Hi Brownie,
We have 2 beautiful Eumundi trees on our fence line. They are healthy and very tall. The neighbour wants to cut about 2 metres off the top of them because they are blocking their view from their balcony. I don’t
have any issues with that but wanted to check to see if this will be ok for the trees. Are eumundis ok to have their tops cutoff and is there any special considerations that I need to know? Thank you so
much.
Sandra
Thanks Sandra for sending in your question.
By ‘Eumundi trees’ I’m guessing you mean Eumundi Quandong (or Elaeocarpus eumundi).
This is one of my favourite local native species to use as a screening plant. It is a rainforest tree that keeps
its dense lush green foliage with bronze new growth right from ground level.
And, to answer your question Sandra – it doesn’t mind having its top cut out.
In fact, they can be regularly trimmed to form a bulky hedge. Just be aware that they will keep growing
upwards, so a trim every other year may be needed.
Or people let them grow up and out to become a medium sized tree – maybe 10-15m high and 3-5m across as a garden specimen. But they tend to grow in a conical shape rather than a wide branched
tree.
Cutting off the lower branches will retard the lower growth – the tree will put its energy into the upper
branches and just won’t regrow the cut off lower ones – unlike Lilly Pillies which will grow new lowers
stems and bush up again from the base.
It means that you can open up the sightlines underneath a Eumundi Quandong if you like, or lift the foliage up to establish a garden bed underneath.
Just like the other Elaeocarpus species (such as the dainty Blueberry Ash and the majestic Blue Quandong), it produces creamy flowers and small blue fruits.
They are very hardy, needing little care and attention, but they do better in a rich soil rather than
a sandy soil. They tend to be slow establishers and will take a few years to get a foothold before they
adventure upwards.
So, if you’re looking for a plant to block out the neighbours or hide an ugly shed or tank, an Eumundi
Quandong may be just the thing for you.
Brownie
Next month – Bruce has asked about companion planting in the garden.
