Correas and Pruning
I found some more Correa cuttings which had grown roots, in the hot house. Sometimes they strike readily, other times they will actually send out flowers and the odd new shoot but when potting time comes there is not a root to be seen. Grevilleas will do this too, I have found.
If I have to trim the roots of the cuttings when potting on, I will often tip prune the plant at the same time, or take a little more of the top to balance the root system that is available to the plant.
Last year we had a trip to Ngarkat Conservation Park, near Keith in the upper South East of SA. It was winter, the first rains for the year began that weekend, and the area had had a bushfire through it in January of the same year. Despite the lack of rain we found the locally occurring Correas had sprouted abundant new growth from the base of the plants at ground level. The top of the plants were a few charcoal twigs.
This made me feel that it was worth experimenting with quite severe pruning of the Correas which I had neglected in the garden. I forgot about it last spring. I am watching for the new growth to appear this autumn and will try a few of the late flowering plants, rather than lose the flowers this year. Thought I would cut back to the last three of four buds on each stem and see what happens. I will have nothing to lose really as the plants are quite scruffy. They will have to be chopped back or pulled out.
what kind of tools would I use to prune a correas
Sharp secatuers are what you need. If you have one of the very tall species, consider a pruning saw if a lot of the plant needs cutting.
Corinne
Can I prune now in June ..I’m in Eastern Victoria
Hi Anita,
This site used to be my wife Corinne’s site, but she passed away earlier this year, so I will try to be helpful.
It is my understanding that many Australian native plants, including correas, can be tip pruned at any time. This will encourage new growth and more flowers.
If you need to prune back severely, wait until the plant has finished flowering. If your area is frost prone, it might be wiser to delay heavy pruning until spring, though correas are very frost hardy. They grow naturally near my home and in my garden in Murray Bridge (80 km SE Adelaide) and we get many heavy frosts annually.
Hope this helps.
Thank you for your very helpful reply to Anita’s question; it answers my own query about hard pruning of a correa (where there is going to be much tradie activity). I’m also going to try propagating from cuttings, just in case.
I am sorry to hear that your wife passed away.. wishing you well.
Kat
Thank you for your kind words.
Trevor