We tend to think of Casuarinas or She oaks as tall trees growing along watercourses. In eastern Australia Casuarina cunninghamiana, the River oak, performs an important role in reducing stream bank erosion. There are many shrubby She oaks which develop into medium shrubs. These shrubby species are virtually unknown in cultivation but have great horticultural potential. Allocasuarina portuensis is a rare shrubby species that is found in a small area of Sydney Harbour National Park. Fortunately She oaks propagate readily from seed and this rare Australian native plant is cultivated in Mount Annan Botanic Garden near Sydney and the National Botanic Garden in Canberra. Compact growth, soft foliage and persistent woody cones are characteristics of this and other shrubby She oaks.

Plants