Growing Metrosideros excelsus in South Australia

Cathmantoo

Hi, does anyone have any advice on growing the Pohutukawa, Metrosideros excelsa, as a windbreak in the Eastern Mount Lofty foothills, SA. We live on top of a hill which cops the wind year round. We have around 30 cm of topsoil over soft shale/slate. Rainfall is approx 450mm, however the trees would be drip irrigated until established. I am interested to know how quickly they might grow and whether they would suffer from our excessive summer heat, 40 degrees being not uncommon. We also have around 3 or 4 frosts each winter. Any advice on these trees would be appreciated, as well as any other suggestions for attractive windbreak trees, not conifers, preferably with interesting silvery leaves so that they blend into the dry surrounding landscape over most of the year. We have an acre of land, so larger trees would be ok.
Regards, an optimistic gardener, Cathmantoo.

derwoodii

Try this Eucalyptus torquata not quite silvery but a dull shade of green in a tough but pretty small tree.

Eric Frei

How high do you want this screen?

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Cathmantoo

Thanks, I know Euc. torquata, nice tree, but not quite the effect I'm looking for. The windbreak needs to be at least 10m tall, probably somewhere between 10 and 20m, as the trees will be planted downhill from the house. Needs to be fast growing before my sanity blows away! I have considered bamboo but it would look rather out of place!
Regards Cathmantoo.

Bowani Siam

RE Metrosideros - awesome plant but it would take a couple of decades to get to that height even in optimal conditions. These plants grow on NZ cliffs in rocky soil, so the conditions you present aren't imperfect - however if you are looking something quicker perhaps Acacia, Eucalyptus, Callistemon, Casurina/Allocasurina species..?

This website (PDF) is quite handy! http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/__data/asse...South_East.pdf

did that 'link' work I wonder....

Attached Files

Windbreaks_for_the_Upper_South_East.pdf (277.2 KB, 20 views)

Cathmantoo

Thanks Very Sarcastic from Sydney, your link did work, and I have looked at these lists previously then forgotten all about them. I very much like Casuarinas but have found them to be slow growing at times. Maybe I will do some more work on breaking up the rock to begin with. Thank you for your Pohutukawa input, as Sydney climate is probably more akin to their native NZ conditions. Have been to NZ lots and love the trees, so soft spot for them here! The new interbred miniature varieties are used a fair bit in Adelaide in suburban coastal gardens but I rarely see the tree form. I think I will go ahead and try and purchase several to interplant with Casuarina's, god knows I'm not planning on going anywhere in the next 20 years, but am pretty tired of picking up crashed pots every second day! ps you were not very sarcastic. Cath.