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Re: Eucalypts

On Thu, 15 Jan 98 Sean wrote:

>The Fall 1995 issue of Pacific Horticulture, includes an article
>entitled 'Blue Gum Fever', where Harriet Heyman discusses the

<--------------------------[Snip]------------------------------>
>have here in California.  Perhaps Portugal can take a lesson from
>our mistakes!

If I may add, there are enough truly attractive, smaller 'gums',  for
the planting of 'forest-type' Eucalyptus to be unnecessary and
possibly harmful to vulnerable environments, unless there is a
specific need.   In northern Europe and similar places, conditions are
not conducive to widespread self-seeding and the hardier, larger
Eucalypts can be safely planted.  However, in areas where the where
climate approximates that of their native country, these Eucalyptus
can become pestilential, as demonstrated in parts of California and I
believe, South Africa.   In such places, the smaller tree and shrubby,
'mallee' types should be considered and many have the advantage of
producing large quantities of highly coloured blooms, often
accompanied by beautiful, glaucous foliage of a brightness rarely
found in the larger growing species.  

E. erythrocorys has already been mentioned and I can vouch for its
sheer beauty, having grown and flowered it as a 7ft. high, weeping
specimen in a 10" pot in a cold greenhouse.  If planted out in ideal
conditions, this species can be expected to form a small elegant tree,
rarely more than 14ft high and even when not in flower, the ample,
slender, shiny green leaves and flaking bark, make this a excellent
specimen for the small garden.  To this you could add E. ficifolia - a
moderate sized tree, with masses of flower varying from whitish pink
through to the more usual flaming red, (I know they've mucked around
with the name, but I've forgotten the new one and don't feel inclined
to look it up). 

E. cornuta - the 'Yate' is bright yellow with the most fantastically
shaped seed pods which remain for years.  E. caesia is a lovely small,
semi-weeping tree with almost salmon through to bright red flowers,
whilst those of the very small growing E. tetraptera, are red in bud,
opening to vibrant pink.  E. forrestiana - the 'Fuchsia Gum'  is
another 'small' growing species grown mainly for its bright red,
pendulous pods which look like Fuchsias in bud.  E. torquata - the
'Coral Gum', is a small, almost willowy tree set with light coral red
flowers amongst the blue-green, rather elegant foliage.  To these I
must add the devastatingly delicious and increasingly rare, Eucalyptus
rhodantha which has the most telling blue, waxy foliage to contrast
perfectly with large heads of bright pink flowers.

These are mainly shrubs or small trees and will not outgrow their
welcome in most gardens and many can even be flowered as young plants
in large pots.  All will tolerate light frosts provided they are grown
in well drained soils and given a degree of shelter from biting,
winter winds.  For those lucky enough to garden in mediterranean type
climates, these smaller bush or 'mallee' Eucalypts are ideal,  since
they will revel in hot, dry sunny positions and will only suffer if
they have to cope with prolonged periods of very cold, wet weather.

David Poole
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