General Description | A fast growing, medium sized evergreen tree or large shrub. Visually appealing peeling bark, rich menthol scented foliage and clusters of white flowers. |
ID Characteristic | Easily identified by its peeling grey to cream coloured bark, rounded and brightly coloured glaucous juvenile foliage. Unmistakably strong menthol-scented oils emitted from the foliar oil glands and its white inflorescence flower clusters that resemble 'pom poms'. |
Shape | Medium-sized, columnar and upright when left to grow without maintenance or pruning. |
Landscape | A cold hardy evergreen quickly growing in popularity, is commonly used as an ornamental tree/specimen. Often planted as an accent plant/shrub or maintained as a patio tree.
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Propagation | Propagate by seed. Seeds require a moist and cold stratification (35 -40°F) for a period of 6-8 weeks prior to planting. Use light, non-compacting and neutral pH soil. The seed should germinate within a few weeks. Eucalyptus cuttings are difficult to root, therefore is not the favoured method of propagation. |
Cultivation | Well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic soil with full sun. Drought tolerate once established. A shallow-rooting plant, thus does not favour any root disturbance. |
Pests | Eucalyptus gall wasps attack during the spring and can cause a large amount of leaf loss, leaving the plant vulnerable. Susceptible to honey fungus and leaf beetle. |
Notable Specimens | The Royal Botanical Gardens, Edinburgh, Scotland. |
Habitat | High elevations in Tasmania, South Wales, and Victoria, Australia, and alpine regions such as Tasmania's central plateau at an elevation of 1,000 - 1,200 m above sea level. |
Bark/Stem Description | Beautiful and distinctive bark, smooth to the touch and varies in colour from grey-green to cream occasionally brown with a spots of pink. The bark peels off in large pieces, revealing new bark underneath which can vary from a yellow-green to light grey in colour. |
Flower/Leaf Bud Description | Eucalyptus buds form in clusters on single stalks. The individual bud consists of a bell shaped capsule called an operculum and a cap on top called a calyptra that is shaped like a 'Hershey Kiss'. The operculum is made up of fused petals, sepals, or both.
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Leaf Description | Juvenile foliage is oppositely arranged, with a cordate blade, entire leaf margin and obtuse apice, a silver-blue in colour. Mature foliage is very waxy in appearance and dark green. Both juvenile and mature foliage is covered in oil glands which secrete a scent similar to menthol. |
Flower Description | The flowers are arranged as an umbel inflorescence in clusters of 2 or 3, very much resembling pom-poms. They are white in colour and a very abundant source of nectar for bees. |
Fruit Description | The fruit consists of a bell shaped capsule called an operculum. It varies in colour from green to grey-blue. It is approximately 10 mm long and 5 mm wide.
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Colour Description | Its peeling bark ranges from a dark grey-green to creamy white. The new bark is often creamy-white to yellow-green. Juvenile foliage is glaucous, showing and eye-capturing silvery, green-blue colour. Mature foliage is dark green with hints of greys and blues. Seed capsules are light to dark brown and flowers are white in bloom.
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Texture Description | Generally a smooth textured plant.
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