Evergreening the South

   Update on a new tree being used among others to convert southern pine forest to broadleaf evergreen. Sorry I cannot tell the name as they are tenuously established and don't want to give any info to native plant nazi's to start banning or eradication efforts.

   This year with the Polar Vortex they have proven hardy here in Z7 and seem to be growing even in winter. According to local Chinese studies they have been found to require establishment in pine forests as they use their roots to predate the roots of pines. They do not use the pines parasitically as they attack to kill. They suck sap and nutrients from pine roots but eventually the pine succumbs and is removed as competition for the developing tree which eventually reaches 80-100' high and as wide. 

   One pix is tray of 250+ seedlings and second is

a yearling growing very rapidly in a pine forest. Their reproductive biology is similar to Prunus Caroliniana or Ligustrum Lucidum so expect same rate of expansion as fruits heavily favored by birds.