Hi Susan:- My Tropicial and sub-Tropical book states you can only propagate from seeds, sorry but no mention about the variegated leaves, only about the wonderful autumn colours they go before leaf drop. A little bit of info in link below........MM

Here is a link that might be useful: Terminalia catapa

Susan,
Terminalia capata is very common just about anywhere in the tropical Queensland coast. Its common names are Sea Almond or Indian Almond. It has a characteristic shape with 4 or 5 branches radiating out horizontally from the trunk at even intervals of about 1 metre. I would not describe it as variagated but the large leaves do change colour over time from green to crimson red. In cooler areas it is deciduous. The seeds are edible and White Tailed rats make a feast of them when they fall. There are lots on the beach front at Trinity Beach and Palm Cove. I suggest you just go and collect some seeds off the tree.

Thanks for the replies.

The Terminalia at centenary lakes does not have the usual plain green leaves - the leaves are beautifully variegated, and it is this terminalia that I would like to grow. I have a seedling from this very tree but the leaves are plain green. Would this variegation be a one off and if so, will the seedling eventually become variegated or will it revert to normal. Does anyone have any idea what would cause the tree to produce variegated leaves.

I have photos but computer skills are very poor!!!

Susan

I didn't realise that Terminalia catapa was so common in Aust, as I've been keen to grow it (as a bonsai) but couldn't import the seed because of quarantine restrictions! I'll post a notice in the Exchange forum asking if anyone has any.

Sorry, my mistake. It is, of course, Terminalia catappa (not capatta)

Below are Pics of Susan's tree, emailed to me from her note the variegated leaves:-

"Does anyone have any idea what would cause the tree to produce variegated leaves"
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I'd guess either (1) a natural variation/mutation, or (2) a (probably harmless) virus. Either way, I think that you'd probably have to propogate it from cuttings rather than seed if you wanted to be sure to retain the variegation.

Thanks for your reply Cestrum. It appears I am not going to be in luck then. I tried cuttings a couple of years ago but they died so quickly it appears that Terminalia cannot be propagated by cuttings. The tree is very tall now and its difficult to even reach the lowest branches. Interestingly, during the winter when I visited the tree, there was no sign of variegation, but it appeared again with the new seasons leaves.

The photos do not do the tree justice as the variegation appears yellowish - in fact the leaves are 3 shades of green and look as if someone has been playing with paint on them.

I suppose I will just have do dream on then.

Susan

Mystified, I'm no expert on terminalias, and was speaking only generally about the causes of variegation. (Perhaps someone who has grown the tree can comment?) It might well be that the variegation will be seen in seed-grown plants--it's definitely worth trying.

Anyway, before you give up, I think you should ask an expert, eg you can send a query to the Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mt Coot-tha at this email address: cmcbg@brisbane.qld.gov.au

Let us know how you go.

Here in Florida Terminalia have a semi-dormant period during the dry cooler months. If your area experiences the same, try a cutting (or many cuttings) during the initial flush of growth when the tree leafs out after its dormant period.

Alan

The variegation appears to me to be a virus. This leads me to hypothesize that the virus can be transmitted from one plant to another. Perhaps a bark grafting?

Black Olives (Bucida spp) are closely related and the "Shady Lady" cultivar is routinely grown from cuttings. You might try dozens of cuttings in the spring.

Jerry

Hi Susan, Can you tell me exactly where the tree is.I'd like to take a look. Collins St side or other side,nearest cross reference would be great.ie:- bridge,picnic tables etc. Thanks Sue

Terminalia catappa also grows well in Papua New Guinea where it is deciduous : leaves turn
a deep crimson colour then drop - so not just deciduous in cooler climates. Tried to grow it
in SE Qld - it is tres yummy, but gave it too much water and the seedlings died of phytophthera.
Now that I know the problem my seedling supplier has closed and moved away [frustration] !
The 'variegation' on the leaves is, I believe, a mosaic virus which would eventually interfere with
photosynthesis, but the leaves will eventually drop and renew. Only known remedy is to regularly
[twice a year] dig neem cake into the ground around it - if you can get some neem cake. If anyone
finds a source of seedlings let me know.