Eucalypts
Eucalyptus caesia magna ‘Silver Princess’
We have planted 4 Angophora, 6 Corymbia, and 101 Eucalyptus in our garden of which 51, or just under half, 46%, remain. The original planting in 2003 consisted of one Angophora costata, Smooth-barked Apple, one Corymbia citriodora, Lemon Scented Gum, one C. maculata, Spotted Gum, one E. cinerea, Argyle Apple, two E. elata, River Peppermint, one E. globulus ssp. bicostata, or Eurabbie, two E. mannifera, Brittle Gum, one E. pauciflora subsp. pauciflora, Snow Gum, and four E. stellulata, Black Sally. Of these only six of the original trees remain, but those that do are important to the structure of the garden. We now grow 28 different eucalypts, in addition to the Corymbias and Angophoras listed below in August 2022.
Angophora costata
We planted one Angophora costata in 2003 in the back garden and this tree has grown to 10m, with a pitted salmon bark and white flowers for the first time in January 2009. The new foliage can be golden or red. This tree just gets better with age. and is native to the central coast of NSW, with scattered populations in northern Queensland.
Angophora hispida (photos above)
We planted three Angophora hispida, or Dwarf Apple Gum, in 2018. All three are small so far, perhaps 2m, with large drooping leaves and conspicuous white flowers in summer, beloved by insects. These plants are native to the central coast of NSW.
Corymbia citriodora (photos above)
We planted one Corymbia citriodora in the back garden as part of our foundation planting in 2003. This plant has grown rapidly to 20 with a straight white trunk,, fills the air with lemon scent whenever it rains and has white flowers, for the first time for us in December 2010. This is a beautiful graceful tree native to the Great Dividing Range of central and northern Queensland. We planted another in March 2022.
Corymbia citriodora ‘Baby Citro’
We planted two Corymbia citriodora ‘Baby Citro’ in 2015 in the new sand garden. This is a grafted compact form of the larger Lemon Scented Gum. These have grown well to 3m high and flowered first for us in November 2020.
Corymbia eximia nana - Yellow Bloodwood (photos above)
We planted one Corymbia eximia nana or Yellow Bloodwood in the new sand garden in March 17, and another in the side garden in May 2015 after raising it in a pot for a year. This is a dwarf version of the larger Corymbia eximia, with a large leaf and creamy yellow flowers. The dwarf version can grow to 6-8m x 4-6m, but ours are much smaller, perhaps 4m high, and have not yet flowered. This plant is native to the central coast and adjacent ranges of NSW. Finally flowered in October 2023 - worth waiting for 8 years.
Corymbia ficifolia ‘Calypso’
We planted this grafted plant, 6m high x 4m wide, with dark green foliage, watermelon pink flowers and spectacular gumnuts in a pot in April 2024. Needs well drained soil and full sun.
Corymbia ficifolia ‘Mother of Pearl’ or ‘Precious Pearl’
We planted this grafted gum, 7m high x 4m wide, with dark green foliage, very pale pink flowers and spectacular nuts, in a pot, in April 2024. Needs well drained soil and full sun.
Corymbia maculata - Spotted Gum
Corymbia maculata, or Spotted Gum, is a tall tree to 40m with a straight smooth trunk, which is native from Orbost, Victoria to southern Queensland. We planted one as part of our foundation planting in 2003 and it has grown to 30m despite some severe frost damage in 2006 and 2018. This gum flowered first for us in June 2009 and is native to the coast and nearby ranges of NSW north to Brisbane.
Lyndfield Park
In 2005 we visited John Weatherstone’s property, Lyndfield Park, outside Canberra, and learned about the positive effects of shade on the health of his stock, and the soil fertility and resilience of his grasslands. John began to plant trees on his property in the 1980s when he saw that grass was growing in the shade even through the drought while the unshaded areas were bare. This discovery has resulted in the planting over 100,000 trees on his property and has raised its productivity and viability immensely. We decided to plant more trees on our property as a hedge against the severe heat and drought of climate change and and to provide shelter from frost.
Eucalyptus albida (photos above)
We planted two Eucalyptus albida, native to southwestern WA, in February 2015, but one died in the rain of October 2016. The other one has grown well to 3m high and first flowered for us in 2018 with scented creamy flowers. This tree is now developing dark green adult foliage as well as the juvenile silvery grey leaves. Unfortunately, this tree began to fail in 2020 and was removed in 2021.
Eucalyptus albopurpurea ‘Purple Patch’
We planted Eucalytpus albopurpurea ‘Purple Patch’ in June 2014. This tree has been very slow to grow for us and is still only about 1.5m high after eight years. However, the flowers are very attractive, pink/purple clusters, appearing first in March 2017. This tree is native to Gawler Ranges, Kangaroo Island and the tip of South Australia. Removed November 2022 for failure to thrive.
Eucalyptus burgessiana - Faulkenbridge Mallee Ash
Eucalyptus burgessiana, or Faulkenbridge Mallee Ash, was one of the eucalypts that we planted in January 2006. This tree is a small mallee to 5m high, with a multi-trunked smooth bark, thick sickle shaped leaves and white flowers in December in our garden. This tree comes from the Faulkenbridge area of the Blue Mountains, NSW. This tree bloomed for us the first time in December 2010.
Eucalyptus caesia magna ‘Silver Princess’ (photo at the beginning of Eucalypts)
We have had a bumpy ride with Eucalyptus caesia magna ‘Silver Princess’ in our garden. We first planted one May 2005 on the edge of a rocky drop with excellent drainage. This tree prospered for many years, developing ‘frost’ on its branches in January 2007 and flowering well in August 2008. Birds did rip off some of the beautiful buds and the ‘silver bells’ or nuts which develop on this magnificent tree. The foliage droops from the white branches and curtains of red flowers appear. I measured this tree at 7 metres across before it began to fail in the wet weather of 2011-12 in Canberra. The tree developed lots of mildew and scale, even though we sprayed it regularly. We tried cutting off most of the foliage and regenerating it in September 2012, but it would not stay healthy. We removed it in February 2013. We mourned the loss of this beautiful tree and tried two more in September 2013, but neither of these plants grew well. We have planted a new specimen over a drain near the middle pond in September 2019. This plant was eaten to the ground by a kangaroo in December 2019, but has regrown. We hope that we can recreate the spectacle of this tree in flower in the future. This tree failed and we hope to try again.
Eucalyptus camphora - Broad-leafed Sally
We planted Euclyptus camphora, or Broad-leafed Sally, in the meadow in October 2006. This tree is a mallee to 20m with a smooth bark, large pendant leaves and white flowers. This tree first bloomed for us in August 2014, but was split in half by a wind storm in March 2016. We removed this tree, but it has since regenerated from the roots and is already 4m tall. This tree is native to mountainous areas of NSW and Victoria. Another volunteer tree also did well for a few years, then both trees were eaten by possums or insects and eventually were removed in January 2023.
Eucalyptus cinerea - Argyle Apple
We planted one Eucalyptus cinerea, or Argyle Apple, in 2003 as part of our foundation planting. This tree has been very successful in our garden and has grown to 10m high and wide with grey juvenile foliage persisting. This plant is found in the colder areas of NSW and Victoria around Bathurst and Beechworth. This tree was stripped of its leaves in January 2020 by a severe hailstorm, but has leafed out again now. We planted two more of this species in October 2017 and they are already 5m in height.
Eucalyptus elata
Two Eucalyptus elata were also part of our foundation planting in 2003. Both these plants were continually trashed by Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos during the drought of 2003-6. Both developed full crowns of leaves by September 2007 and began to flower. One tree tipped over in heavy rain in December 2010 and had to be removed. The remaining tree gives a very artistic impression with its twisted branches from the cockatoo damage and forms a frontispiece to the section on our garden in Angus Stewart and A.B. Bishop’s The Australian Native Garden; a Practical Guide, 2015, p. 172.
Eucalyptus erythrocorys - Illyarie
We have not had much success with Eucalyptus erythrocorys or Illyarie, 8m high, x 3-8m wide, with smooth pale bark, bright yellow flowers with a grooved red operculum and large angular fruits. We planted it first in November 2011, and despite covering it through winter 2011 this plant died the next year. This is a very showy eucalypt from the drier areas of the west coast of WA and grows very well in Perth. We tried another in March 2016, but it once again perished in winter. Now we have planted one in a pot in October 2017 and are hoping for flowers in the future - disappointing - discarded January 2023.
Eucalyptus erythronema ‘Hot Threads’
We also planted Eucalyptus erythronema ‘Hot Threads’ in July 2010. This small single trunked tree from southwestern WA grows to 7m high and 3-4m wide with a waxy white trunk and large red blossoms. It is reputed to be more frost tolerant than Illyarie, but did not make it through our winter. We have now planted one in a pot in October 2017 and are waiting for flowers. Cut back in November 2022, then discarded in January 2023.
Eucalyptus ficifolia ‘Dwarf Orange’ grafted
We planted this dwarf selection of WA flowering gum, 3m high x 3m wide, with vermillion trusses of bloom in February 2020. One branch was removed by cockatoos in September 2020, but the plant has flowered well.. Eucalyptus ficifolia is such a brilliant tree in its native southwestern WA that everyone wants to grow it in their garden. We have tried a few grafted specimens in our garden but with no success.
Corymbia ficifolia ‘Calypso’
We have planted this grafted plant, 6m high x 4m wide, with dark green foliage, watermelon pink flowers and spectacular gumnuts, in a pot, in April 2024. Needs well drained soil and full sun.
Corymbia ficifolia ‘Mother of Pearl’ or ‘Precious Pearl’
We have planted this grafted plant, 7m high x 4m wide, with dark green foliage, very pale pink flowers and spectacular nuts, in a pot, in April 2024. Needs well drained soil and full sun.
Corymbia maculata (Eucalyptus maculata) – Spotted Gum
We planted this tall tree to 40 m, usually very straight-trunked with attractively brown spotted smooth bark in July 2023. This is a fine park tree for coastal plantings and is frost hardy after two years. our plant lost its leader in December 2003 so we pruned top back to one shoot. This tree was continually trashed by cockatoos in 2004-5 and suffered severe frost damage over winter 2006. We cut back all dead material and the tree has plenty of new growth in December 2006. Native from Orbost, Victoria, up to southern Queensland on sands to clay. Flowering for the first time in June, 2009. The leaves were very browned off over winter 2018, but the tree has recovered well.
Corymbia ’Summer Red’
We planted this grafted hybrid, C. ficifolia x ptychocarpa, a spectacular small tree, 6-8m high, with many brilliant red flowers with yellow centres and gold tipped stamens, followed by ornate gumnuts, in a pot, in March 2024. Needs full sun position in well-drained soils.
Eucalyptus gillii - Silver Mallee
We planted Eucalyptus gillii or Silver Mallee in the sand garden in October 2015 and our specimen has grown to 3m high and wide with decorative silver foliage and many pale yellow flowers in November in our garden. This plant is from the inland areas of mainland Australia and is an attractive small mallee for any garden. Coppiced in 2022, but failed to make good growth and was removed August 2023.
Eucalyptus globulus ssp. maidenii - Maiden’s Gum (photos below, left two)
Never plant a Eucalyptus globulus in a garden is the advice, as these enthusiastic trees grow fast and grow large. However, we did plant Maiden’s Gum or Eucalyptus globulus ssp. maidenii in October 2006 in the meadow. This tree has indeed grown quickly and is now perhaps 25m tall. It originates from the coastal ranges of southeastern NSW and extends its range into Victoria. This tree began to develop mature leaves in 2011 and flowered profusely for the first time in January 2012, but not much since.
Eucalyptus gregsoniana - Wolgan Gum (photo above right)
We planted two Eucalyptus gregsoniana, or Wolgan Snow Gum, in November 2003. One has thrived and is now 4m x 3m, while the other, planted in more compacted soil, has just begun to grow and is only half that size. This is a multi-stemmed mallee from the colder regions of NSW, a restricted area in the Blue Mountains, between Clarence and Lithgow, which grows to 7m high and 4m wide, with white flowers in early summer. One tree thrived and the other did not and the larger tree suddenly died in July 2008. The smaller tree has now grown to 5m high and flowers every year. In 2021 we cut this tree back to its base. The young stems on our plants were red, turning to a bright yellow after a year or so. The bark is a smooth grey-green with some peeling, and the adult leaves are a bright yellowish green, about 11-13cm in length. The flowers are white, spherical, fluffy and about 1cm in diameter. These flowers are extremely popular with bees, and the whole tree hums while in flower. The tree has foliage bushy to the ground and a consequently rounded shape. It can withstand both cold winters and hot summers, so is ideally suited for Canberra conditions.
Eucalyptus leucoxylon ‘Goolwa Gem’
We planted Eucalyptus leucoxylon ‘Goolwa Gem’ in September 2014 and it grew well and flowered with hot pink flowers. This tree began to fail in 2017 and we cut it to the ground in 2018. It has since regenerated well and grown to 4m high again - removed August 2021 for poor growth.
Eucalyptus leucoxylon rosea
In April 2004 we planted four Eucalyptus leucoxylon rosea, or Pink-flowered Ironbark. This gum has a smooth white trunk with large lance shaped leaves and many deep pink flowers. This species, from western Victoria, South Australia and southwestern NSW can grow quickly to 10-30m. These trees are much smaller in our garden, only 5m high after 16 years. One tree, the best one, was split by a windstorm in October 2012 and was removed but the others are a great addition to our garden. Three removed in February 2021, but the one that was cut to the ground has regrown and flowered in April-May 2024.
Eucalyptus luehmanniana - Yellow-topped Mallee Ash (photos above)
We planted Eucalyptus luehmanniana or Yellow-topped Mallee Ash in October 2006. This compact tree to 6m high has yellow twigs, broad leaves and cream flowers, is native from the Hawkesbury River area and Bulli, NSW and flowered for the first time in June 2008.
Eucalyptus mannifera - Brittle Gum
Eucalyptus mannifera or Brittle Gum is a tree native to our area and to other parts of southeastern Great Dividing Range. We have two old (perhaps 150 years old according to Dr. Robert Boden) specimens in our garden. These have furnished us with seedlings which we have thinned out to two saplings. We also planted two as part of our original planting in 2003. These trees grow to 20m high with striking white trunks and sparse drooping crowns. The best tree we planted toppled over after rain in October 2014 and we cut down the remaining tree in May 2018. We have also removed the two saplings in May 2024, as they have browned off completely.
Eucalyptus neglecta – Omeo Gum
We planted this species of tree that is endemic to a small area of Victoria in October 2017. Older plants have rough, fibrous bark on the trunk, otherwise smooth grey to brownish bark, a crown of mostly lance-shaped, egg-shaped or oblong leaves arranged in opposite pairs, flower buds in groups of between seven and fifteen, white flowers and cup-shaped or conical fruit. Omeo Gum grows on river flats along creeks in the Victorian high country, including near Omeo and Bright. Although rare, it is easily recognised because of the unusual foliage in its crown. Our first flowers were in November 2023.
Eucalyptus ‘Nullarbor Lime’ (photos above)
Eucalyptus ‘Nullarbor Lime’ is a hybrid between E. pyiformis and E. macrocarpa. We planted one in November 2014 and after a rocky start it has grown well to 2m high with large lime/yellow flowers and beautiful nuts.
Eucalyptus olida - Strawberry Gum
Eucalyptus olida or Strawberry Gum has been incredibly slow to grow for us. Planted in November 2014 it is only 2m high and has not flowered. This tree from the northern tablelands of NSW has scented foliage, particularly after rain. Removed October 2022 for poor performance.
Eucalyptus olivacea ‘Lorikeet’ ‘Summer Scentsation’
Eucalyptus olivacea ‘Lorikeet’ ‘Summer Scentsation’ has been a disappointing tree for us. We planted three of them in November 2009 and they have yet to bloom. We removed one to give other plants more room in July 2018 and this one is re-shooting and looks better than the other two we left alone. Removed these unsatisfactory plants in October 2022.
Eucalyptus orbifolia dwarf
Eucalyptus orbifolia dwarf (photos above) was a gift from Neil and Wendy Marriott and was planted in November 2016. It is a small tree to 3m high with reddish ‘minniritchi’ bark and round grey leaves. Large clusters of creamy flowers are attractive to birds and bees. This tree blooms for us in April and May and is native to southwestern WA. Eaten off by hare or possum in January 2024.
Eucalyptus perriniana - Spinning Gum
We have planted two Eucalyptus perriniana or Spinning Gum, one in October 2013 and the other in February 2015. This tree is native to NSW, Victoria and Tasmania and is a sub-alpine species. The first plant has grown well and is now 6m high and has developed adult foliage. The second one is much smaller, perhaps 2m high, and retains its attractive, stem-clasping, juvenile foliage. We have cut back to the ground both of these plants in 2024 and the new juvenile foliage is shooting well.
Eucalyptus polyanthemos - Red Box
We have planted three Eucalyptus polyanthemos or Red Box in our garden, the first in February 2005. The original tree has grown to 15m high with beautiful round leaves and flowered first in September 2007. We planted another in November 2014. Quite close to the first tree a healthy sapling developed and we transplanted it to a different part of the garden in August 2018. This species has a wide range from the tablelands of NSW to southern Victoria.
Eucalyptus preissiana - Bell-fruited Mallee (photos below, left two)
Eucalyptus preissiana, or Bell-fruited Mallee, is a straggly plant from WA with thick oblong leaves, bright yellow flowers and attractive nuts. This plant needs to be pruned to keep its shape. Our tree, planted in March 2007, has grown well to 2.5m and flowered for the first time in September 2010. This species is native to southern coastal WA. We planted another in October 2018 and it is growing well. Original tree was uprooted in a strong wind in August 2021.
Eucalyptus pulverulenta (photos above right two)
Eucalyptus pulverulenta is a small twisted tree to 8m with silver stem-clasping foliage and white flowers from NSW, between Bathurst and Bombala. We planted one in October 2014 and it has grown well to 3m and flowered for the first time in April. 2020. We also planted the cultivar ‘Baby Blue’ in September 2015 after seeing it grow so well in the frosty New England area near Armidale. This specimen has been very slow to grow and is only about 1m tall. This tree, which has now grown to 2.5m was eaten by some invisible critter in June 2020 – not many viable leaves remained, but leafed out again in October 2020. First flowers 3/22.
Eucalyptus pyriformis - Pear-fruited Mallee
We saw Eucalyptus pyriformis, or Pear-fruited Mallee, growing in the Levin’s garden near Stawell, Victoria. We were so impressed by these beautiful mallees that we decided to add four of them to our new sand garden in October 2014. They can grow to 6m high and 4m wide, but not in our frosty conditions, although we did cover them for their first winter. They have grown to 1.5m high and have flowered sparingly. The nuts are very attractive. These trees were stripped of their leaves by the severe hailstorm of January 2020. They are native to the southern WA wheatbelt. Removed November 2020 for poor growth.
Eucalyptus risdonii - Risdon Peppermint (photos above)
We planted this tree, height 8m, endemic to the dry slopes on the eastern side of the River Derwent near Risdon and Grass Tree Hill in southern Tasmania, in June 2016. This tree has smooth bark, egg-shaped blue-grey juvenile leaves arranged in opposite pairs, white flowers and cup-shaped fruit. Our first flowers arrived in October 2022.
Eucalytpus rosacea
Eremophila enthusiast, Russell Wait, collected seed of Eucalyptus rosacea from the Great Victoria Desert in 2013. We planted three of these rare small mallees in September 2016, but there was only one left after winter ’17. This plant was recovering when it was bitten off by a kangaroo. It has now leafed out yet again and has lasted through winter ’19. This species can grow to 2-4m high and 1.5-3m wide with attractive dark green foliage, a smooth trunk and flowers in pink, red or white. All gone by December 2020.
Eucalyptus sideroxylon - Ironbark
We planted one Eucalyptus sideroxylon, or Ironbark, in September 2004 to settle our new house into its surrounds. This tree grew to 20m high with weeping grey foliage, pink flowers (first flowers June 2015), and very dark red brown furrowed bark. This species is native to the open forest of the western slopes and plains of NSW, extending into Queensland and Victoria. One third of the tree fell in a storm at the end of 2022 and was considered dangerous, so the tree was removed in February 2023.
Eucalyptus staigeriana
Eucalyptus staigeriana is a slender eucalypt to 3m high with white flowers and whose crushed leaves have a lemon scent. This species comes from a restricted area outside Townsville, Queensland. We planted one in March 2016, but it died in December of the same year. We planted another in March 2018 and this plant has reached 2m high but has not yet bloomed for us. Gave up on this tree in September 2022.
Eucalyptus stricta - Broad-leaved Sally
We planted one Eucalyptus stricta, or Broad-leaved Sally, or Blue Mountains Mallee Ash, in October 2006. This mallee has a spreading crown and long lasting white flowers in summer and first bloomed for us in December 2008. Our tree has grown to 5m high. This species occurs naturally on the Newnes Plateau to Budawang Ranges in central NSW.
Eucalyptus ‘Summer Beauty’ grafted
We planted this hybrid gum, E. ficifolia x E. ptychocarpa, with bronze new foliage, large pink flowers with gold tipped stamens and yellow centres in a pot in December 2020.
Eucalyptus tetraptera - Square-fruited Mallee
Eucalyptus tetraptera, or Square-fruited Mallee, is an open shrub with glossy leathery leaves and red or pink flowers with a large square red calyx, in a pot, in November 2019. This tree is native to the area between Albany and Esperance in WA. We cannot grow it in our garden but are trying it in a pot. Eaten by cockatoos in May 2021 and died in February 2022.
Eucalyptus viridus ‘Winter Light’
We planted Eucalyptus viridus ‘Winter Light’ in November 2008 and it has grown to 10m in height but is so slight and wispy as to be almost unnoticeable. This plant has a smooth trunk, narrow foliage and cream flowers and is native to Queensland, NSW, Victoria and SA. We hope that it makes better growth in the future, - did not - removed November 2020.
Eucalyptus wimmerensis ‘Tucker Time Honeypots’
We planted Eucalyptus wimmerensis ‘Tucker Time Honeypots’ in November 2008. This tree has a single trunk, grows to 4-5m high with narrow grey-green leaves and cream flowers. While it flowered in February 2013 and has attractive weeping lower branches, the upper branches are often bare of foliage or flowers. We removed this tree in November 2020.
Eucalyptus youngiana
We planted one Eucalyptus youngiana in February 2016. This species from WA and SA is an ornamental mallee with huge buds and yellow, (or sometimes red), flowers. It has grown slowly for us to about one metre high and has not flowered so far - removed November 2022.
