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Hartley.
Unusual
& Old
Fashioned Fruit
Trees.
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Edible Plants.
Environmental
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Alan J Hartley
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Tree Project.
Eucalyptus.
There are many varieties of Eucalyptus available in the UK these days
and they vary a lot in their growing habits. Some are dwarf, but many
are quick growing producing larges Trees in a short space of time.
Because of their growth most people would not consider them for their
Gardens, but Eucalyptus can be pruned heavily and even Coppiced. It
seems to be the fashion these days to prune them into a “Lollipop,”
shape or as a large “Standard.” (See Picture.)
Not many Eucalyptus are actually fully hardy though, here in the UK,
with Gunnii being the most commonly seen in England. But even with
Gunnii, a tree may be cut back in a very hard Winter and the same is
true of another popular variety commonly called the “Snow Gum,” or
Pauciflora Niphophila. The “Snow Gum,” is a particularly ornamental
variety producing a profusion of clusters of white flowers that, with a
bit of imagination, look a bit like snow on the plant – hence its name.
All Eucalyptus have tough and attractive evergreen leaves that are
usually a greyish green, but the Snow Gum in particular has large
decorative leaves that are of particular interest to flower arrangers.
Another Eucalyptus that seems to be gaining in popularity is Citriodora
which is lemon scented and gives off a lovely fragrance when you brush
against it. However, it is poisonous if eaten and very fast growing.
Also it is most definitely not hardy and would need to be grown in a
large conservatory, or Greenhouse in our winters, but could be put out
on a yard for the summer months, after all risk of frost has passed.
For those interested in the benefits to other wildlife, there are
virtually none with Eucalyptus. Almost no insects will inhabit, or feed
off the trees, (other than perhaps the Pollen on the Snow Gum.) Even the
leaves take a long time to break down if composted, although the
Forestry Commission are doing some research on any uses the timber may
have, in a commercial plantation.
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