Re: Sandalwood

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I got the following from the West Australian Department of Agriculture (www.agric.wa.gov.au):

Western Australian Sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) is a native tree of Western Australia.
 It is a parasitic tree that requires a host. The host plant is used to help the
 sandalwood tree take up nutrients and water. Common hosts are Acacia
 acuminata (Jam) and Acacia aneura (Mulga), as well as a variety of other Acacia  and Allocasuarina species.
 It is drought resistant and appears to grow best on well drained loam or
 sandy/gravely loam soils that are neutral to slightly acidic (to pH 4.5).
 Waterlogging, fire and animal grazing are the problems to which it is most
 susceptible.
 Naturally occurs in rainfall areas from 200 mm to 600 mm.
 The main market (Asia) is based on the aromatic oils contained in the heartwood, with the majority of Western Australia's sandalwood sold as logs that are used to  make incense for religious ceremonies

Establishment and Planting Design

The most efficient way to establish sandalwood on a broad scale is to plant seeds without any pre treatment. It is possible to plant seedlings up to about 6 months old, but this is more expensive and there are often problems with host connections, resulting in sandalwood death.

Weeds need to be controlled in year one. A Roundup and Simazine mix is often used.

Two to three weeks after weeds have been sprayed the host seedlings need to be planted (Acacia acuminata at 832 individuals per hectare). The hosts should be planted as soon as possible after the break of season to aid establishment.
Sandalwood need to be planted one to two years after the hosts (depending on the hosts' growth rate and how well they have established), in April/May to take advantage of the winter rain.

It is recommended that sandalwood is planted on every second host, so that there are extra host individuals for them to use as they get bigger. This gives a sandalwood planting density of 416 per hectare. Four seeds (1664 seeds per
hectare) need to be planted at each planting spot as only about 25% of them will establish.

Long term survival depends on adequate connections with host plants, and
therefore when planting seeds, they should be sown within half a metre of the host.
Seedlings also grow best in the first few years with some shade, so if possible the seeds should be planted on the most shady side of the host.

Even though their natural range is in the 200 mm to 600 mm rainfall zone, it is not recommended to try to establish sandalwood in areas with less than 350 mm rainfall.

Sounds like a time-consuming business!

Beverly
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Rick Walker wrote:

Anyone have any luck growing White Sandalwood (Santalum album) or the
Austraulian species (Santalum spicatum/lanceolatum) in the SF Bay Area?
Horizon Herbs carries S. album seed for $3.95/20.
<http://www.chatlink.com/~herbseed/

I've read that Sandalwood is a parasitic plant and that Acacia acuminata
is a common host.  Zone 10-12 is recommended (30F minimum winter temps).

Thanks for any tips,
--
Rick Walker