The eucalyptus comes from Australia, where the climate is mild even in winter. Overwintering is therefore necessary in this country. The following article informs you about required actions as well as some exceptions.
Eucalyptus trees can get used to Central European winters
Is the eucalyptus hardy?
The eucalyptus makes few demands on its location and also grows in cool places. However, the deciduous tree does not tolerate frost. An exception is the Eucalyptus gunii variety, which is the only Eucalyptus species that can withstand temperatures of down to -20°C.
Note: Sometimes eucalypts are offered in the trade, which are said to be “conditionally frost hardy” plants. However, this information usually only refers to a few degrees below the freezing point. Better to be on the safe side and bring these trees indoors in winter too.
Hibernation in the house
So it is necessary to protect the eucalyptus from frost. In closed rooms, the following conditions are optimal:
- A cool location with temperatures around 13°C
- No fertilizer application
- Moderate watering only.
- Still lots of light
- Trim the tops before bringing the eucalyptus indoors for the winter.
- Before you put the tree outside again, cut back the branches heavily.
Only put your eucalyptus outside again after the ice saints. Then you can be sure that night frosts will no longer harm it.
Hibernation in the garden
In the garden, you should only overwinter eucalypts that are of sufficient growth height and are no longer suitable for keeping in tubs. In this case, there is some frost resistance. But still you need to protect the roots from the cold. To do this, apply a layer of mulch.