Eucalyptus macrocarpa (Mottlecah)
Today I potted on a potful of seedling Eucalyptus macrocarpa. I just read that they are slightly frost tender. Not sure what to make of that. They certainly seem not to be bothered by temperatures down to -4C. I have had the pot of small seedlings sitting out in the frost this winter. They had their second set of leaves which is why I had to get them into their own pots. The roots were well developed.
Eucalyptus macrocarpa (Mottlecah)
This is a rather straggly, shrubby Eucalypt. At the arboretum they are about 3m tall by 4m wide. It appears they can get to 5m tall. There is no sign that they will ever be that tall here. The largest I have seen in our high pH soil is 2m. There are apparently some compact forms around but I think this size is due to the soil. The flowers are about 8cm in diameter and the fruits are very decorative. The nectar feeding birds love this plant. I have used the dried fruit at Christmas time with a candle wedged into the open valves.
The shrubs need to be regularly pruned. The plants grow best in dry areas. They need good drainage and warmth to do well.
I think they would make a great container plant. Apparently in USA they are used as an indoor container plant.
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October 15th, 2007 at 6:12 am
Any idea of the lifespan of the eucalyptus
macrocarpa? Any input would be appreciated. Cheers.
December 8th, 2007 at 1:05 am
I have grown Eucalyptus macrocarpa in my garden for more than 20 years. They seem to thrive on the hot/dry summers we have here in Escondido, CA. (We only average about 12 inches of rainfall a year and recently we haven’t even seen that. Our rainy season in in the fall and winter.)
I rarely ever water the plants and they are very adapted to drought once established. My trees
(a very shrubby, multibranched 12ft. high) and are absolutely beautiful. Although the oldest of my 3 trees is a little more than 20 years old, I know of several in San Diego (about 20 minutes from my house) that are more than 35 years old and I suspect thay live a lot longer than that.
So they have a very long lifespan.
December 8th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Thanks for the information, Ron. I had replied direct to Pat and meant to put it here as well. This is what I wrote to her. “I can tell you from experience that E macrocarpa is a long lived plant. One that I know, at the end of a school playground, continues even now after 25+ years of being trampled, swung in, climbed through, footballs
thrown in etc. Another near where I live is about 23 years old. These are mallee plants ie, shoot from the base when broken or cut, have multiple stems. They need good drainage and airflow around them otherwise tend to suffer from sooty mould. Are well worth trying for the flower display. Would make good large pot plants if you cannot give them the conditions that they need.”
Your conditions sound like mine here except that we are experiencing drought at the moment and have no subsoil moisture. Even the native plants are struggling.
December 9th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
[…] on this plant here. Sunday December 9th, 2007 | Categories: Trees; Drought Tolerant Plants; Hardy Australian Native […]
February 8th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Does this plant require FULL SUN or can it thrive just as well in partial sun? How many hours of sun equate to “full sun”?