value of Dragons blood tree?

Rob Chace

just briefly,
a friend has a block that she will be subdividing and has a DBT on it
http://bit.ly/hSCcYn

and she knows nothing about this tree, likes it but it is in the way of the development.... HOWEVER she would like to know how rare/valuable one is (from memory 4yrs ago it was 4m across and 3m tall to the underside of canopy, so 4/4.5m tall). If it is a rare plant and/or of value she wants to adjust the development to keep the tree.

will try to get back out the next w/end and get pics.

Bowani Siam

Hi,

They are not rare in cultivation - quite the opposite in fact. They have been fashionable in modern gardens for quite a few years now.

Seeing as they are so slow growing, it would be a shame to take it out - especially if it is not crucial to the development. When you upload the pics it'll be easier to comment.

Plants with a 1m trunk height generally go for anywhere between $200-400. The monetary value of a specimen such as you're describing would be much higher, (though that's always dependent on the market!). However that is not the only value, and seeing as it obviously has significance for your friend it would be worth retaining.

Saying that, they do transplant pretty well, if you prepare the tree for transplanting about a year in advance!

Check these out:

Large tree transplants

KevinE

There is a guy not too far from me who breaks them up & strikes them as individual plants. The limbs are very easily struck. Anything from 600mm tall upwards sells for >$200. He has had them stuck in the nature strip of his house until he sells them.