Sandalwood Tree (Quandong Tree) Guide: Grow Tips, Planting Sandalwood

Image Credit: John Moss⁴¹

Best Growing Conditions for Sandalwood Trees

Before setting out to grow a tree, particularly of a species that is unfamiliar or non-native, it is important to take into account the tree’s unique growing needs, optimal environment, and challenges.

In general, the quandong tree thrives in drier areas with well-draining soil. It prefers full sun conditions.

Because the quandong tree is capable of leaching nutrients from other plants and pulling water from deep under the soil’s surface, it is often found in desert areas where many other types of vegetation cannot survive.²⁸

Quandong Tree Growing Zone

The quandong tree is endemic to Australia and does not occur naturally on any other continent. It is most commonly seen in Central Australia’s deserts and throughout the more subtropical South.²²

Although other countries and continents of the world do not necessarily use the USDA Plant Hardiness Zones, Australia saw the value of the system and adapted it to their climate averages.³¹ According to a 1991 article available through the Australian National Botanic Gardens, nearly the entire continent of Australia is encompassed within USDA Zones 7b through 11 (with some northern coastal areas in zone 12).⁴

Thus, their system is parsed down to a 7-zone system.⁴ According to the USDA system, the quandong tree growing zone would primarily be USDA zones 8 through 10, and an argument could be made to include zone 11 here.

Based on Australia’s adjusted system, the growing zones for sandalwood tree (Where to grow quandong in Australia) would correspond to their zones 2 through 4.⁴

Quandong Tree Growth Rate

Before undertaking the task of attempting to propagate sandalwood trees, gardeners may want to know how long it takes to grow quandong tree.

With a slow to moderate quandong tree growth rate, it will take between 5 to 7 years for a quandong tree to reach maturation and begin bearing fruit.^11,27

Growing a Sandalwood Tree From a Seed, Cutting, Seedling

Sandalwood trees have earned a reputation for being difficult to propagate and cultivate. This is true to some extent, and many seedlings do not survive long enough to become established.

(Image by: Friends of Aldinga Scrub⁴²)

However, through trial and error and by studying the way in which the quandong grows in the wild, a process has been developed to increase the success rates. When growing a sandalwood tree from a seed, cutting, and seedling, there are a few things everyone should know.

Firstly, growing a quandong tree from a cutting is not a viable option because of its hemiparasitic nature. Secondly, when growing a quandong tree from a seed, germination can be tricky.

Seeds that have been aged for one to three years have higher germination rates. It is necessary to break apart the hard outer casing around the seed to improve germination.

Most people will choose to start seeds in a container, but seeds can be sown directly on-site. Seeds typically take between 1 and 4 months to germinate.

When starting seeds in pots or containers, adding debris from nitrogen-fixing trees can help create a suitable environment.¹ When seedlings are about a year old, it will be time to transplant them outdoors.

The most important thing to remember when growing a quandong tree from a seedling is that seedlings require at least one healthy host plant to thrive, and planting them in close proximity to multiple host plants is even better. The best planting tips for sandalwood trees are to 1) choose a suitable, healthy host plant (ideally a nitrogen-fixer), 2) make sure the host plants are established with at least one growing season under their belts, and 3) plant the sandalwood seedlings close enough to to the host plants that the roots can find their hosts.¹⁷

This leads to the question of how far apart to plant quandong trees. Most sources suggest planting quandongs within a few meters of their host plants, ideally placing them directly above the roots of their hosts.

It is also good to know when to plant sandalwood tree for the best yield. Seeds germinate their best outdoors in somewhat cooler temperatures, so sowing when average temperatures are around 60° Fahrenheit is ideal.²⁸

Once a quandong tree seedling is planted, it must be protected from excessive sun, wind, and pests and watered frequently until it is able to attach to its host plant. After attaching to its host, the quandong becomes significantly lower maintenance and its survival chances increase exponentially.¹⁷

Watering Needs for Sandalwood Trees

One of the main appeals of the quandong and its close relatives is that the watering needs for sandalwood trees are very minimal and low-maintenance. It is helpful to lightly water young seeds daily for the first 8 to 12 weeks or so.

Once the seedling is transplanted and established in its new home, only water intermittently or during dry periods.¹⁰ The frequency of watering a tree can also be reduced by mulching around trees and some sources recommend this as a means of keeping the soil around the tree’s roots cool.

Once a sandalwood tree attaches to its host, its watering needs can be met by meeting the host tree’s watering needs.

Companion Plants for Growing Quandong Tree

Many types of trees make excellent companion plants for growing quandong trees. Because quandongs are hemiparasitic, they thrive in close proximity to leguminous, nitrogen-fixing trees of the Fabaceae family and other nitrogen-fixers, such as those in the Casuarinaceae family.^32,33

(Image by: Kandukuru Nagarjun⁴³)

Some of the best candidates are trees in the genus Acacia and Casuarina.^34,35 Although the quandong tree can parasitize the roots of many different tree types, and it can even sometimes survive without a host entirely, having an appropriate host plant can help ensure success in cultivation.²⁸

How Long Does It Take for a Tree To Grow?

The answer to the question “How long does it take for a tree to grow?” depends entirely upon the tree species in question. Many smaller and short-lived trees, such as the willow trees in the Salix genus can grow several feet each year, reaching mature size in 10 to 15 years.³⁶

Large trees such as redwoods can take hundreds of years to reach their adult size, and many types of conifers grow only inches each year.³

How Much Sunlight Does Quandong Tree Need Each Day?

Anyone considering the propagation of a quandong tree will be asking the question “How much sunlight does quandong tree need each day?” Quandongs are a sun-loving species and do best in full sun conditions.

Typically, this means that the tree will require a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight each day.¹⁵

What Does Sandalwood Smell Like? (Sandalwood Tree Scent)

Most sandalwood trees produce an oil with a distinct, pleasant smell that has proven useful for various reasons, but the Indian sandalwood is the primary source of commercial sandalwood oils. With this commercial success, some people may be curiously wondering “What does sandalwood smell like?”

Sandalwood is described as having a woody scent with sweet, warm undertones.²⁶

Sandalwood Tree Disease Prevention

Sandalwood trees are fairly resilient once they are established with their host plants, but there are still some pests and diseases that can trouble them. Some common pests of the quandong tree include the quandong moth (Paraepermenia santaliella), scale insects, and the acacia tree hopper (Sextius virescens).⁷³⁷³⁸

(Image by: Scot Nelson⁴⁴)

Feral camels also feed on wild quandong, sometimes causing significant damage to the individual trees. The best natural pest control for sandalwood trees is to maintain good hygiene around the trees.

Removing impacted growth and infested flowers and fruit, even debris from the surrounding area, can help control the pest problem. Some people have used essential oils to deter pests, as well.

Quandong trees are not without their share of diseases, and the most serious issue they are likely to encounter is root fungal disease, usually as a result of poor soil drainage. Sandalwood tree disease prevention can be implemented by ensuring trees are planted in well-draining soil and not overwatered.⁷

There are no guaranteed solutions for how to stop quandong tree disease, but some sources suggest using phosphorous acid around the roots. Other sources suggest that adding earthworms to the soil at the base of the tree is beneficial, as the earthworms will feed on the fungi growing there.

Sandalwood trees are rather extraordinary specimens with their ability to parasitize the roots of other trees without causing real or significant damage to their hosts. Found across the Indo-Pacific, from India to the Hawaiian Islands, Santalum species have made a name for themselves with their beautiful heartwood and their aromatic oils.

What Is the Quandong Tree (Santalum Acuminatum)?

The quandong tree is a small, evergreen tree in the Santalaceae family, Santalum genus.^19,20 Locally known as the sweet quandong or the native peach, the species is known for its sweet fruit.

The species’ scientific name is Santalum acuminatum, and it is found throughout much of mainland Australia.²⁹ Although the desert quandong is not the only species known by the common name ‘quandong,’ it is the species most often associated with this name and the only quandong with edible fruit.

The fruit is considered a ‘bush food,’ and it has been used for many years by Europeans to make jams and preserves.^1,22​​ The following sandalwood tree facts highlight the intrigue and interest of sandalwood species, the quandong in particular.^5,17,27

1. Sandalwood trees are hemiparasites, or partially parasitic. Juvenile trees latch onto the roots of nearby trees to absorb nutrients and water from the soil.
2. Sandalwood tree roots are specially adapted to extract xylem from host plants.
3. Quandong trees can bloom year-round in their native habitat.
4. Quandongs, and sandalwoods in general, are usually drought-tolerant and able to thrive in desert conditions.
5. Quandong fruit is a major food source for emus, which are credited with transporting seeds.
6. Quandong is difficult, but not impossible, to cultivate.
7. In some areas of Australia, particularly the Northern Territory, quandong populations are in decline due to wildlife impact.
8. Although quandong fruit is still in high demand in Australia, production has decreased dramatically over the last two decades.
9. Quandong fruit is tart when eaten fresh, and as such, it is often preferred dried, frozen, or made into jellies.
10. Quandong trees do not produce the same aromatic oils as many other sandalwood species.

Quandong Tree Identification: How To Identify Quandong (Sandalwood) Tree

Sandalwood trees are most well-known for their aromatic wood and the scented oils derived from their roots. However, the quandong tree does not share these features with its brethren.

Additionally, quandongs are usually smaller and more likely found in dry, desert areas than their more well-known relatives. Their bright red fruit also sets them apart from other sandalwoods.

Individuals who want to know how to identify quandong (sandalwood) tree should read the following sections for differentiation between quandongs and other sandalwoods.⁸

Identifying Sandalwood Leaves

Sandalwood leaves are simple and generally arranged in pairs with leaves opposite one another on the twig. Leaves are often oval-shaped, broader at the base, and tapering to a point.

Most Santalum species have glossy or leathery leaves in a rich green hue. The sweet quandong is a bit different, and its leaves are among its most distinguishing characteristics.

The leaves of the native peach are long and very slender, often curving. In fact, the species name of Santalum acuminatum refers to the slender, acute shape of the foliage.

The quandong’s leaves have a paler, olive-green hue rather than a deeper green.²⁸

Identifying Sandalwood Flowers

Sandalwood trees can bloom year-round in their native habitats, and sandalwood flowers tend to be small and somewhat inconspicuous. They often have pale-colored petals with large, darker centers.

The flowers of the quandong tree have a greenish hue, further blending them into the surrounding foliage. The centers are large (relatively) and open, usually in orange to red hues.²²

Identifying Sandalwood Tree Fruit

Sandalwood trees produce drupe fruits: small, spherical ovate fruits with a single seed inside them. Some sandalwoods generate blue or purple fruits, most of which are very bitter and inedible.

The quandong, in contrast, produced a crimson drupe that is rich in Vitamin C and other nutrients and tasty as well. The fruit has a somewhat thin fleshy layer surrounding a hard casing containing an edible nut.²⁸

The fruit varies in sweetness but is described as being dry and tart.

Identifying Sandalwood Seeds

Sandalwood seeds are singular and contained within a fleshy drupe fruit. In the case of the quandong, the seed has a hard, dimpled casing about ¼ to ½ inch in diameter.

When the casing is broken apart, it reveals a single nut-like seed, resembling a hazelnut. This oily nut can be mashed to make a medicinal paste or it can be eaten raw or roasted.¹⁴

Is Quandong Fruit an Australian Aboriginal Food? (Aboriginal Food Quandong)

Indigenous Australian people, often called Aborigines, settled on the continent of Australia some 60,000 years ago. For tens of thousands of years, Aboriginal peoples dwelling in the Western Desert areas depended on the fruit of the quandong tree as a staple in aboriginal food diets.

The Pitjantjatjara people, in particular, have a long history of reliance on quandong fruit.^6,13 This Australian aboriginal food was especially vital due to its ability to thrive and subsist in arid climates, its medicinal value, and the ease with which the fruit could be dried and stored for times of scarcity.¹³

Quandong fruit, the native peach, is now considered a bush food which is highly sought after.¹⁷

What Are the Different Types of Sandalwood Tree?

True sandalwoods belong to the genus, Santalum, which includes 19 accepted species, many of which are endangered according to the IUCN Red List, and one which is presumed extinct.^21,25 Sandalwood trees are generally root parasites, securing much of their early life nutrients by parasitizing off the roots of nearby trees.

Sandalwoods are close relatives of mistletoe, another hemiparasitic plant grouping. Sandalwood species can be found throughout the Indo-Pacific region and species variety is most heavily concentrated in and around Australia and Hawaii.³⁰

Sandalwood trees are most famous for their aromatic wood, often burned as incense and in funeral processions, and their aromatic oil, a popular commercial product that has been adapted for medicinal and therapeutic purposes.¹⁸

* Species information from various sources.^20,21

More on Santalum Album, the Indian Sandalwood

Indian sandalwood, Santalum album, also known as white sandalwood, is by far the most well-known and widely marketed species of sandalwood.²³ White sandalwood is the only Santalum species native to continental India.

It is highly valued for its beautiful hardwood, fragrant heartwood, and aromatic oil.²³ Grown in its natural, tropical habitat, the Indian sandalwood can reach heights of more than 60 feet!²⁴

Although it is a tropical tree, S. album thrives in drier tropical areas in loose, sandy soil.² The Indian sandalwood has historical significance for various cultures and religions.

It was used by Egyptians for embalming, by Muslims in funeral services, by Chinese for construction and incense, along with several other cultures. The demand for white sandalwood has led to over-harvesting and a marked decrease in populations in the wild. S. album is considered Vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List.^2,9

Other Sandalwood Plants

Although the true sandalwoods are only found in the Santalum genus, there are many other plants given the common name “sandalwood.” These ‘false’ sandalwood plants are sometimes closely related members of the same family (Santalaceae) as true sandalwoods, such as species in the genera Mida and Osyris.^39,40

(African Sandalwood, Watta Bush Image by: Nanosanchez⁴⁵; Bastard Sandalwood, False Sandalwood, Naio Image by: David J. Stang⁴⁶; Budda, Sandalbox, False Sandalwood, Sandalwood Image by: Mark Marathon⁴⁷; East African Sandalwood Image by: Xemenendura⁴⁸; Camwood, African Sandalwood Image by: Dr. Alexey Yakovlev⁴⁹; Red Sandalwood, Red Sanders Tree Image by: Forestowlet⁵⁰; and Sandalwood Tree, Red Sandalwood, Saga Image by: Forestowlet⁵¹)

Other unrelated species are so named for various reasons, from their physical resemblance to true sandalwoods to their aroma, to the grain, and hardness of the wood.

What Is Red Sandalwood?

Red sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus) is undoubtedly the most well-known of all the ‘false’ sandalwood species.¹² This small, semi-tropical tree is native to Southern India.

It has been highly valued for millennia for the deep red color of its hardwood. Red sandalwood has been used to make furniture and was prominent in China during the Qing dynasty.

(Image by: Dinesh Valke⁵²)

The wood has also been used to make a red dye and has several medicinal uses. Although it does not share the aromatic sandalwood oil of true sandalwoods, red sandalwood is popular in incense.

Unfortunately, due to the high demand for this wood, it has been over-exploited and prominent in the smuggler trade in India. Native red sandalwood populations have been drastically impacted and the species is considered Endangered by the IUCN.^12,16

The quandong tree is unique even among sandalwoods as the only species to bear palatable fruit, and this article examines the process of propagating this incredible tree.

Frequently Asked Questions About Quandong Trees