Why would it be improved by a good prune?

From my experience Barklyas are notoriously slow growers but benefit from a good feed, plenty of mulch and moisture. Remember they are rainforest plants. I have one that is six years old and the plant is probably just over two meters tall. My plant has been inhibited by three years of drought and the cooler NSW climate. But this summer, with good rains and plenty of Dynamic Lifter, the thing has put on almost another metre of growth.

There is one I drive past in a Turramurra High School and it is a beautiful mature tree that produces a magnificent display every Summer.

>Why would it be improved by a good prune?

Robert, I was just thinking it might encourage it to put out some new growth, and subsequently, to hopefully flower better next Summer.

If it will tolerate Dynamic Lifter I will try feeding it with that. The soil here is nothing more than a fine dust, with no organic matter whatsoever. I have set about rectifying that where I can, but this tree also has to compete for water with 2 very large she-aoks, and a huge poinciana and leopard tree (along with a few others) all within only a few metres.

Many thanks for your input.

I have an idea they take ages to flower anyway. Does your neighbour recall it ever flowering?

I think all that competition may well be the reason for it's problems.

Robert, when we moved to here in early Spring it had seed pods on it from last year. It flowered this Summer, but VERY sparsely. As you say, the competition is probably most of the problem.

There is another, larger Barklya a few metres from the one in question, though it doesn't look as if it has ever flowered - I put that down to the fact that it receives very little sun.

I think that your Barklya is suffering from competition as much as moisture challenge. I have
two Barklyas, both planted by me, both less than 4 yo, both of which have flowered spectac-
ularly and set lots of seed. Like all dry rainforest trees, they love to multi trunk, especially if
they have plenty of space around them. Pruning won't hurt, take out dead branches etc, but
don't over prune. I am in a very moisture challenged area west of Brisbane - I do NOT feed
or water after initial planting, but I do control grass and woody weed growth and mulch mulch
mulch when I can get my hands on the mulching material - the mulch will help sort out organic
matter. If you can get some blue metal crusher dust [finest grade], sprinkle that around the base
[under the mulch] as food - will stumlate good soil bacteria etc.
Barklyas are legumes, but they will also be severely dominated by large poincianas, eucalypts, wattles
etc around or near them - not just a nutrient or moisture thing. They are worth persisting - flowers
are quite spectacular when they do.

It is known for its erratic flowering habit. Perhaps all you need is patience.