Get to Know the GenusEucalyptus—Grow the Best Variety for You

These plants come in hundreds of shapes and sizes, ensuring there’s a perfect one for your space

I palpate spoilt for the genusEucalyptus(Eucalyptusspp . and cvs . , Zones 8–11 ) . So misunderstood and generally shunned inpolite works society , just because of the misdeed of a few family penis who got abit aggressive . A little like dogs , really — the bad behavior of a few lumber giants impress undue fright of all claiming to be a “ dog . ” Does n’t make sense , does it ?

memorize more : Plants That Can drop anchor a Landscape

It ’s lawful enough that the monumental eucalyptus tree of yore were authoritative examples of “ wrong plant , amiss post . ” The antics of the bulky Tasmanian blue glue Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ( E. globulus ) report for the lion ’s share of the uncollectible blame . They have belligerent roots , colonizing seedlings , falling limbs , and the power to circularise fire , and — let ’s be honest — they drink too much !

It ’s clip to move on , do n’t you reckon ? There are at least 800 species of eucalypts out there , mostly aboriginal to Australia . Like dogs , they add up in hundreds of shapes and sizes , some heavy and boisterous eucalyptus Tree , some pocket-sized and faint-hearted , and some “ just right . ” The one that follow are among my favorites so far , and most hail from the drier regions of western Australia , with allowance of significant heat and frost . I ’ve grow them all in my Tucson garden , usually in lean and xeric conditions . Eucalyptus plants are not just beautiful but also have temperament that I ’ve come to apprise in smaller garden options .

Recommended Eucalyptus Varieties

Strickland’s gum

( E. stricklandii )

Zones:8–11

Size:15 to 30 feet improbable and wide

term : Full sun ; well - drain , average grease

The bright , deep green leaves on this coinage of eucalypt tree ’s pendulous subdivision get abundant declamatory , yellow flowers throughout the crest . Strickland ’s gum get to form a canopy fairly fast , and selecting / trim a good arrangement of scaffold branches early on is a right idea . As the hardy , just tree trunk expands , grey-haired - brownish , plated bark peel away to reveal beautiful , placid , cinnamon - toned patches below .

Lemon flowered gum

( E. woodwardii )

Zones:8–10

Size:25 groundwork tall and 10 to 15 feet wide

The upright leader of this tree supports pendulous branches in young person , age into an unorthodox open crown with tears offshoot . Leaves , buds , and young stems are dusted a silvery gray . Large , golden - yellowish flowers loaded with nectar are a feast for Apis mellifera and other pollinators , and they occur along the clothe branches down where you’re able to savour them . The bark slowly sheds in gray - and - rust fungus - colored ribbons .

Coral gum

( E. torquata )

Size:25 magniloquent and 15 to 20 infantry all-encompassing

This eucalyptus grow apace to perfect terrace proportion , with rich green leaves uniformly space in a rounded crown . Seedlings can flower at just 5 feet tall , and flowers seem to come out almost any clip of year on unlike trees , in spook of pinkish , coral , or uprise carmine . Hummingbirds frequent the blooms , which supply them with plentiful ambrosia . The abundant efflorescence are among the sporty of the small eucalypts , and unfolding lasts for many week .

Gimlet gum

( E. salubris )

Zones:9–11

Size:30 foot magniloquent and wide

Slender , mid - fleeceable leaves and a quick growing habit plant this eucalyptus tree asunder . This tree diagram tends to develop a multi - stem appearance , and one might want to encourage this , as the fluted trunks are one of its honest feature article as it get on . The bark varies with the time of year from olive green to a burnished satiny copper . It truly glisten when counterpoint with silvery - leaved bush . Cloudlike tuft of foliage are held aloft in a rounded canopy . Small , snowy prime are an attendant lineament .

Little ghost gum

( E. victrix )

Zones:9–10

Size:20 to 30 feet tall and 10 to 15 foot wide ( smaller in drier conditions )

Conditions : Full Sunday ; average , well - drained to damp dirt

The vernacular name of this plant life gives you a fairly good idea of what it look like . Little ghost gum sportswoman weeping branches of silver blue - green leaves that rock from an open canopy . The multiple and contorted trunks are ghostly white and glow against dismal backgrounds or wall . It ’s awing when used as a focal point , or enchant in small groups . Either way , this plant begs for eventide uplighting . small ghost gum is a treasure even without its seasonal minor , white flowers .

Bookleaf mallee

( E. kruseana )

Size:8 to 15 feet tall and blanket

With a graven theatrical role unlike all the others , this eucalyptus species grows into a large shrub or small tree diagram and is a genuine standout . The rounded , silver - dollar leaves are tightly stacked in orderly flip-flop rows — not unlike the page of a book — presenting a most strange geometric look . These silver , bottlebrush - style arm sometimes show great proportion , and sometimes dip and twist by on their own random trajectory . Either agency , the color is a howling direct contrast to greener , leafier plant that toy by the rules . flabby , yellow flowers appear in tightly packed Bunche among the gloomy - gray foliage .

The impressive features of eucalyptus plants are hard to beat. Varieties can have striking bark, gorgeous flowers, or interesting habits.

talk over this and any other gardening topic in ourSouthwest horticulture forum .

notice more information onSouthwest gardening here .

More plant for the southwestern United States

Strickland’s gum bark close up

Shopping - List Plants for the southwestward

plant That Take Sun and Shade for the Southwest

tree That produce Light Shade for the sou'-west

E. woodwardii with bees

Dan Johnson go and gardens in Denver , Colorado , and in Tucson , Arizona . He is an associate film director of gardening for the Denver Botanic Gardens .

Photos : Dan Johnson

all right Gardening Recommended product

Coral gum plant with flowers

Gardener ’s Supply Company Summerweight Fabric Plant Cover

all right horticulture receive a charge for items purchased through links on this site , including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs .

A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

Gimlet gum

Get our latest tips , how - to articles , and instructional video send off to your inbox .

Signing you up …

Colorful Evergreen Perennials for the Southern Winter Garden

Fay’s Small Garden in Tennessee

Uncommon Flowering Trees for the Southwest

Winter Nectar Plants for Hummingbirds in the Southwest

Join okay horticulture for a free engaging live webinar featuring Dr. Janna Beckerman , a renowned plant life diagnostician as well as prof emerita at Purdue University and the ornamentals technical manager …

When I recognize a fussy gumption dollar cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few months ago , I knew I was in hassle . With a delightful color pattern …

When we only prioritise plants we want over plant our landscape needs , each time of year is filled with a never - terminate lean of chores : pruning , pinching , watering , treating , remediate , and fertilizing , with …

Little ghost gum

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be heedful when you go in the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re probable to trip on something , but because you might be dive - bombed by a couplet …