Eucalyptus Pauciflora Niphophila?
If this particular species ends up being really, really slow (i.e.: a foot a year or so), are their any other species that you like (multi-trunked being an added bonus) which maintain easily in the 20 -25 foot range?
Matt
Matt "in West Seattle" Monroe
Seattle, WA.
The following thread was started by Matt in West Seattle on December 21, 2003 at 12:16 am PST
Not so slow, but think twice...
It got quite large at the Washington Park Arboretum. That happened within 20 years.
I don't know the exact growth rate but it is not slow as trees in general go. I think it is actually slower in habitat than in cultivation near sea level.
I think you could probably expect 18 inches the first year, and maybe several feet the 2nd, and maybe 3 or 4 the third.
The problem in my mind is that while it might be the one that survives the lowest temperatures in habitat, it is from the cold dryish uplands and has poor tolerance of mild, wet Autumns.
At the UW arboretum, it routinely survived for years until a mild, wet Autumn was followed by a cold winter--that would kill it. And in the mean time it had gotten big enough to be a problem to remove.
You'd think it might sucker from the boles but I don't recall it doing that.
Personally I stick with Euc's from wet-montane habitats; they seem much more reliable.
The above followup was added by Rob Wagner on December 21, 2003 at 12:31 am PST.
you might consider the related e. gregsoniana which is naturally a small tree or large shrub with handsome whitish bark---in salem oregon it has been cut back several times by frost and repeatly resprouted vigorusly. e. neglecta is a tough plant with good foliage, old bark is stringy and rough so not as nice as some of the "gum barks". i fear that most of the hardy eucs are prone to die back in the warm wet fall/cold winter syndrome and most are potentially large trees to boot. archeri, urnigera, and glaucescens have nice juevenal foliage and tolerate periodic cutting back to remain small. perrinniana is another possibility that does not normally get huge, has attractive foliage (both juevenal and mature) and smooth bark and has a good track record surviving damp and periodically cold winters.
The above followup was added by georgeinbandon,oregon on December 21, 2003 at 1:02 pm PST.
of plant growth. Slow for eucs means about 3 foot min a year. www.eucalyptus.co.uk
The above followup was added by paul on December 21, 2003 at 2:01 pm PST.
E.glaucescens grows 6'-9' after the first year for me, then 2-3 years later is slows down a little. Nice bark and leaf color. Give them fish fertz. and they really take off, and trimming the lower branch encourages fast top growth.
The above followup was added by Roger in Olympia on December 21, 2003 at 2:10 pm PST.
WOW! That is an amazing photo! I love the look and texture of the trunk -- and any tree that can put on six to nine feet of growth the first year certainly counts as "fast" growing.
I just did a quick Google search for Eucalyptus Glaucescens. There are many sites which list this species -- all stating that this is a fast grower and fairly hardy -- and many of the sites have photographs showing mature species. I guess that I have two concerns with this particular Euc: 1) Can it easily be maintained at about the 20 -25 foot height level? 2) Does it typically form multiple trunks when cut back to the ground?
In regards to concern # 1: I really don't want any large looming trees in my yard. 25 feet is about the maximum height that I'm looking for.
In regards to concern # 2: All of the web sites which show photos of E. glaucescens show pictures of tall narrow single-trunked trees. Myself, I much prefer the look of a multi-trunked tree that spreads at the top. If Glaucescens can be trained into a spreading multi-trunked tree, well, than this might just be the plant that I'm looking for.
Matt
Matt "in West Seattle" Monroe
Seattle, WA.
P.S.: I know that Colvos Creek Nursery (Vashon Island) sells many species of Eucs. Are there any other Northwest nurseries that are worth recommending?
The above followup was added by Matt in West Seattle on December 21, 2003 at 4:42 pm PST.
E. niphophila grows at a rate of 2-5 feet per year once established (depending on genetic variation) to an eventual height of 20 - 80 (yes 80) feet. You never really know where it will stop and it usually grows larger than people expect.
E. glaucescens is a very fast, upright grower and would not be easy to maintain at a low height and still look good. If you cut it to the ground, it might come back multi trunked, but still grow tall. However it has a rather open branching habit and if allowed to just go straight up it will soon be out of the way and not exactly "loom". This is true of a lot of eucs if pruned carefully. That pic is of a tree in my garden - thanks Roger.
If you want something that would for sure stay at 20-25' or so, I would choose E. gregsoniana, E. kybeanensis, E. moorei or E. stricta. I'll probably be growing a couple of these next spring so get in touch if you want one. I haven't even started them yet, though. E. perriniana often stays at 25-30', but not always.
The above followup was added by Ian on December 21, 2003 at 5:19 pm PST.
another small tree to try is e. parvula ("parvifolia") and if you can get it---e. baeuerlenii (its grown very slowly for me). forestfarm nursery has a good selection of eucs and www.australiaplants.com is a good domestic source of seed and some plants. also australian "experts" list glaucescens as having both mallee (shrubby) and tree forms---obviously the mallee would be a better selection for your purposes (if you can find a source!!!)
The above followup was added by georgeinbandon,oregon on December 21, 2003 at 5:51 pm PST.
E. parvula is another one that usually gets a lot bigger than the books say - so watch out! It probably varies, though, depending on its genetic traits, and on growing conditions. The one I saw at Western Hills Nursery must have been 60' tall and 80' across. All the ones I have planted in Olympia look like they are well on their way to gianthood. On the other hand, the ones in the Milligans pics look smaller.
BTW George - when driving through Oregon I stopped to take a close look at those eucs on Hwy 101 right by the Curry County line. They are not E. globulus, as I had thought - I think they are E. nitens.
The above followup was added by Ian on December 21, 2003 at 6:00 pm PST.
yes, ian you are right just like the trees planted next to the restaurant in bandon i showed you when you were done last year. of course, nitens is closely related to globulus (especially ssp. bicostata and maidenii) in its gross morphology so it wouldnt be too hard to confuse the trees with a casual glance. did you notice the huge gunnii a mile or so north of the 2 nitens (i.e. on the coos county side of the line)?
The above followup was added by georgeinbandon,oregon on December 21, 2003 at 7:45 pm PST.
George, I did see the E. gunnii when I was by in May of last year, but I missed it this last time. I should have stopped by though, it would have made a great pic for the euc page. Next time I guess. Ian.
I do have some seed for a mallee form of E. glaucescens, maybe I will grow a couple.
The above followup was added by Ian on December 21, 2003 at 10:45 pm PST.
I have this one here, and its fast. It is easily pollarded however and everybody always says how good it looks with its distinctive foliage and red new growth. Its also very good on alkaline soil.
The above followup was added by Nigel on December 22, 2003 at 2:32 am PST.
>also australian "experts" list glaucescens as having both mallee (shrubby) and
>tree forms---obviously the mallee would be a better selection for your purposes (if
>you can find a source!!!) -- George
I didn't have much luck finding mallee forms of Glaucescens listed on the web. I believe you when you say that this form exists, and Ian's posting about seeds confirms this. If a smaller form of this particular species proves to be hardy in PNW gardens, then this would be exactly the type of Euc that I need in my yard.
>yes, ian you are right just like the trees planted next to the restaurant in bandon i
>showed you when you were done last year -- George
George: Are you talking about the huge Eucs next to the Italian restaurant, right across the street from the Shooting Star Hotel? Those trees are amazing... Last year, my wife and I were staying at the Shooting Star, and I spotted the trees while driving out of the hotel's parking lot. For about five minutes my wife was (once again) a plant widow, as I had to inspect the trees and see just what species they might be.
>I do have some seed for a mallee form of E. glaucescens, maybe I will grow a
>couple. -- Ian
Ian: I will gladly trade you various palm seeds, ariseamas, or hedychiums for a true mallee form of Glaucescens. Also, if I remember correctly, you were growing Caryota "Mystery" and Caryota "Solitare." How have these species worked out for you? When I was over in India last month, I was told the Caryota "Solitare" is a fairly low-altitude species with very little chance for hard frost survival. The nursery families that I'd met over there had never heard of Caryota "Mystery," so they really couldn't tell me anything at all about the plant or its hardiness. I did meet with a wholesaler in the Bay Area last year who was propagating Caryota "Mystery," and he had very high hopes for the plant. If I'm feeling really motivated today, I'll shoot him an e-mail and find out just how well the palms have faired this past year.
Matt "in West Seattle" Monroe
Seattle, WA.
The above followup was added by Matt in West Seattle on December 22, 2003 at 7:40 am PST.
yes, those are the ones---my guess is that they are indeed e. nitens. there are other nitens scattered thru out the town but none look as good as the ones by the restaurante (until you get to the ones Ian is talking about near the county line)---maybe its all that good italian cooking that keeps them going so well!!!
The above followup was added by georgeinbandon,oregon on December 22, 2003 at 5:24 pm PST.
Matt, when I was at Swanson's nursery yesterday I saw some small (18"-24") eucs for sale. I think I saw E. Nitens, E. Perriniana, and E. Pulverulenta. Don't quote me though. Happy Holidays, Bruce
The above followup was added by Bruce in Bothell on December 22, 2003 at 7:42 pm PST.
I'll try growing some E. glaucescens mallee form this spring. Come on over to Bainbridge anytime you want to do a trade.
Those Caryotas are still in small pots in the greenhouse. They have done pretty well over the summer, considering I have neglected to pot them up or feed them very often. They definitely liked the heat. This year hopefully I can pot them up.
The above followup was added by Ian on December 23, 2003 at 7:40 pm PST.