Botanical Name: Casuarina equisetifolia
Common Name: Horsetail beefwood, She-Oak
Type of Plant: dicot: tree
Character evergreen
 
Habit of Growth:
Overall Shape an upright, single-trunked plant, with ascending-spreading branches, forming a pyramidal canopy which becomes more irregular with age; the overall appearance resembles that of a pine from a distance
Height 25'-40' (60')
Spread 1/3 -2/3
Growth Rate rapid
 
Environment:
Exposure outdoors full sun required; grows poorly in shade
Soil nearly any except wet, poorly drained clay locations
Hardiness hardy (zones 12-24): thrives in hot desert areas
 
Morphology:
Leaves virtually absent; the needlelike "leaves" are actually small, slender, jointed green branchlets, 4"-10" long
Flowers unisexual, inconspicuous, in tiny greenish-brown spikes at the ends of the branchlets; summer-fall
Fruit a tiny, cone-like nut
 
Propagation:
seed, hardwood cuttings
 
Usage:
an excellent, durable tree for use as windscreens, background mass, or erosion control on slopes; has a shallow root system; is a messy tree, thus not very suitable for small-area landscape; a fine plant for water-conserving landscapes
 
Landscape Care:
Watering an occasional deep soak; the plant becomes very drought resistant and can endure long periods of neglect
Fertilizing none is required
Pruning thin out occasionally and remove dead wood for a more attractive appearance
Pests/Diseases relatively free
Special Conditions/Other
 
Origin: Australia
Family: Casuarinaceae

Notes:
 
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