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Dwarf Eucalypts for Frosty Areas

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Posted by macbirch ACT Aust (My Page) on
Fri, Apr 21, 06 at 8:32

There have been a few small flowering eucalypts released in recent years but although I sometimes see them in local nurseries I've heard from various sources that they don't do well in frosty inland areas. They are too expensive to experiment with. I saw a couple of gorgeous ones today, E ficifolia Dwarf Orange and Lollypops. Has anyone had any success with growing any of these in a climate like ours? I know there's also a snow gum but it's a little bigger and the family doesn't like the foliage.

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RE: Dwarf Eucalypts for Frosty Areas

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Macbirch, I grow 2, both cultivars of E. ficifolia. Frosts are fairly mild here, (to about -2), but even so the tips sometimes blacken. Fortunately this is after the flowers in Autumn, and doesn't seem to do any harm.
Living in Canberra, I'm sure you know all about frost protection, so, if you do decide to buy one, try to position it where the frost rolls rather than settles in your garden, and protect it until established.
Have you tried Yates Stressguard? I've just gone round my garden spraying it on all the plants that got frost bitten last year. You have to reapply every month until the threat of frost is over. I suppose only time will tell if it works.

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RE: Dwarf Eucalypts for Frosty Areas

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Thanks for the info Wattleblossom.

I thought our winters have seemed milder in recent years but this year we've already been down to -5 or 6 a few times. And I'm limited in where to site any new plants. I usually avoid anything that might be a bit iffy in Canberra but I saw one variety a few years ago at the coast and ever since I've been hoping I could have something similar. Maybe this just isn't one of this year's priorities.

I think I saw someone on a tv show use Stressguard when transplanting a plant. So it protects from frost too?

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RE: Dwarf Eucalypts for Frosty Areas

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Yes I think it is mostly used to protect plants against water loss, especially during hot, dry, windy conditions. I've used it for some years on those tall, soft stemmed perennials that usually wilt on the first really hot days of summer. It has certainly worked for that purpose.
The label also says it protects against mild frosts, but doesn't say what they term as mild.

Here is a link that might be useful: Yates

  
 

 

 


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