Casuarina glauca 'Cousin It.

Common name(s): Cousin It, Casuarina 'Cousin It', 'Cousin It' She-oak

Family: Casuarinaceae
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Plant
Plant
Taken by Ken Harrington on 16th March, 2022 at Crafers West
Leaf
Leaves
Taken by Ken Harrington on 16th March, 2022 at Crafers West
Flower_female
Flower (Female)
Taken by Ken Harrington on 20th October, 2021 at Crafers West
Plant
Plant
Taken by Ken Harrington on 20th October, 2021 at Crafers West
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Plant Properties
Origin(s)
Australia
  • NSW: Cultivar
Plant Type
Evergreen Groundcover
Evergreen Groundcover
Climate Range(s) - Habitat
Oceanic, Temperate Cool, Temperate Warm, Mediterranean, Tropical-Sub
Oceanic,
Temperate Cool,
Temperate Warm,
Mediterranean,
Tropical-Sub
Aspect Range(s)
Sun - Full
Sun - Full
Habitat Range(s)
Garden, Landscape
Garden,
Landscape
Habitat Zone(s)
Dry Slopes, Exposed, Exposed Stony embankments, Foothills, Garden, Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's, Heavy soils, Hills, Landscape, Moist Slopes, Open areas, Plains, Ridges, Rock crevices, Sandy Dry, Sandy Moist, Scattered, Well drained, Windy
Dry Slopes,
Exposed,
Exposed Stony embankments,
Foothills,
Garden,
Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's,
Heavy soils,
Hills,
Landscape,
Moist Slopes,
Open areas,
Plains,
Ridges,
Rock crevices,
Sandy Dry,
Sandy Moist,
Scattered,
Well drained,
Windy
Mature Height
250-300mm, 300-350mm
250-300mm,
300-350mm
Mature Width
1-1.5m
1-1.5m
Plant Shape
Bun - Low
Bun - Low
Prostrate
Prostrate
Bun - Low Bun - Low,
Prostrate Prostrate
Growth Rate
Moderate
Moderate
Life Span
30-50yrs
30-50yrs
Leaf Properties
Colour (front)
Green Dark
Green Dark
Aroma
None
None
Texture (front)
Glaucous
Glaucous
Scaly
Scaly
Smooth
Smooth
Glaucous Glaucous,
Scaly Scaly,
Smooth Smooth
Leaf Length(s)
100-125mm, 125-150mm, 150-175mm, 175-200mm
100-125mm,
125-150mm,
150-175mm,
175-200mm
Leaf Width(s)
1.5-2mm, 2-2.5mm, 2.5-3mm
1.5-2mm,
2-2.5mm,
2.5-3mm
Margin
Entire
Entire
Entire Entire
Bark / Stem / Culm Properties
Colour(s) Upper
Green , Green-grey
Green,
Green-grey
Colour(s) Lower
Grey-brown
Grey-brown
Texture(s) Upper
Scaly
Scaly
Scaly Scaly
Trunk / Stem Construction(s)
Wood Fibres / Solid
Wood Fibres / Solid
Wood Fibres / Solid Wood Fibres / Solid
Wood - Soft
Wood - Soft
Trunk / Stem / Culm Cross Section
Terete
Terete
Terete Terete
Flower Properties
Gender: Male
Time(s)
Winter Mid - Spring Mid
Aroma(s)
None
None
Gender: Female
Time(s)
Winter Mid - Spring Mid
Flower Colour(s)
Red-brown
Red-brown
Aroma(s)
None
None
Root Properties
Type
Nodulate
Nodulate
Plate
Plate
Nodulate Nodulate,
Plate Plate
Soil Properties
Type(s)
Clay, Clay-loam, Loam, Sandy-loam, Sand, Stony, Shaley, Hummus Rich
Clay,
Clay-loam,
Loam,
Sandy-loam,
Sand,
Stony,
Shaley,
Hummus Rich
pH Range(s)
Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline, Alkaline
Acid,
Slightly Acid,
Neutral,
Slightly Alkaline,
Alkaline
Condition(s)
Damp
Damp
Moist
Moist
Moist - Dry
Moist - Dry
Damp Damp,
Moist Moist,
Moist - Dry Moist - Dry
Fertile , Deep , Well Drained
Fertile,
Deep,
Well Drained
Salinities
Slight
Slight
Slight Slight
Waterlogging Class
W0 – Low tolerance
W0 – Low tolerance
Watering Requirements
WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering, WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering, WR7 - reduce watering during dormant period
WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering,
WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering,
WR7 - reduce watering during dormant period
Other Properties / Uses
Bee Attraction
None
None
Bird Attraction
None
None
Butterfly Attraction
None
None
Frog Habitat
None
None
Coastal
1st Line
1st Line
Edible(s)
None
None
Fire Retarding
None
None
Drought Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Frost Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Snow Tolerance
None
None
Landscape Use
Very Good
Very Good
Maintenance(s)
Pruning - Shaping
Pruning - Shaping
Pests/Diseases
Gall 'coccoids' - fruit emulating, Cockoo Spit Scale, Hairy Brown Caterpillar (Perna exposita), Casuarina Scale, Scale
Gall 'coccoids' - fruit emulating,
Cockoo Spit Scale,
Hairy Brown Caterpillar (Perna exposita),
Casuarina Scale,
Scale
Special Purpose(s)
Garden-Bonsai, Garden-Border Plant, Erosion Control, Foliage-interesting, Garden-Australian Native, Garden-Coastal, Garden-Cottage, Garden-Courtyard, Garden-Formal, Garden-Hanging Basket, Garden-Informal, Garden-Mediterranean, Garden-Rock, Groundcover, Playground Friendly, Pond Edge, Pool Side, Specimen, Sunny Moist
Garden-Bonsai,
Garden-Border Plant,
Erosion Control,
Foliage-interesting,
Garden-Australian Native,
Garden-Coastal,
Garden-Cottage,
Garden-Courtyard,
Garden-Formal,
Garden-Hanging Basket,
Garden-Informal,
Garden-Mediterranean,
Garden-Rock,
Groundcover,
Playground Friendly,
Pond Edge,
Pool Side,
Specimen,
Sunny Moist
Fertilising Requirements
FR6
FR6
Wind Tolerance
Strong Winds
Strong Winds

General Notes

'Cousin It' is an unusual and extremely tough native ground cover with a spreading, cascading habit. Once established it withstands harsh conditions. Adaptable to most soil types, it also response well to a little extra moisture but will tolerate dry conditions once established. A fun plant for the garden with a characterof its own, with fine 'hairy' strands of cascading foliage. Originating from a cutting from material from Booderee National Park, New South Wales, in 1989. Named from an old television show 'The Addam's Family' 

The actual leaves or 'teeth' are very small and form rings at intervals along the green 'stem' which are chlorophyll-containing and photosynthetic parts of the plant. Although not a legume, the roots form nodules with nitrogen fixing bacteria.