Eumundi quandong planting advice (forum)

Blek starts with ...
I recently posted about this space we need to screen in our yard, we were considering lemon myrtles but now have different ideas!

We've since decided to plant a mixture of eumundi quandong and the 'lulu' lilly pilly which is a dwarf small leaf lilly pilly.

Our idea is to plant 4 quandongs in the corner, 2 either side of the storm drain, and then 4 lulus on each side running along the fenceline.

Does anyone have any experience with these particular trees, and can advise if it would work (or not)?

We particularly would be interested to hear from anyone who has planted eumundi quandongs as a screen and how they maintain them.
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Time: 24th October 2014 11:41am

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About the Author Blek
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The poster formerly known as... says...
Perhaps take a trip to the Botanic Gardens and have a look if you really want a Eumundi Quandong in your yard. The native section next to the carpark has some nice ones for reference. If they have a decent source of water they get enormous. They will still get huge without much water. As a screen, they aren't much use unless you want to screen something 80ft high. All you get at eye level is a big old trunk. They can get huge buttressed roots, so planting near a storm drain, or anything else, could be a bit of a worry.

Time: 24th October 2014 11:55am

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About the Author Theposterformerlyknownas
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sternus1 says...
Smooth leaf quandong is about as bad a choice for that space as anything could be really. They can grow to 30 metres and have massive root systems. I'd get some other kind of smaller shrub bing Szygium instead, wax Jambu would be perfect really. Pink one seems to be tougher the the red or white. Nice foliage and will work as a screen. Not many people like the fruit but I like them very much.

Time: 24th October 2014 12:16pm

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About the Author sternus1
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Blek says...
Thanks for your responses so far guys - part of the issue for me is that there is conflicting information about it out there about the eumundi quandong.

The eumundi quandong is actually being widely recommended as a great option for narrow screens in backyards and that it has non invasive roots. It apparently generally grows 8-10m when not in the open or rainforest. They are grown in the small courtyards of our previous apartment complex too. I've spoken to a grower in detail and he recommended it. But I haven't been feeling 100% about it, for the exact reasons you've mentioned already.

Anybody have any more info, or have experience in growing it?

I will check out the wax jambu - I should also mention that we are needing a tall narrow screen 4m+ to screen out 2 storeys across the corner space.


Time: 24th October 2014 12:43pm

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About the Author Blek
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The poster formerly known as... says...
If you are after tall and narrow, you could try tracking down Malay Apple, which are often better than wax jambu but the tree is more upright and incredibly ornamental when in bloom. They can get fairly tall, but usually stay around 8m down here after a long time, usually they are quite narrow, particularly if you trim off any skirt or lower branches they develop. Wax Jambu is more spreading generally. Though I've seen some with nice narrow growth. Red Bud Satinash is another good one from the family and native, with superb foliage, generally an upright form and big fruit which is passable (and fairly good if you don't mind tart fruit) but makes a good jam or apple pie.

Time: 24th October 2014 2:38pm

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sternus1 says...
Malay Apple hard to come by these days. I think forbidden fruits has them occasionally, they do have giant Lau Lau in stock at the moment. Haven't seen a Lau Lau big enough to comment on its growing habits.

If you were after something non edible and not native that would solve all your problems you could opt for pencil pines. Perfect for screening out and grow compactly whilst vertically ,thrive on neglect and are not deciduous.

Time: 24th October 2014 3:16pm

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About the Author sternus1
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Thithi says...
Hi blek,
What about macadamia a38 for screening ? I ordered it to screen the afternoon sun in my backyard. Hopefully it grow fast enough though.
I also use bay tree as screening but it painfully slow growing at the moment. Just a thought.
Cheers

Time: 24th October 2014 5:56pm

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About the Author Thithi
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VF says...
If you really want to stick to natives, Davidson Plum could be one to consider. Slender trees, not over tall, pretty pink new growth. Will be okay with some pruning to fill out a bit more. Tangy but rich flavored plum-like fruit excellent for jam, sauces and I imagine for preserves. (Probably too sour for most palates without processing.) I don't think the roots of this tree cause issues.

Time: 25th October 2014 7:09am

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About the Author VF
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Blek says...
Thanks everyone for your great suggestions, I will check them all out.

Definitely decided to avoid eumundi quandong.

The neighbours have just excavated a huge chunk off the left side, so I have some time to do more research before planting while they put in a retaining wall.

Time: 25th October 2014 11:48am

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About the Author Blek
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