Pittwater Life January 2024 Issue

Signs of the Pines
If you look closely at the Norfolk the tree is much narrower.
Island Pines that are planted along The bark of the Cook Pine peels
our beaches (pictured) you will see off in thin sheets, unlike other
that some trees are much narrower pines. As sapling trees, it is hard to
than others, yet all are commonly differentiate between the varieties
called Norfolk Island Pines.
and initially they were treated as
They are in fact different varieties. one, explaining why both varieties
The true Norfolk Island Pine was can be seen together. In recent years
found in Norfolk Island by the very growers have favoured the Cook Pine
early settlers and seed was brought to and it is the variety most commonly
Australia by Captain Cook who hoped grown as a Christmas Tree. The cones
that the very straight trunks would be are most distinctive and can be seen
used as masts for sailing ships. They flowering now (inset pic). The female
proved unsuitable but the timber was cones are oval and grow at the top
used for other purposes.
of the tree, but the male cones can
These trees are enormous, the be seen on the lower branch tips as
largest being measured as 51.93m long clusters of elongated pale brown
tall with a spread of up to 23m wide, cones. These trees flower most years,
and it is quite unsuitable for domestic but the Norfolks only produce cones
gardens.
every 4 or 5 years.
However, on Cook’s second voyage These pines often appear to be
in 1774 he discovered a second, leaning on an angle; it could be
narrower pine – Cook’s Pine, aurucaria thought to be from windy conditions,
columnaris – in New Caledonia that is but recent research has shown that
one of the oldest known trees in the they will always grow towards the
world.
equator. The further away, the more
Sometimes known as the Gondwana they will lean over. Plants never fail to
Pine, Cook’s pine is a slender tree that amaze me!
will grow as tall as the Norfolk Island Although smaller, it is still not a tree
Pine but the foliage is more dense and that is suitable for domestic gardens.
Bleeding Heart (de)vine
The Bleeding Heart vine, clerodendron thomsoniae, is a bright
green tropical vine from west Africa. The clusters of scarlet and
white flowers (below) that appear in terminal clusters last for many
weeks; the scarlet
middles will fall, leaving
the white outsides that
will slowly turn pink as
they age.
Some evergreen
creepers will
eventually overtake
the garden unless
carefully kept under
control. The Bleeding
Heart vine, that
flowers in time for
Christmas every
year without fail,
although evergreen
in its native habitat,
is deciduous in
our cooler climate,
and as the night
temperature drops
in winter, it loses its
leaves. This makes it
easy to control.
The flowers come
on the new season’s
growth, so if it is pruned back before the new growth in
spring, it will never become a problem.
This is a plant that grows well in containers, or on a fence. It
loves full sun and regular water.
The Local Voice Since 1991
JANUARY 2024 71
Garden Life