Bentham's Wood-apple Plant Care

Bentham's Wood-apple (Xylomelum benthamii) belongs to the Proteaceae family within the Xylomelum genus. Bentham's Wood-apple is native to south-eastern Queensland, Australia, and was described from material collected on 25 June 1829 on the Brisbane River some 140 km (87 mi) north-west of what is. Bentham's Wood-apple is also known as Western Australian Sandalwood.

Bentham's Wood-apple displays a tall, upright tree growth habit, reaching up to 30 ft tall with a spread of approximately 15 ft. Bentham's Wood-apple produces small clusters of cream-colored flowers.

Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Bentham's Wood-apple every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Bentham's Wood-apple thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Xylomelum benthamii tolerates temperatures of 50–80°F. Bentham's Wood-apple prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Bentham's Wood-apple to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Bentham's Wood-apple every 8 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Bentham's Wood-apple is suited to USDA Zone 12a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Bentham's Wood-apple can spread to about 15 ft (4.6 m) and reach about 30 ft (9 m) tall. Space plants about 15 ft (4.6 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Bentham's Wood-apple while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Bentham's Wood-apple is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Bentham's Wood-apple can be propagated through seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to narrow-leaved native pear plant care, which shares the same genus.

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Bentham's Wood-apple is susceptible to aphids, scale insects, caterpillars. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Bentham's Wood-apple grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Bentham's Wood-apple is native to south-eastern Queensland, Australia, and was described from material collected on 25 June 1829 on the Brisbane River some 140 km (87 mi) north-west of what is. In cooler regions, grow Bentham's Wood-apple as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.