Would you like to cultivate an exotic deciduous tree in the garden and have you decided on the eucalyptus? A good choice for sure, but the hardest decision is yet to come. In the following you have to define yourself in a way. And there's more of that than you might think. What they all have in common is that they come from Australia. With regard to the external appearance and the properties, however, there are numerous differences. On this page you will find an overview that should make your purchase decision easier.
The red eucalyptus gets its name from the color of its flowers
growth forms
The eucalyptus occurs as a tree or as a shrub. It can reach an impressive height of up to five meters. With a regular pruning, however, you keep the growth within limits, so that the following cultivation options are conceivable:
- as a solitary tree
- in the bed
- in the bucket
- as a houseplant
- on the balcony
The genus Eucalyptus gunii should be emphasized. With its comparatively slow growth of only 40 cm per year, it is an exception among the eucalyptus species.
Characteristics of the most well-known eucalyptus species
The blue gum tree (Eucalyptus globulus)
- ovate, green leaves
- smooth leaf edge
- two leaves on each branch
- alternate leaf position
The Speckled Eucalyptus (Corymbia maculata)
- oblong, firm, shiny, green leaves
- smooth, slightly wavy leaf margin
- Leaf reaches a length of up to 20 cm
Red Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis)
- oblong, grey-green leaves
- Leaf reaches a length of up to 30 cm
- smooth leaf edge
The snow gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp niphophila)
- oblong, slightly oval leaf
- grey-green to whitish shimmering leaves
- smooth leaf edge
The Silver Dollar Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus polyanthemos)
- blue-green, round leaves
- slightly notched leaf margin
Tasmanian snow gum (Eucalyptus coccifera)
- oblong, slightly oval, grey-green, sometimes whitish shimmering leaves
- smooth leaf edge
- Leaves change with age
Hardy species
Since the eucalyptus has become more and more popular here in Europe in recent years, you can now also find winter-proof varieties on the market. Here again the eucalyptus gunii is mentioned as an example.