Marianne's Response

Scoop’s Question

Hello Marianne and Happy Sat morning from Charleston, South Carolina! My question is about my Casias Tree. When I lived closer to the coast, my beautiful Casias tree got huge and was never particularly bothered by the cold…but we moved and now I live a little further north in Summerville, SC and my (young) Casias tree was almost killed by the cold snap we had in early spring. My question is about how to cut it back…I cut it back this year to about 2 feet and I do seem to have some tender new growth coming up from the ground. Should I have cut the branches to the ground? Anything you can tell me about the Casias tree and how to take care of it would be helpful! I love her and share pictures on FB of her in her glory every fall and people just ew and awe over her…many have gone on to get their own casias trees and now look to me for direction on how to take care of theirs too! Any help from you would be appreciated.
Thanks so much!
Loren

Posted by Scoop on May 6, 2017

Marianne's Response

You are correct in that this tree from Brazil needs warm weather to thrive but I think yours should survive in your new garden based on the fact that it is sending up new growth. These trees need good drainage. This tree will take pruning to create a more tree-like shape as in the wild they are more bush like in growth. Pick one main branch to the be trunk and stake it if necessary. Then allow sprouts at the top of this but clip off side shoots and new sprouts from the base to keep the plant a single trunk tree. Best to prune in late spring and try not to snip off more than one third of the branches when you are training young trees. If the trunk you cut does not sprout then you should pick one of the shoots coming from the ground as the new trunk next year. Give all the shoots this summer to grow a bit and supply the roots with energy. Good luck and Keep growing, Marianne Binetti

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