Terminalia ferdinandiana x T. petiolaris – Red Gubinge (seed)

Description

Terminalia ferdinandiana x T. petiolaris is a small to moderate sized spreading tree from 4-10m tall, native to northern parts of Australia. Combretaceae family. A natural hybrid between the Kakadu Plum (Gubinge) and Marool Plum. Fruit varies in sweetness between parent trees. Should be a good option for more southern gardens or as a grafting stock for Gubinge.

Care and Cultivation of Terminalia ferdinandiana x T. petiolaris

Terminalia ferdinandiana x T. petiolaris seeds have a physical dormancy and will need to be nicked, sanded or filed to encourage germination. With no treatment, you can expect to wait 6 months to 2 years or more until the embryo can imbibe water and start the germination process. The seed is surrounded by a dry flesh that can be sanded off. You can soak the dry fruit for a few days in water and then rub the flesh off. NOTE: these days I do this step for you and you should just follow the treatment below for penetrating the hard seed coat.

Inside the seed is a much smaller ‘nut’, which is the actual part of the seed that contains the embryo and from whence forth your plant will grow. To encourage germination, you need to just expose this inner ‘almond’ by filing the shell with a rasp, be careful. No wonder they can take a long time to germinate with no treatment!

Plant seeds just under the surface (1cm) in a good quality seed raising mix in full sun. Keep moist and warm until germination, which may take up to 3 months (depending on how well you file down the seed coat). A drought tolerant, beautiful and hardy species.

5 seeds per packet