I'd never heard of Elaeocarpus eumundii until your post, raiglide, so I Googled it & find that it's probably local to Tweed Shire. Assuming it is local to you it has evolved to survive in the local soil & climate. I'd therefore be inclined to allow it to make its own way & hold the water, mulch, fertilizer, etc, etc. You may be killing it with what you think is kindness.

We are in northen Gold Coast and we planted a dozen of these trees 6 months ago. Some of ours also are experiencing this problem and it seems to be getting worse. I was just thinking we really need to get some advise before they're destroyed too much. I'm thinking it's some sort of pest but don't know how to treat it.

Hi Carmen, there's one planted out the back of the Masters building in Bundall at the Upton st entrance and it's got the same problem. It wouldn't get salt spray and possibly has better soil. I've seen it in some others in a new house at Salt near Kingscliff. I can't find anything on the web about it.

Woko it's native to the Eumundi area on the Sunshine Coast north of Brisbane. A high rainfall and humid location. Nice place too.

Thanks, railglide. From what I can see the leaves of your Elaeocarpus eumundii don't seem to be affected by bugs. Although the plant is 200 metres from the beach is it possible that a chemical is in the sea spray which is blowing inland? Are there any chemical plants in the vicinity from which dust might be affecting the plant? Or is there a heavily trafficked road nearby which might be polluting the air & affecting your Eumundi Quangdong?

Not a chance. None anywhere. All other plants performing well.

I think bugs are commonly blamed for what is a cultural problem.

Is there a reason for there being pure sand beneath the soil?

'(and is growing in a 200 mm deep organic soil with pure sand below)'

I am in Wynnum and in the 2 weeks my 4 m high Edmunds quandong has had leaves at the top and outside branches brown and appear to die. I've soaked the ground thinking it was dry though am no wondering if it is drowning with waterlogged roots. Would love to hear any results or insight from others.

Tete_a_tete, you may be right in alluding to the sand beneath the top soil as the root of the problem. Elaeocarpus eumundii grows naturally in rainforests & riverine environments so it would be used to having its roots in damp, even wet, soil. Once its roots hit the sand it would be gasping for moisture, I would think.

Hi tete_a_tete, the reason why there is sand is because there is a beach about 100 metres away. The organic layer on top was brought in by the landscapers that did the garden. Since posting I have dug this bed out 400mm deep and discovered a lot of roots from the neighbours tree competing with it some going right through the root ball. The root ball was really depleted. I've cut them all out and filled the bed with new organic soil from the landscape yard, covered the soil with a layer of tea-tree mulch and applied osmocote slow release fertiliser. Have replanted adjacent hibiscus and acalapha which are coming on strong whereas before they were dying. Sadly the eumundi quandong continues to defoliate and is looking much worse. I've just been told that it might be because I applied the standard osmocote fertiliser and not a native fertiliser. The difference is natives don't like phosphorous and standard osmocote has lots of phosphorus but native osmocote has only very small amounts. The eumundi quandong might hate phosphorus and I've possibly given it too much. Combined with poor soil and competition, the whole thing seems to be a lack of nutrients it needs and too much of the nutrient it doesn't need.

Kim Lawrence- you may have made the same fertiliser mistake I made. I'm told to apply searles 5 in 1 and osmocote native fertiliser. I might have to try to remove the other granular fertiliser first. Eumundi quandongs like free draining soil but also some good organic soil and mulch plus lots of water. Eumundi, where they originate is at the back of Noosa and gets a lot of rain. So Kim it might not be water logging unless you are in a clay soil and that depends on what part of Wynnum you're in. I grew up there and know it quite well.

I know this is restarting an old thread, but others who have the same problem might be interested. I have exactly the same problem, and I live in Bardon, in Brisbane. There is absolutely no salt or chemical plants around! I see eleocarpus eumundii used as street trees here, in full scorching sun, and they look perfect. Mine is in light shade, with lots of good soil added, and although it's growing taller, it looks awful. I'm worried I added too much dynamic lifter when I planted but I'd have thought that after a year that might have been flushed out of its system. Anyway, I've sent a query to Daleys nursery to see if they know what the problem is.

Hi artemiss60,

I was just wandering if Daleys nursery replied to your query, if so, what did they suggest please?

I have exactly the same problem. It woilukd be great to have an answer. I have searched the internet and come up with zilch

Are you using low p fert?

I think the prob has sorted itself out, and it may simply have needed a lot more water. People moved into the new house next door and added a reticulated watering system right next to our fenceline, so the eleocarpus benefited from the overflow. It looks very healthy and has grown a lot. No fertiliser necessary.

Railglide your photo shows definite water stress.

I own 12 elocarpus ecumundi trees and when I under water them the leaves dry at the edges and tips.

I still have a problem with one however. It has missing leaves on one side and is nowhere near as tall as the other 11.

any suggestions would be appreciated

It's easy to get a soil pH test kit at Bunnings or other places. But don't get those that have a long probe you put in the soil. They don't work.

Of course, a round about way is, if pineapples grow well the soil is acidic. If Pawpaws and passionfruit grow well then it'll be alkaline.

Hi I have exactly the same problem as you and wondered if you worked out the problem ? my other trees all look amazing as well

How long do Eumundi’s take to grow? We’ve just planted some along our fence to provide privacy from our neighbours. They are currently about 6ft tall.

I have 7 huge Emundi Quondong trees in my garden as a screen love them but hate them due to the amount of leaves they drop every day. Thought it maybe lack of water but tried that didnt resolve the problem. Oh I live on the Gold Coast Qld not too close to the ocean Any ideas welcome