Prune Mickey Mouse plant after the red-and-black fruit show, to keep it compact and to start new shoots.
Prune after the fruit show, to keep it compact
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | After the black fruit and red sepals fade | Do not strip flower wood in late winter if you still want this year's show |
| How much | A light reshape, no more than about a third of the shrub | Do not cut it to bare old wood in one pass |
| Tools | Sharp hand pruners for a reshape; shears for a hedge face | Do not tear stems with dull blades |
Mickey Mouse plant takes clipping well, which is why it makes a hedge. Wait until the red sepals and black fruit have had their season, then cut for shape so new shoots fill in. [1] It also takes a regular hedge clip, formal or informal, because it holds a dense face in wind and still flowers on the remaining wood. [2] Do not take more than about a third of the plant at once. You can always come back later. [3] A light pass keeps a dense, shapely shrub. A hard cut into old wood before bloom removes the spots that would carry this year's yellow flowers and the later fruit. [4]
When should I prune Mickey Mouse plant?
After the fruit show fades. A light reshape then starts new shoots. Skip a hard cut in late winter if you still want flowers.
How to clip a Mickey Mouse plant hedge
Clip for a dense face, and keep the base a little wider than the top so light reaches the bottom leaves.
- Wait until the red-and-black fruit has faded. Cut dead or crossing twigs back to a live pair of leaves.
- Walk the line and shear lightly, taking this year's growth, not a slab of old wood. Stop when the outline is even.
- Step back and even the outline. Keep the base wider than the top.
- Through the growing season, snip long shoots that break the face. Pull seedlings that come up under the hedge, because birds drop seed nearby.
Will pruning stop the Mickey Mouse fruit?
A hard cut before bloom removes the wood that would flower and fruit. A light cut after the show still leaves next year's wood.
Wait until the fruit show fades, take no more than about a third, and clip the hedge face in the growing season.
FAQ
Can I train it as an espalier?
Yes. Use the same after-fruit start, then tie new shoots to a frame. Do not strip old wood if you still want a leafy face this year.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] SANBI PlantZAfrica -
https://pza.sanbi.org/ochna-serrulata - [2] San Marcos Growers -
https://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=3227 - [3] Gardener's Path -
https://gardenerspath.com/plants/ornamentals/grow-mickey-mouse-plants/ - [4] Witkoppen Wildflower Nursery -
https://witkoppenwildflower.co.za/ochna-serrulata/
This note is part of Ochna Guides.
More pruning timing notes by plant live in Pruning Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors