Gray sheoak
Casuarina glauca · Casuarinaceae
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around gray sheoak and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen, very fine and aciculate (needle-like appearance)
- Flowering
- Poorly ornamental, discreet flowers in red or brown spikes
- Adult size
- 8 to 15 m in height × 5 to 8 m in width
- Growth
- Fast to moderate depending on conditions
- Hardiness
- Frost-tender, ideal for Mediterranean to tropical climates
- Origin
- Eastern Australia
- Soil type
- Tolerates poor, acidic and well-drained soils
Care
Watering
Water regularly during planting and the first year to ensure establishment. In dry climates, maintain moderate watering during the warm season. Once well-rooted, Casuarina glauca tolerates relative drought thanks to its deep root system.
Light exposure
Choose a full sun location to optimize its growth and structure. This plant enjoys airy spaces and tolerates sea spray and coastal winds well, making it ideal for seaside gardens.
Soil
Choose well-drained soil, preferably light and sandy. Avoid waterlogging, particularly in winter. Adding mineral amendments or sand can improve drainage if your soil is too compact.
Pruning and training
Little pruning is needed under optimal conditions. Remove dead or misplaced branches in late winter. Young plants can be pinched to encourage bushier branching and a more harmonious shape.
Fertilizer
Undemanding, this plant tolerates poor soils. Annual application of balanced fertilizer in spring is sufficient for potted specimens or young plantings. In naturally well-structured soil, additional fertilizer is generally unnecessary.
Diseases and pests
Generally pest-resistant. In humid climates, monitor excessive moisture which could promote fungal issues. Ensure good spacing to allow air circulation around the foliage.
Did you know?
Casuarina glauca, often called 'She-oak' or 'Australian oak' in English, is not a true oak: its leaves resemble conifer needles but are actually modified twigs. In Australia, this tree plays a major ecological role by fixing atmospheric nitrogen in the soil through root symbiosis, making it a valuable species for ecological restoration of degraded lands.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Allocasuarina littoralisAllocasuarina littoralis
- Allocasuarina verticillataAllocasuarina verticillata
- Australian pineCasuarina equisetifolia
- Forest-oakAllocasuarina torulosa
- River sheoakCasuarina cunninghamiana
- Bull-oakAllocasuarina luehmannii
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.