Web Extra
A Resource Guide to Smaller Eucalyptus
Matt Ritter
 along a highway in Western Australia, demonstating the typical multi-stem mallee growth habit.'))
Richard G Turner Jr
Tallerack (Eucalyptus tetragona) along a highway in Western Australia, demonstating the typical multi-stem mallee growth habit.
The genus Eucalyptus is large and diverse, with over 700 species. Many species never exhibit any of the problematic characteristics so commonly, and incorrectly, attributed to the entire genus. Drought-tolerant eucalypts from desert and mediterranean climates of Western Australia rarely grow larger than small trees or large shrubs, shed little, if any, bark, and seldom reproduce in cultivation; they do, however, offer large, brilliantly colored flowers and attractive foliage. These species are the focus of this article—those whose planting should be considered as appropriate as that of Arctostaphylos, Ceanothus, Protea, and Grevillea; they deserve an opportunity to enhance the gardens, parks, and public landscapes of the Western United States…
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Matt Ritter
Fully opened flowers of bell-fruited mallee (Eucalyptus preissiana).
Included here are a few photographs that capture the floral beauty of some of the smaller species of Eucalyptus from the drier regions of southwestern Australia. To read the full story, and see more photographs, click here to order a copy of the April 09 issue of Pacific Horticulture.
Recommended Smaller Eucalyptus
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Matt Ritter
Silver princess (Eucalyptus caesia subsp. magna).
This non-comprehensive list of smaller Eucalyptus suitable for planting in Western gardens has been divided into distinct horticultural characteristics, although many of the species exhibit multiple characters. Those flagged with an asterisk (*) are featured in Matt Ritter’s article in the April 09 issue of Pacific Horticulture. Temperatures are provided to suggest the approximate hardiness range for those listed in the latest edition of the Sunset Western Garden Book.
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Matt Ritter
Silver-leafed mountain gum (Eucalyptus pulverulenta).
Distinctly silver or otherwise interesting foliage:
Eucalyptus crenulata
Buxton gum
Eucalyptus cosmophylla
cup gum
Eucalyptus formanii
Forman’s mallee
*Eucalyptus kruseana
book-leaf mallee
*Eucalyptus macrocarpa
mottlecah [8°-12°F]
Eucalyptus neglecta
Omeo gum
Eucalyptus pruinosa
silver box
Eucalyptus pulverulenta
silver-leafed mountain gum [15°-21°F]
*Eucalyptus tetragona
tallerack
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Matt Ritter
Red caps beginning to pop off the buds, revealing bright yellow stamens of bell-fruited mallee (Eucalyptus preissiana).
Large, brightly colored flowers:
*Eucalyptus caesia subsp. magna
silver princess
Eucalyptus desmondensis
Desmond mallee
*Eucalyptus erythrocorys
red-cap gum [23°-26°F]
*Eucalyptus ficifolia
red-flowering gum [25°-30°F]
Eucalyptus forrestiana
fuchsia gum
Eucalyptus lansdowneana
crimson mallee
*Eucalyptus preissiana
bell-fruited mallee
Eucalyptus pyriformis
pear-fruited mallee
Eucalyptus rhodantha
rose mallee
*Eucalyptus tetraptera
four-winged mallee
*Eucalyptus torquata
coral gum [17°-22°F]
Eucalyptus woodwardii
lemon-flowered mallee
Eucalyptus youngiana
large-fruited mallee
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Matt Ritter
Round-leaved mallee (Eucalyptus orbifolia)
Ornate bark, fruit, or floral buds:
Eucalyptus burgessiana
Faulconbridge mallee ash
Eucalyptus eremophila
tall sand mallee
Eucalyptus erythronema
white-barked mallee
Eucalyptus grossa
coarse-leaved mallee
Eucalyptus magacornuta
warted yate
*Eucalyptus orbifolia
round-leaved mallee
Eucalyptus salubris
gimlet gum [20°-25°F]
Eucalyptus sargentii
Salt River mallee [22°F]
For Further Reading
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Matt Ritter
Opening flowers of round-leaved mallee (Eucalyptus orbifolia).
Brenzel, Kathleen Norris. Sunset Western Garden Book. Menlo Park, CA: Sunset Publishing Corporation, 2007.
Brooker, Ian, and David Kleinig. Eucalyptus: An Illustrated Guide to Identification. Port Melbourne, Vic, Australia: Reed, 1996.
Citron, Joan, editor. Selected Plants for Southern California Gardens. Los Angeles: Southern California Horticultural Society, 2000.
Elliott, Gwen, and Rodger Elliott. The Kuranga Handbook of Australian Plants. Port Melbourne, Vic, Australia: Lothian Publishing Company Pty, Ltd, 1996.
Elliott, W Rodger. “Gems in the Genus Eucalyptus.” Pacific Horticulture 49, no 1 (Spring 1988): 20-26.
Elliott, W Rodger, and David L Jones. Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants, Volume 4. Port Melbourne, Vic, Australia: Lothian Publishing Company Pty, Ltd, 1992.
Gardner, Charles A. Eucalypts of Western Australia. Perth, WA, Australia: Western Australian Department of Agriculture, 1979
Holliday, Ivan. A Gardener’s Guide to Eucalypts. New York: Rigby, 1980
Molyneux, Bill, and Sue Forrester. The Austraflora Book of Australian Plants. South Yarra, Vic, Australia: Viking O’Neil, 1988.
Muller, Robert N, and J Robert Haller. Trees of Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara, CA: Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, 2005.
Sources of Seed and Plants
Australian Native Plants Nursery
Nye Road
Casitas Springs, CA 93001
805/649-3362
www.australianplants.com
Walk-in and mail order (plant list online)
Plants
Cal Poly Plant Conservatory
San Luis Obispo, CA
www.plantconservatory.calpoly.edu
Mail order
Seeds
Haley Farms Nursery
10224 Mill Creek Road SE
Aumsille, OR 97325
503/749-1466
haley.farm@gte.net
Walk-in and mail order
Plants
Nindethana Seed Service
PO Box 2121
Albany, WA 6331
Australia
http://www.nindethana.iinet.net.au/
Mail order (plant list online)
Seeds
UC Santa Cruz Arboretum
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
831/427-2998
http://www2.ucsc.edu/arboretum/
Walk-in
Plants
Windmill Outback Nursery
4583 E Old Mountain Road
Louisa, VA 23093-2420
540/894-0288
www.australiaplants.com
Mail order (plant list online)
Seeds and plants
