Is this a Syzygium/LillY Pilly

[PeterW]

Can one of you Native lovers ID this for me please. I think it is a LillY Pilly but not sure. I have been slowly allowing it to die for a number of years. It is a VERY hardy tree. I have noticed similar looking trees turning up here on ABC (hehehe) and was wondering, could this possibly be my introduction to the native species! If it is worth collecting, can you also offer any advise with that to please. It isnt in good health so should i get it in better heath first?
Peter

[Steven]

It sure is a LP Peter. Have you read the species guide here on ABC yet?

S.

[PeterW]

It sure is a LP Peter. Have you read the species guide here on ABC yet?

S.

Yes thats were i discovered what i suspected it was! Thanks Steven
So if i was to collect it, would i or should i get it healthier first or just go for it. Do i need to get a lot of roots with it?
Peter

[Asus101]

Healthy tree's survive, sick ones dont.

[kcpoole]

Hi peter

Water and feed it up over summer and collect next spring

Got a photo of the rest of it?

Ken

[PeterW]

Hi peter

Water and feed it up over summer and collect next spring

Got a photo of the rest of it?

Ken

Thanks Ken. I would take a photo of the whole tree, but.....i am way to embarrased to do so! What i have done to this poor thing is truly embarrasing. It has FAMILIES of toads living under it, i cut way to close to it with the mower, i poison all around it (and maybe over it) i have all but ring barked it, but still it lives. So you see, i couldnt possibly show you the whole thing.
Thank you very much for your advise, i think that it is a case of now or never with this one. I will take a picture of the whole thing, dig it up, and if it still lives, i will then show you the sad lookin thing.
Peter

[aaron_tas]

very funny pete

[PeterW]

very funny pete

sad thing is.....i am serious! If i would have realized that it could have made a reasonable tree out of it, I would have looked after it. Kicking myself now!

[aaron_tas]

no no no, i think the take you have on the situation is brilliant

cant wait to see if it survives...

lilly pilly may be my favorite new tree, IF YOU CAN PULL THIS ONE OFF

na, i hope it does though...

[PeterW]

Ok......its up, for better or worse! There is a lot of damage to contend with. Dont really know that its going to be worth it but time will tell. I have potted it into a flat grow box into 2 parts Diatomite 1 part organic. I have left the trunk long to retain some growth. There are two or three buds up the length of the trunk also, so if i get some growth from them i will recut the trunk in the future. For now it is in morning sun up til about 9 am and then dappled sunlight to shade for the rest of the day. I will wait to see some movement before i start to introduce more sunlight hours to it. Let me know if this is the correct aftercare to give this species as i really have no idea with them.
I am quite looking forward to working with this tree, i know what can be achieved with some other species in a relatively short time so it will be a good expieriance working with a native. Mmmmm...just hope it lives firstly.
Peter

[Jarrod]

It all just adds character.

I love it and really hope it kicks on and loves its potted home.


Jarrod

[Steven]

Nice gnarled trunk. Good to see you have left something at the top to "give the sap a reason to go there" as Pup would say.

I recognise the bonsai in the background too Peter

Steven

[PeterW]

The wood seems really hard, i thought that it would be quite soft and prone to rot! It should be fun carving later on.
Steven, yes the tree in the background is my avatar. I might do a post on that one over Christmas some time. It has astounded me with the short time that it has been in a pot. (12 months or just over)
Regards
Peter

[Hector Johnson]

Nice trunk to work with. If it buds back well you could really have something to work with. I have lifted one from the garden of the house we're selling, in similar condition. S. australe is tough, so it would be a surprise if it doesn't make it. I simply dropped the broken trunk and rootball in a bucket of water. It's covered in bright green shoots about 5cm long, after maybe 4 weeks of benign neglect.

[PeterW]

Nice trunk to work with. If it buds back well you could really have something to work with. I have lifted one from the garden of the house we're selling, in similar condition. S. australe is tough, so it would be a surprise if it doesn't make it. I simply dropped the broken trunk and rootball in a bucket of water. It's covered in bright green shoots about 5cm long, after maybe 4 weeks of benign neglect.

It hasnt put out any growth at all yet but i am keeping it well watered and in dappled sun for most of the day.
Peter