Casuarina glauca 'Cousin It.

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

Family: Casuarinaceae

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington on 16th March, 2022 at Crafers West

Leaves

Taken by Ken Harrington on 16th March, 2022 at Crafers West

Flower (Female)

Taken by Ken Harrington on 20th October, 2021 at Crafers West

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington on 20th October, 2021 at Crafers West

Expand all

Plant Properties

Origin(s)

Australia

NSW: Cultivar

Plant Type

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

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

Plant Shape

Bun - Low

Prostrate

Bun - Low,

Prostrate

Growth Rate

Moderate

Life Span

30-50yrs

Leaf Properties

Colour (front)

Green Dark

Aroma

None

Texture (front)

Glaucous

Scaly

Smooth

Glaucous,

Scaly,

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

Cross Section(s)

Terete

Venation(s)

Parallel

Arrangement

Alternate & Spiralled

Apice(s)

Acute Narrowly

Base(s)

Attenuate

Attachment

Sessile & Articulate

Bark / Stem / Culm Properties

Colour(s) Upper

Green , Green-grey

Green,

Green-grey

Colour(s) Lower

Grey-brown

Texture(s) Upper

Scaly

Textures(s) Lower

Furrowed

Scaly

Furrowed,

Scaly

Trunk / Stem Construction(s)

Wood Fibres / Solid

Wood - Soft

Trunk / Stem / Culm Cross Section

Terete

Flower Properties

Gender: Male

Time(s)

Winter Mid - Spring Mid

Aroma(s)

None

Arrangement(s)

Spike

Gender: Female

Time(s)

Winter Mid - Spring Mid

Flower Colour(s)

Red-brown

Aroma(s)

None

Arrangement(s)

Inflorescence - Female Cone

Arrangement Size(s)

10-15mm

Root Properties

Type

Nodulate

Plate

Nodulate,

Plate

Texture

Fibrous

Colour(s)

Brown Dark, Brown-red

Brown Dark,

Brown-red

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

Moist

Moist - Dry

Damp,

Moist,

Moist - Dry

Fertile , Deep , Well Drained

Fertile,

Deep,

Well Drained

Salinities

Slight

Waterlogging Class

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

Bird Attraction

None

Butterfly Attraction

None

Frog Habitat

None

Carbon Sequestration Potential

None

Coastal

1st Line

Edible(s)

None

Fire Regeneration(s)

None

Fire Retarding

None

Drought Tolerance

Moderate

Frost Tolerance

Moderate

Snow Tolerance

None

Minimum Temperature Tolerance

0 - 2°C

Smog Tolerant

Moderate

Landscape Use

Very Good

Street Use

None

Commercial Use(s)

Horticulture - Amenity

Maintenance(s)

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

Dormancy

Winter

Humidity Requirements

Medium

Vulnerability

LC - Least Concern

Altitude Range - Habitat

0-100m, 100-200m, 200-300m, 300-400m, 400-500m, 500-600m, 600-700m

0-100m,

100-200m,

200-300m,

300-400m,

400-500m,

500-600m,

600-700m

Annual Precipitation Range

450mm, 500mm, 550mm, 600mm, 650mm, 700mm, 750mm

450mm,

500mm,

550mm,

600mm,

650mm,

700mm,

750mm

Fertilising Requirements

FR6

Wind Tolerance

Strong Winds

Propagation

Soft Wood Cuttings

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.

Propagation Notes

Semi-hardwood Cuttings

Cutting

Summer Early, Summer Mid, Spring Late

Material Preparation

Firm wood tip, stem cuttings. Ensure the cut at the bottom node is a clean cut. Cutting approx. 30 - 50mm long. Firm wood tip, stem cuttings, remove lower leaves, reduce remaining leaves by 50%. Mist frequently to keep hydrated or drop in a bowl of water till ready to use.

Propagating Mix

1 part Cocopeat + 1 part Perlite

Treatment

Keep hydrated during prep.. Water tray of mix and thoroughly wet with Previcur fungicide. Dip cutting in Easiroot rooting hormone. Using a dibber, press gently into tray of mix. Mist frequently while continuing cutting process. Place on 21° heated bed with misters. Maintain hothouse environment between 75-95% humidity and temperature between 20-30° C. Spray fortnightly with fungicide. Keep in bright but indirect light.

Strike Rate:- Field Stock %

Nursery Stock %

Rooting time:- Field Stock weeks

Nursery Stock weeks

Tube Mix:- Premium Potting Mix

Notes

Note:- 'Cousin It' is protected by PBR, propagation is only allowed under license.