Eucalyptus dalrympleana
With an elegant shape, and beautifully patterned bark, the fast-growing, tall Eucalyptus dalrympleana is standing proud on our main lawn at Harlow Carr. Why not come and have a look?
Vital statistics
- Common name
- Broad-leaved kindling bark, mountain gum
- Family
- Myrtaceae
- Height & spread
- Up to 20-25m (70ft) high by 8m (25ft) wide
- Form
- Evergreen tree
- Soil
- Fertile, neutral soil
- Aspect
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Hardy in most areas
Eucalyptus
These trees are among the largest in the world yet they have tiny seeds. The genus contains about 680 species of evergreen trees or shrubs mostly from Australia, but also from Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Eucalyptus are noted for their aromatic leaves and foliage. The flowers are small and fluffy in white, cream or red and the peeling bark is attractive and distinctive.
Eucalyptus look best planted as specimen trees. Tender species need protection in a greenhouse during winter but can be moved outside during summer.
Eucalyptus dalrympleana
This fast-growing evergreen is commonly known as the mountain gum and has light, greenish blue leaves with a copper tint when they are young which shimmer and dance in a slight breeze. When the leaves are older they turn bright green and more strap-like and this contrasts beautifully with its white creamy bark - one of the main reasons for growing it. On dull days it looks particularly spectacular.
It is not a tree for the small garden however (and is best grown as a specimen tree) as it can grow to well over 20m (70ft) in height with a width of 8m (25ft). It will tolerate chalk soils
Cultivation
- Grow in fertile, neutral to slightly acid soil that does not dry out, in full sun. Shelter it from cold, drying winds.
- Minimal pruning is required to preserve a good shape in late winter or early spring.
- Eucalyptus trees are prone to silver leaf, oedema and suckers.
Propagation
- Sow seed at 13-18C (55-64F) in spring or summer.
AGM
The RHS Woody Plant Committee awarded Eucalyptus dalrympleana an Award of Garden Merit and described it as:
'Fast-growing, large evergreen tree with flaking white and grey bark. Mature leaves long and narrow, drooping, dark grey-green but coppery-tinted when young. Flowers white.'