dry root bois d'arc

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I have dozens, maybe hundreds, of 2-4 foot bois d'arc trees that came up in the "back 40" this spring. I love these trees, but I can't let all of them stay, and would like to send some to family and friends. Does anyone have any experience or "considered opinion" as to whether these can be dug and shipped dry-root this winter? Thanks much Gerre

-- Gerre G. (cigitgerre@yahoo.com), October 27, 2003

Answers

I cannot help with your question; however, I would be interested in acquiring dry-root stock when/if available. Also, do you possibly have any advice on how to grow these trees from seed.

-- Cliff Emerson (cemerson@cableone.net), October 30, 2003.

I've propagated bois d'arc both by seed and by stem cuttings, and seed is best. I didn't do anything likd a well-controlled study, but roughly, this is what I found: plant the bois d'arc apple in the fall before it rots, maybe 10% germination; freeze the apple a month or so and sow in spring, well over 50% germination; stem cuttings <1cm, 0%; stems 1-2cm,around 30% but very sensitive to soil moisture - must stay damp. The reason I put the apples in the freezer is I live in Houston and we don't always get a hard freeze, and the native distribution of bois d'arc is in parts of Texas and Oklahoma that almost alwaya get at least a week or so of solid freeze. This is an amazingly hardy and resilient tree, and my gut feeling is that it can be dry-root shipped, but I have no experience doing that. I assume I would simply wash the roots clean of soil after the tree has lost it's leaves, wrap in plastic and mail immediately, and it could be replanted as soon as it was received and kept moist but not wet up through spring. I'd be happy to send a few and some seeds if you want to try it. Gerre Plant More Bois D'arc!!!

-- gerre (cigitgerre@yahoo.com), November 01, 2003.

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