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The Oz Garden Gallery

Boab, grevillea, etc

18 years ago

A flower bud on my boab. The boab is about 1m or so tall and growing in a pot. It flowered last year and is coming out in bud again.

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A rainforest grevillea, can't remember its name. Totally covered in bud which are just starting to open.

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Frangipanni in the chook pen being used as a perch

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Comments (12)

mistymorn
18 years ago
That Grevillea is so pretty HJ,
Now what would those chooks do if they didn't have a trees like that to climb.
I have never seen a Boab before thats a interesting bud.
Cheers..MM.
Liatris
18 years ago
>A rainforest grevillea, can't remember its name.

I certainly hope someone will id it - it looks like something (else) I need. The birds must be loving it!
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I applaud you for the effort you have gone to, to get your grevillea growing in a pot. When you water the pot, perhaps you could try immersing it in a bucket of water, until all the air bubbles stop coming out of the pot. This really is the best way to water pots. Sometimes potting mixes become "hydrophobic" which means they repel water, and it is difficult to water pots from above when this is the case. Perhaps you could try buying a smaller Grevillea banksii, the one in the picture is large and does look like it should be in a bigger pot. A smaller plant might be easier to handle and would have a greater chance of getting used to its situation, early on. If you buy a plant that is reasonably advanced it has become used to its place in the nursery. Then you take it home and plonk it on your balcony and it could go into shock. A word about the cow manure, make sure it is well rotted. You sound like you are interested in plants, perhaps you could do some research into your "local species", I am sure there are horticulturists in Brazil who must be interested in preserving the local plants. Sounds fascinating. Drainage is important too, so let the pot drain when you have done the immersion in the bucket. It is equally important to make sure the pot does not have too much watering. So make sure there are dry periods between watering. You could stick your finger into the potting mix to get an idea as to how wet the mix is. I have seen this tree growing near me and it is huge. Here is a link that might be useful: Plants of Cerrado region.
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Hi Suzi. I live in its native habitat (Grevillea robusta, 'silky-oak') and although I don't have it growing in my garden there are quite a few up and down my street. It is the tallest of the grevilleas, growing to 60 feet (18 metres) and, like many Aussie natives their residue will inhibit the growth of other plants beneath them. However the ones near me give very little indication of that, which makes me think that the soil in that raised bed in your picture might need enriching - garden compost, etc. I feel certain that once the tree is removed and the garden there dug over and enriched, you should have no problems. Mind you, palm tree fronds can also inhibit growth beneath them but it appears the area is clear of them. Regards B.
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ashmeri
18 years ago
It looks like a Buckinghamia celsissima or commonly Ivory Curl tree.
They are just beautiful and the birds love them, I have a stunted one here because of the soil but it is flowering beautifully, will never get to the height of your wonderful tree though, I am envious.

I had some Boab seeds but sadly they did not germinate, yours is doing so well.
Marion
mistymorn
18 years ago
Good on your Marion, I thought it may have been that tree also. As I had never seen a Grevillea with leaves or flowers like that before. But plenty of the Ivory Curl around this area I have a small one also, though it seems to be stunted its still 30cms high more than a year after I planted it.

Must say GH up on the Sunshine Coast your trees flower so much earlier that ours which is usually Jan/Feb. Sorry for calling you HJ up top, having a grey moment or too lazy to type your full name.
Cheers..MM.
goldhills
Original Author
18 years ago
No, it's definitely not ivory curl. I also have one of those. I think it is G. baileyana, but not totally sure. Flowers look similar to Buckinghamia but leaves are broader and tree is bigger. It only flowers for a couple of weeks a year and the tree is normally upright but the rain is weighing the flowers down at the moment.
mistymorn
18 years ago
Yes you are right HJ have a look at the link below..MM.

Here is a link that might be useful: Grevillea baileyana..
ashmeri
18 years ago
Interesting.
GH I have put a picture of my poor little plant which I bought as a Buckinghamia, can you tell me if it is the same as yours.
Wish I had the soil here to grow plants as well as you do.
this bush is about 6 years old, !!!!
Marion, who is wondering what she has.
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happyjacq_bris
18 years ago
Hi GH, All great pics and yes the grevillea is fantastic. I have a request for you though, I have never seen a boab flowering, maybe because they are not that common where I have lived or else because I run about with my head in the clouds and tend to not be very observant, however please, please post a pic when the flowers open. The tree we have in our side garden here has never flowered, it is huge, couldn't get your arms anywhere near around the trunk.....but no flowers.
mistymorn
18 years ago
I am confused now Girls here is a piccie of my Ivory Curl maybe its the wrong one???
Where is Tony fron OZ...MM.
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goldhills
Original Author
18 years ago
HJ, I'll post a picture of the boab flower when it is out but don't hold your breath as I've been waiting a couple of weeks now.

Marion, I'm not really sure from the photo. I'll try and get a close up of the leaves in the next day or so, it is getting too dark now but probably won't be until Monday though.

Mine is definitely a grevillea, one of the rainforest ones and I'm fairly sure it is baileyana. The leaves are bigger - longer and wider than buckinghamia and the backs of the leaves are slightly hairy with a goldy/bronze colour. Especially noticable in windy weather. According to my natives book there are another couple of rainforest grevilleas that have silvery/white backs.
alisonoz_gw
18 years ago
MM's definitely looks like Ivory curl. The rainforest one does look like baileyana the undersides of the leaves are supposed to be more of a copper colour than hilliana. And yes fortunate chook and YES I'd love to see the Boab flowers too.
goldhills
Original Author
18 years ago
I managed to get the photos of the leaves this morning between showers of rain.

Buckinghamia - Ivory Curl is on the left, Grevillea baileyana on the right in both the photos.

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Still waiting for the Boabs to open.

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