Return to the Australian Native Plants Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
Eucalypts to provide shade
| | |
Posted by robert-gum Vic/Melb (gw:robert-gum) on Sat, Jan 28, 06 at 23:36
| I want to plant a flowering gum for shade purposes in a small-medium size garden in east Melbourne. Eventual height should be over 8m but I would not like it to be over say 12m. I like the appearance of sideroxylon rosea but it might get a bit too big. Is it possible to pick one with a small final size by picking the smallest one in a group of tube specimens? Should I choose some other species? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Eucalypts to provide shade
| | |
- Posted by aeor nsw (My Page) on
Sun, Jan 29, 06 at 4:03
I must admit and apologise ahead of time that I have absolutely no constructive advice at all to give you, and very little knowledge. But I just can't get past the idea of choosing the smallest tree in tubestock as if picking the runt of the litter! I enjoy that one. I'm of course not entirely certain that is an insane idea (as I suspect), but that has entertained me. Maybe try a different species? Or, seriously, in garden situations, some trees don't grow as big as they would in the wild? Maybe this is all to do with ideal situations though, and if you are good at giving it what it wants, ie sun water, soil and food, it could thrive.
Sorry I can't help, but I'm sure someone here will have real adice for you. |
RE: Eucalypts to provide shade
| | |
| I think you are right that it will get too big for your needs. Have you considered looking at any of the grafted varieties of flowering gums? These will guarantee you a smaller tree. I notice you are in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. The Kuranga Native Nursery in Mt. Evelyn would be a great place to look and ask questions even if you don't buy one there. BTW, choosing the smallest plant in the group won't achieve the desired result. Cheers,
Dee. |
RE: Eucalypts to provide shade
| | |
Some trees I can think of that may fit the bill are the WA Eucalyptus torquata which gets to 7 - 10 m with a good dense canopy, and SA E petiolaris (usually sold as E leucoxylon 'rosea',) or best of all E leucoxylon ssp megalocarpa which occurs naturally in the border districts of SA / Vic. It would be well suited to your climate, usually has red flowers, and forms a relatively neat tree to about ten metres.
(Be aware that the type form of E leucoxylon is a much bigger tree). E torquata does OK in Adelaide - don't know about Melbourne. There are plenty of options in that size range - try a good native plant book for more ideas. And yes, the runt as a seedling may still become a forest giant with time! Dan |
RE: Eucalypts to provide shade
| | |
| Definitely go to Kuranga. Try Corymbia ficifolia (the flowering gum) as suggested by Deejaus as it is widely used and cultivated for this purpose now. It is a grafted tree but only to ensure flower color not height, many colors available. If you like E. sideroxylon 'rosea' for flower only and not the bark then look into E. leucoxylon 'rosea' which will also suit yuor needs. It is the yellow gum or white ironbark as it is without the brown-black deeply furrowed bark (which I like) that ironbarks tend to have. Look for ssp. 'megalocarpa' which is similar to 'rosea', 'metropolitan elite' which is supposed to be a superior select form and 'Eukie Dwarf'. |
RE: Eucalypts to provide shade
| | |
| Thanks for your advice. Leucoxylon ssp megalocarpa it shall be and I have received some good advice on pruning it to give it good height and canopy |
RE: Eucalypts to provide shade
| | |
| I also recommend the Corymbia Ficifolia. The one I planted in my Olinda garden has taken 6 years to flower, but wow, what a beauty. Vibrant orange. The tree is approx 10 feet tall. Some recommend damaging the base to stunt growth, but be careful :) |
RE: Eucalypts to provide shade
| | |
| Some of the WA gum trees are regarded as weedy in Victoria because they hybridize with the local species and 'polute' the gene pool. Corymbia/Eucalytpus ficifolia is OK as far as I know. The only local Eucalypt that grows to a moderate size (12m), that I know about, is pauciflora or Snow Gum. Yes they do grow around Melbourne though they are not common. If selecting local species and you have the space for then stick to the Box or Stringybark Eucalypts, as these retain all their bark and generate very little mess. Although you could probably get away with a River Red Gum which also grow to around 12m. By the time they reach their full size and start sheding copius amounts of bark and limbs you and I will have departed this earth. |
|
|
|
|
