Grevillea robusta

[Austinpalm]

Prior to the January 9th, 17F degree freeze here in Austin I had an approximately 15-20 foot tall lacey silk oak. Since then, the tree has died back to about 1 foot above ground level. I planted the tree because I liked the foliage and big nectar producing flowers and for some reason thought it was hardier to cold. Now I am having second thoughts about keeping it. The stump has since sprouted some leaves and I anticipate will try to grow a new trunk. I am leaning more towards maintaining it as a hedge or shrub (if I keep it) because I am not interested in having to cut down so much dead material when 17F happens again in 10 years. I am curious if anyone else has tried to maintain the silk oak as a hedge/shrub and if it still flowers well in that form?

[fastfeat]

Clay--

Very doubtful that silk oak will flower as a hedged plant. I'm actually surprised you had it bloom as a young 15' tree, as they usually flower on older wood, generally on interior branches, of more mature trees.

While I can't speak as to whether it's worth regenerating it from the stump/removing deadwood following the occasional killing frost, I'd say that that's probably the only way you'll see flowers. It could make a decent, attractive loose hedge if not pruned too hard. Better off nipping/pinching vigorous young growth regularly than shearing into old wood once or twice a year.

BTW, if I lived in Austin, I'd try growing Grevillea robusta if I had the room. It would be a pretty cool tree that area most years, I would think.

Good luck.

[Walter John]

A classic tree just the same. I had a beauty many years ago. It's a Grevillea, don't fertilise, don't do anything, just let it be.

it won't die. I don't think it would hedge too well though, never tried.

[tropicbreeze]

I didn't think any Grevillea would do any good with anything other than tip pruning.

[Daryl]

I have pruned several of the smaller Grevilleas back to stumps over the years. They never seemed to mind and grew back better than ever. Never tried it with a Silky Oak though.

Daryl

[tropicbreeze]

I've always thought of Grevilleas as fairly short term plants, a bit like Acacia, fast growing - fast dieing. A couple of our taller Grevilleas, G. heliosperma and G. pteridifolia, grow quite fast but they don't last a real long time.