Collection of Eucalyptus nuts

The Eucalyptus gum nuts (woody fruits) that are left on the tree after it has flowered, contain seed and chaff. When they have ripened some fall off naturally, or are nipped off by parrots and lorikeets.

These gum nuts can be collected and placed in a container or paper bag and left in a dry place until the valves in the top of the nut open and release the seed and chaff.

Some trees hold the nuts way past the first year. It is always best to take the older nuts as then you will be sure that the seed is mature and will germinate.

Some species of Eucalypt do not set much seed in the nuts, and some seed will not germinate.

Eucalyptus macrocarpa gum nut with seeds and chaff

Some easy ways to germinate the seeds:

Containers

Use a clean pot, about 100-150 mm across the top, with holes in the bottom.

Seed raising mix

You can buy seed raising mix from garden centres and some large supermarkets. It keeps, so just store it in a clean container, with a lid.

You can make your own with clean (washed) coarse sand and cocopeat.

• The cocopeat is available from garden centres and supermarkets. The block is the size of a house brick and is made from coconut husks.
• Half fill a 9 litre bucket with water, place the cocopeat brick in the water and leave it to absorb the water and expand and become moist and crumbly.
• Use about two parts peat and one part sand mixed together.

Sow the Seed

• Fill the pot to within 2 cm of the top of the pot and tap the pot on the table to settle the mix.
• Press the surface of the mix lightly to make it smooth.
• Sprinkle a pinch of the seed/chaff over the surface of the mix.
• Sprinkle a very light layer of the seed raising mix over the seed.
• Label the pot with the name of the species and the date.
• Labels can be made from the lid of an icecream container, or pop sticks.

130mm pot sown with Eucalyptus macrocarpa seeds

Caring for the pot of seeds

• Stand the pot in a container like an icecream container and fill the ice cream container with water.
• The water will soak up through the seed raising mix and wet the surface of the mix and the seeds.
• The surface of the mix should be kept moist, not soggy, so once the moisture is there, keep the water level in the ice cream container at about 3cm.

(You could use a fine spray from a hose to water. Be careful that it is fine so that you do not wash the seed out of the pot.)

Seed container in icecream cotainer

• Keep the pot in a sheltered, well lit spot, out of direct sun if the weather is hot.
• Seed should begin to germinate in 2-4 weeks, depending on the air temperature.
• When the seed has germinated, keep the water level in the icecream container quite low, or remove it altogether, keeping the potting mix just moist.

Eucalyptus largiflorens (Black Box)

This is an attractive small to medium tree, 10-20 metres high by 8-15 metres wide, with large clusters of cream flowers loved by bees and Honeyeaters. Black Box are known as good honey producing trees. These trees are seen on the banks or rivers and lakes in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, usually in low lying areas where water once lay. This stimulates the seed germination and is why stands of these trees are often seen in the middle of nowhere. If lakes or rivers have flooded, these seed capsules are left washed at the highest point at that time which may never be reached again. The soils in these areas are clays to heavy loams, which of course makes them ideal for such soils in home gardens, where the soils are poorly drained or alkaline. These trees are also resistant to heavy frost. Flowering is between August and January.

I can’t believe that the proposed name change for this tree is ‘Symphymomyrtus’ ie. the plant is possibly called Symphymomyrtus largiflorens! I haven’t kept up with all the Eucalyptus name changes, except for Corymbia ficifolia (Eucalyptus ficifolia, Western Australian Flowering Gum).

This photo was taken on the banks of the Murrumbidgee at Hay, in NSW.

Eucalyptus largiflorens

Eucalyptus phenax (White Mallee)

I was working in the Nursery this morning and could hear what I thought was the neighbour’s air conditioner. It was there in the background but I could not track the other noise that was there. When I looked up above my head I saw it. There were hundreds of bees in the canopy of the tree because it was smothered in flowers.

I love our local mallee trees. Against all odds they put on beautiful new new leaf growth and flower prolifically when everything else has ‘quietened down’ for the hot summers we have here. We seem to have three different species and they flower consecutively. If I was into bee keeping, it would be worth while having hives here for about three months. These are moderately fast growing plants suitable for limestone soils.

Eucalyptus gracilis (White Mallee)

Eucalyptus platypus (Moort)

This tree is fast growing and particularly suited to heavy soils. It tolerates some water logging and is hardy to drought and most frosts. It is highly resistant to smog. The trees respond well to pruning and coppicing. They have many uses including shelter belts and wind erosion control. The foliage grows low down on the plant giving the impression of a large shrubby tree. This aspect makes it a great plant for wind breaks. It is also a good plant for bee keepers.

Eucalyptus platypus (Moort)

It is named Eucalyptus platypus because the flower stem and buds resemble the foot and claws of this Australian Native animal.

Eucalyptus stricklandii (Yellow-flowered Blackbutt)

This also could be called ‘the perfect tree’. It is adaptable to many different soils including alkaline. It is ideal for arid and semi arid areas and warm temperate areas. Apparently it does not do so well in cold climates. It is useful for wind breaks and erosion control. The tree grows from 6-12 metres tall by 5-8 metres wide. Here it is the lower height. It is drought and frost hardy and resistant to smog. Flowering time is Spring through to Autumn.
This tree has been grown in Israel without irrigation and is also grown in California.

A good photo of a Puple-Crowned Lorikeet can can be seen on the site of The Australasian Bird Data Base.

Eucalyptus stricklandii (Yellow-flowered Blackbutt)

This is another of those lovely Western Australian trees that are very decorative in flower.

More articles about Australian birds can be found on Trevor’s Birding.

Eucalyptus ficifolia (Western Australian Flowering Gum) vermillion form

I took the camera out this morning to take photos of the different colour forms of Eucalyptus ficifolia (Western Australian Flowering Gum). The hot north winds that we have had lately have finished the flowers on some trees. There is a lovely deep red form I could not get close to so I will have to knock on the door and ask if I can invade their backyard.

More about Eucalyptus ficifolia here.

Eucalyptus ficifolia (Western Australian Flowering Gum) vermillion form

Eucalyptus cladocalyx 'Nana' (Bushy Sugar Gum)

This is a smaller version of Sugar Gum and is very hardy. This particular form comes from Kangaroo Island and Eyre Peninsular in South Australia. It is drought tolerant being grown in Israel without irrigation. We have found it to be quite drought and frost hardy here but severe frost may cause damage while the plant is young. This is an excellent plant for a wind break with other tall shrubs because of its more compact growth and bushy habit. It appears that it is difficult to establish other plants under this species because of its competitive root system. This tree is about 5m tall here and can grow to 15m tall. The trunk is beautiful when wet.

Eucalyptus pimpiniana

Eucalyptus pimpiniana grows to about 2 metres. It grows in western South Australia where it is classed as rare. Flowering is from December to June and the Honeyeaters love it. One book I read says that frost tolerance is not fully tested. In Blyth it would have survived very severe frost this last winter. This is a plant for dry areas and full sunshine and also alkaline soil. I think it would also make a magnificent potted plant in a large tub.

Eucalyptus pimpiniana