Eucalypts, a tree for your Garden?

During the course of our discussions folks have raised doubts about including any of the various eucalyptus species in their gardens. Certainly as a garden specimen, you need to have the right spot for one. I guess the first rule is never to plant one near your swimming pool, or tennis court. They are well known for dropping leaves, bark, gum-nuts and indeed whole branches throughout the year. I suppose I should add that one shouldn?t plant their eucalypt to shade the barbecue, as the rising heat could easily ignite the oil filled leaves. Also don't plant the tall ones underneath power-lines as this is a common cause of fires on hot windy days. Eucalypts are evergreen, so don't plant them on the North side of your house (south in the northern hemisphere)

I hope these warnings have not discouraged you, because there are some absolutely beautiful trees to plant.

My favorite for dry gardens is the Salmon Gum - needing just 250mm rainfall, any soil type. Height 12-30 metres. A large tree with a spreading umbrella-like crown of foliage. The trunk is covered with a distinctive salmon-red bark.

I have always loved E. Citriodora, the Lemon scented gum. This is a graceful gum with a tall slender trunk and smooth white to pink bark. The tree is highly popular for its strong lemon-scented narrow leaves and clusters of white flowers in winter. It grows well in a variety of soils.

The closely related Eucalyptus maculata or spotted gum, has bark which gradually flakes off in patches, (pictured) leaving light new patches among darker ones. Rumour says this tree yields the best wood for tool handles in the world, better even than hickory.

Some folks have been disappointed in the past with flowering gums. Often you get a yucky middle-of-the-road pink, or a really horrible dirty white bloom. The good news is that you now can purchase flowering gums with a guaranteed flower colour. These new plants are hybrids between Eucalyptus ficifolia and E. ptychocarpa, grafted on to E. intermedia rootstock. Ask for Eucalyptus 'Summer Red' and Eucalyptus 'Summer Beauty'.

The graceful Eucalyptus caesia is a west Australian tree to 6m with silvery, pendulous leaves, powder white stems, buds & fruits. It has large pink flowers and an unusual weeping habit. Drought and frost tolerant, it grows in acid or alkaline soil and likes full sun. These trees only weep to one side, so plant three trees in one hole and keep the trunks straight to get a full, symmetrical effect

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