Allocasuarina nana, commonly known as the Dwarf She-oak, is a dioecious small shrub native to the dry sclerophyll forests and coastal heathlands of southeastern Australia. It typically grows to about 1 meter tall and can form dense colonies with a multi-stemmed spreading habit. The branchlets are very short, less than 8 cm long, and the fruiting cones are mostly smooth with a tessellated surface, measuring around 20 mm long and 12 mm wide. The specific epithet ’nana’ is from Latin, referring to the dwarf stature of this plant. It produces inconspicuous red and brown flowers during the fall and winter, which are followed by woody cones.

The Dwarf She-oak is valued for its ability to thrive in poor soils and its resilience to drought, making it an excellent choice for low-maintenance landscapes, rockeries, and coastal gardens. It is also used for erosion control due to its dense growth habit. In cultivation, it requires full sun exposure and can tolerate a range of soil types, provided they have good drainage. While it is generally pest-free, it can occasionally suffer from root rot if overwatered. This species is also known for its nitrogen-fixing ability, which can improve soil fertility.CC BY-SA 4.0