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Norfolk Pine Trees

Alicia_Acconcio

11 years ago

On Molokai, Hawaii Norfolk pine trees thrive and they are beautiful to behold. However, once every few years , they shed seed pods that explode all over the yard. Each seed pod holds dozens of triangular shaped seeds with a sharp hook at the end. Literally hundreds can accumulate all over the yard and deck. The sharp hooks make it impossible to walk around in your yard or out on your deck. I love the trees, but not the seed pods. Would less water for the trees keep them from producing these seed pods so frequently?

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Comments (2)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
hi

i would suggest.. that seed production is in it genetics .. and there is nothing you can do about it.. short of getting rid of the tree ...

in fact.. some might suggest .. that stressing it.. in any way.. such as reducing water.. might only make it produce more seed ...

your complaint .. reminds me of my complaints about maple tree seed droppings.. gumballs from gum trees.. etc ...

time to get out the shop vac.. or a lawn vacuum ... or get rid of the tree ... which i bet you dont want to do ...

BTW.. they are house plants here ... i have never seen one seed/cone ...

ken
floramakros
11 years ago
You have the luck (or misfortune) of having a sexually mature female tree who is fortunate enough to be close enough to a male tree to make the magic happen. Most people live in climates where Norfolk Island Pines are forced to be houseplants, they dream of being able to grow them as outdoor trees like you can in San Francisco or Hawaii. At least she's not a female bunya-bunya! I wouldn't wish that mess on my worst enemy! ;-)
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