seeds of a wattle from down the road that’s growing in blacksoil the same as mine, how do I germinate them?

Almost all Acacia seeds can be germinated with the boiling water method.

Take your seed put it in a container .. coffee cup or bigger depending on how many you are germinating. Boil the kettle and pour boiling water on the seeds.. you should hear them go snap crackle and pop just like rice bubbles are supposed to do.

depending on the hardness of the seed.. ; •you may decide to pour cool water on the heat treated seed at varying time lengths. •you may decide to soak them for a few days

generally speaking the seed should soak for long enough to swell seeds but heat treating and direct sowing also works well as long as soil moisture levels are adequate at the time.

Another easy way tyo germinate wattles is to cut some branches which have seed on.. toss them where you want the trees and when they are dry.. burn them. After the fire has finished .. put the sprinkler on it.

Alternatively sow the seed in hot soil say around January/Feb .. wait until the soil is very hot.. to do this.. then give the spot the equivalent of 100mm of rainfall.

Some hard coated seeds of legumes may also germinate via the reverse .. of frost treatment. or cold stratification