Yellow Mai Flower Tree or Batonical name: Ochna inte

Linton says...
Hello I am replying to your enquiry about the dong nai with its beautiful yellow mai flowers, as I may be able to impart some information that might or might not be useful, even though I am located in a different state to you.

The Dong Nai tree is a classified weed in Queensland where local councils are trying to eradicate it, so that means you will probably find it difficult to locate in your area. Here in Victoria it is still grown so it doesn't seem to pose so much of a problem, although I have only seen the species Ochna serrulata growing in our public gardens and being sold in the local nurseries. I suspect that the other species, Ochna integerrima is more tropical and is probably difficult to survive down here as I have only seen it available from a nursery in Mission Beach, North Queensland.

The dong nai is highly revered during New Year festival and the local nursery sells plants for around $80 which seems a little high price to pay for a weed! Both species seem to have similar flowers so I just have a couple of small slow growing plants for Tet pictured, which have finally flowered after many years.

I hope this information has been of some value to you. Kind regards.

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