Communities

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Scientific Name

Diselma archeri

Family Name

CUPRESSACEAE

Common Name

Cheshunt pine

Status

Height

usually 1.5m - 2.5m (150-250cm)

Flowers

Fruit

Cones

Form

Grey-green shrub, branches curving downwards at the ends. Branchlets with foliage appear square in cross section.

Municipalities

Central Highlands; Derwent Valley; Huon Valley; Kentish; Meander Valley; Northern Midlands; Waratah-Wynyard; West Coast

Communities

Montane Vegetation; Rainforest

Habitat Notes

Tas. endemic. Found mainly in the central and western mountains but also occurring on unburnt sections of the Central Plateau and as a small tree in rainforest to 6m.

Site Tolerance

Exposed; Moist; Shady; Windy

Frost Tolerance

Hardy

Soil Tolerance

Fertile; Loam; Phosphorous intolerant; Poor; Well-drained

General Notes

Withstands frost and snow and does best in moist, well drained soils in a cool location. Appreciates summer watering. Relatively slow growing and has been in cultivation for many years. Suitable below powerlines.

Propagation Details

Propagation Calendar

Flowering Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Collecting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sowing Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cutting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Male and female cones on separate plants. female have 2 pairs of scales, only upper pair fertile. ripe seeds, 2 per cone, longer than scales which become hard and brownish- purple in colour. difficult to collect as seed is shed rapidly

Seed Treatment Method

Standard

Seed Storage Life

Short

Viable Seeds Per Gram

Seed Treatment Notes

May be grown from seed. Use fresh seed. Viability varies from year to year.

Germination Time

Suitable for Direct Seeding

Cuttings

Expected Time to Take Root

3-5 months

Expected Time to Plant Out

Propagation by Division N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.

Cutting Notes

Cuttings strike fairly readily. Use firm but vigorous tip cuttings with or without "heels" and strike in a 2:1 mix of peat moss and sand. Late summer is best time to collect Should strike more successfully if stored in a plastic bag with sphagnum moss in the refrigerator at or about 3-4oC for 6-8 weeks prior to setting out. Bottom heat and mist is beneficial or a plastic bag over the pot. Plants grow slowly and require adequate moisture. Also from layer.