GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post

28-06-2005, 02:26 AM

writes:
Thanks John. Our climate is very mild, usually no frost in the winter,
and not too much hot weather either. I know macadamia's grow here,
along with citrus and avocado. I'll have to look up lillypilly. I had
not heard of it.

On second thoughts, the leaves are smaller than most fruit trees so
probably not as dense as you may want "for privacy". Also the trunk
doesn't seem to branch as close to the ground as do say, apple trees, so
it depends on whether you want to block out neighbours at ground level or
from a multi-storey block of apartments. Just avoid planting near a path
because unless you pick all the fruit every year, it has to drop and rot
and this makes a slippery mess on concrete for a couple of weeks. Over
grass it's fine. There are many varieties of lillypilly, some are small
compact trees, some huge and spreading, and I'd expect their fruit would
differ a bit too.

Also, have you considered a mulberry? They do grow fast! and have dense
leaves, but I think they drop their leaves in winter so your privacy
would be seasonal but it means that the grass around the tree gets a
chance to get some sunlight and grow. The birds will make a mess of
nearby clotheslines, cars, balconies, etc. unless you net the tree, but
you say you've had a fig so I expect you've had it netted or you would
not have tasted any fruit; besides, the edible fig is deciduous, too, isn't
it?

Then there's the quince, deciduous, but it will need spraying for some pests.
The big advantage of the macadamia and lillypilly (I think lillypilly is the
correct spelling) is that here in Australia at least it seems free of insect
pests, though this might not hold in the US.

I'm wondering whether the tropical mango might do okay? It grows into a
big tree, and has delicious fruit. I've heard conflicting reports about
whether it does need spraying for fruit fly or not, though the taste of the
fruit might make that worthwhile. How long it takes to grow and start
fruiting is something I can't answer. It might be frost tender until it gets
established. I think it is not deciduous but don't take my word on that.
--
John Savage (my news address is not valid for email)