Can these be trained into tree form?

[ruskinPalms]

I think I have seen small, single trunked trees ove maybe 15 to 20' in height that look like Oleander from a distance. Can oleander be trained into a tree form?  Also curious about Hibiscus. Can these be trained into a small tree?

Thanks in advance,

Bill

[jrod]

Oleander can definitely be trained into a tree form.  There are many of them around here where I live.  I found this page that has a picture of a oleander trained as a tree.  http://cals.arizona.edu/pima/gardening/aridplants/Nerium_oleander.html

I would think Hibiscus could be trained as a tree also but I am not sure.

[BigFrond]

Oleanders will be trees if you just allow one to a few trunks to grow.  You will have to get rid of the new shoots every few months.  Oleanders are planted in the freeway center divide here in Cali.

[Carlo Morici]

There are some majestic pink oleanders trained as trees on the main boulevard of Milazzo, in Sicily. Planted some 60-90 years ago, they are so large that cars and vans can pass below.

As for Hibiscus, it depends much on the cultivar. Most new hibrids are weak shrubs, often needing grafting. But some old crosses can go "up", especially the ones with "blood" of H.arnottianus. THe so-called common pink grows larger than anything else, larger in Sicily than in the Canaries (?). My grandfather in Sicily planted a common-pink in the 70's that is about 12 m tall and even has some short aerial roots on the branches. A cutting I rooted some 14 years ago is already about 8m tall.

Then, there is the Cuban-Jamaican native tree: Hibiscus elatus, going up to 30 m. This is a fast-growing tree, used in streets and parks as a tree.

Carlo

[DoomsDave]

To answer the question, both oleander and hibiscus can be trained as standards.

Here in the Land O'La La, they do both.  

How about a pic of the place they're gonna go?

dave

[SunnyFl]

Bill, hibiscus definitely can be trained as a tree and it often is.  The problem is that when it's trained to a single trunk, it has no wind resistance and will require staking to keep it from falling over.  This is much less of a problem if it's trained to multiple trunks.

As for oleander, there are a number of tree-trained ones around here, but they look very nice if they have more than one trunk.

[Jeff Searle]

True as stated above by all. But not in the 15-20' range. Usually you will see them about 10-12', maybe.

Jeff

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

In my experience, the oleander is a constant pruning job to keep it as a single tree, and on top of that, everytime you prune off the suckers is a new opportunity for pathogens ( such as galls) to get a foothold.  Maybe in a drier climate than here it works well, but I often see the tree decline and need eventual replacement because of galls and other diseases.

As far as the Hibiscus goes, you really have to have a good root system to start with to keep a decent small tree.  My best success has been with small three gallon sized trees planted out and then training them from there.  If you start with a 7 or 10 gallon you often get a lousy root system with a top heavy tree that blows over all the time.  Hibiscus are weak wooded and the top will break up if not thinned judisciously.  Jeff's 10'-12' estimate is on the money.

Jerry

[SunnyFl]

(Jerry@TreeZoo @ May 07 2007,14:01)

QUOTE

As far as the Hibiscus goes, you really have to have a good root system to start with to keep a decent small tree.  My best success has been with small three gallon sized trees planted out and then training them from there.  If you start with a 7 or 10 gallon you often get a lousy root system with a top heavy tree that blows over all the time.

Ain't THAT the truth!  VOE - those were the size I planted mine from (7 gal).  Nothing but trouble from the wind, and after Jeanne, they never bloomed decently again.  Must have been the bad-root problem you mentioned.

The more they get blown around, the more they decline.

I have since potted them up, tied them to supports, and plan to cut them way back.  (and they're blooming again, btw)

[ruskinPalms]

Hey all, thanks for the replies.  I probably will steer clear of oleander anyway since they are very poisonous supposedly. They do bloom beautifully though which makes them tempting. Probably better than Plumeria for my area. I may try to thin out the lower branches of some of my hibiscus bushes and see what happens as they get older. I would love them to be no more than 10' OA anyway.  Also, maybe I was thinking they could all grow out like Hibiscus tiliaceus which does apparently turn into a real tree. All my hibiscus were planted as 1 gallon or 3 gallon. They grow very fast in my climate and bloom prolifically.

[Bilbo]

. . .  even here in a mild part of the normally "chilly"  UK; Nerium oleander can grow huge and it will certainly make a small tree given the chance.

Actually, as a purely personal preference I prefer a large single specimen over the usual hedge.

Regards

Juan

[palmmermaid]

I would not plant oleander as every part of the plant is poisonous - leaves, sap, even smoke inhaled from burning them.  I am amazed at how many schools have them planted around.  I have seen cows die from eating the leaves.

[Howeadypsis]

(ruskinPalms @ May 05 2007,00:48)

QUOTE

curious about Hibiscus. Can these be trained into a small tree?

Well, I have seen a few trained as Bonsai!