October 2015 | The Garden 53

From compact alpine shrubs to forest giants, Eucalyptus are surprisingly diverse, with many kinds making fine garden plants, as a visit to a Worcestershire nursery revealed Author: Roy Lancaster, vmh, broadcaster and member of the RHS Woody Plants Committee. Photography: Tim Sandall

Kangaroot TreesRoy Lancaster visits…

Roy with Eucalyptus enthusiast Hilary Collins and her husband Steve (below), owners of Kangaroot

Trees at Grafton Nursery (right) in Worcestershire.

KaNGaRooT TReeS

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Just two years ago I found myself mourning the loss of one of the most spectacular trees in our garden, a 14m (45ft) specimen of Eucalyptus pauciflora

subsp. debeuzevillei (Jounama snow gum). It was a gift from the late Jimmy Smart, creator of Marwood Hill Gardens in Devon. A container-grown seedling of 45cm (18in) planted in 1987, it had valiantly withstood many a gale, but stress damage at the base of the stem had attracted honey fungus. Reluctantly, I had it removed. Like all snow gums, this one I admired for its beautiful bark, in this plant silvery grey or white with pale green shades as well as its freely borne, powder-puff clusters of white stamens in

summer, a perfect accompaniment to the 15cm (6in) long, grey, scimitar-shaped leaves. I was determined one day to replace it, though not in the same position. Then, in September last year I found myself visiting Kangaroot Trees at Grafton Nursery, about 9 miles east of Worcester, and my wish was fulfilled – though not quite as I had intended.

Gum trees galoreThe nursery, which is mail-order only, became operational in 2010 and occupies 8,000sq m (2 acres) of a 2.8ha (7 acre) site. It is owned by Hilary Collins and her husband Steve who runs his own landscape company. They are helped by two

Worcestershire nursery

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Kangaroot Treesaddress Grafton Nursery, Worcester Road, Grafton Flyford, Worcester WR7 4PW Tel 07515 261511email: office@hardy-eucalyptus.comWebsite: www.hardy-eucalyptus.comopen: by appointment only. Plants are supplied by mail order or may be collected from various flower shows. For further information, please check website or telephone for details.Plant catalogue: send an A5 SAE for an informative brochure – made from

eucalyptus paper – describing the plants offered, their hardiness, final sizes, preferred locations and recommendations for garden use.

Worcestershire nursery

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part-time staff growing Eucalyptus species (or eucalypts as they are often called) from seed sourced in southeast Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand, from trees growing at their highest elevation or, in the case of New Zealand (where they are not native), from cold areas where they have naturalised.

Hilary and Steve first met on a four-year degree course in Horticulture at the University of Bath. Hilary experimented with various plants at the nursery before settling on eucalypts which she grows with a passion only those similarly committed to a cause understand. She orders fresh seed each or every other year, packaged seed going straight into the fridge on arrival. These are sown the following winter in Air-Pot (see panel, opposite) propagation trays using an ordinary seed compost.

Sown thinly, they germinate in

weeks and, after a couple of months, seedlings are then potted into 1-litre Air-Pots (made in the UK from recycled plastic).

Eucalypts to suitKangaroot Trees stock more than 50 species in a range of sizes. Hilary is scathing about Eucalyptus gunnii (cider gum), the most commonly planted in the UK, considering it a ‘thug’, the equivalent of Leyland cypress. ‘There are far better species available,’ she said, ‘whether you want an ultimately large tree for a big space or more compact-growing species for a small garden or limited space. Whatever your requirement there is a eucalypt to fit the bill.’ Surveying the rows of eucalypts standing outdoors in the nursery, as well as those less-hardy species and the larger show specimens housed in a large polytunnel, I could only agree.

Given the wide range available,

I asked Hilary to show me her top recommendations for gardeners with little knowledge who are tempted to try their hand, or for those who have had bad experiences with eucalypts. For a start, I asked her, which species would she prefer over E. gunnii? Without hesitation she said E. archeri (alpine cider gum), a tree of similar foliage and hardy to −19�c (−2�f) but smaller, eventually to 12–15m (40–50ft), and of more moderate growth. It has also shown drought tolerance. Another tall but striking fast-growing species, also to 20m (66ft) or more, E. glaucescens (Tingiringi gum) is notable for its glaucous, bloomy young stems and leaves, juveniles of which are rounded, the larger, greener adult leaves lance-shaped and pointed. It has an attractive bark, too, and is of similar hardiness.

Another of my fast-growing favourites is E. nitens, a specimen of which in the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens is the British and Irish

Hilary Collins suggests elegant Eucalyptus nicholii (above), with its slender foliage and, eventually, a delightful semi-weeping habit, to replace a eucalypt Roy lost in his own garden.

Using Air-PotsThe Air-Pot system was invented in Australia for eucalypts. In these pots, tree roots develop evenly, avoiding the tendency to spiral as can happen in traditional containers, and ensuring good establishment on planting. They are now in widespread use and have revolutionised the successful production and planting of eucalypts and many other plants.

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5 6 7 8

Champion at more than 34m (112ft). Its leaves are long, ribbon-like and shining, with ornamental bark to match, and while far too tall for most gardens, it is one of the best for log production. It has a winter hardiness rating of −9 to −16�c (16 to 3�f), the variation in hardiness of this and other species depending partly on tree age and site conditions.

Good garden choicesWhen it comes to the smaller species Hilary claimed she was spoiled for choice, but kicked off with two ‘very hardy’ snow gums: E. pauciflora subsp. niphophila from Mt Bogong and E. pauciflora subsp. pauciflora from Mt Buffalo (both in Victoria, Australia). The first of these averages 7m (23ft) at maturity and is slower growing and more compact than the typical species, but with similar beautifully pale marbled bark and blue-grey curved leaves. The second is smaller and bushier with equally fine bark and foliage. Both are hardy from −12 to −20�c (10 to −4�f).

Eucalyptus ligustrina is a tree reaching 7m (23ft) on average,

The use of air-Pots has transformed the way eucalypts are grown (above left and above). Trees produce a densely fibrous root system (inset) that allows the trees to establish better once planted.

E. moorei

Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. niphophila

E. pulverulenta ‘Baby Blue’

E. vernicosa

The range of Eucalyptus stocked by Kangaroot Trees illustrates the great diversity found among these plants and includes E. perriniana 1 , E. pulverulenta ‘Baby Blue’ 2 , E. delegatensis 3 , E. subcrenulata 4 , E. approximans 5 , E. nicholii 6 , E. globulus subsp. bicostata 7 and E. ligustrina 8 .

‘Perhaps the smallest hardy species is slow-growing E. vernicosa…’

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56 The Garden | October 2015

differing markedly in its glossy green leaves which, claims Hilary, some customers prefer to exotic-looking greys and silvers. It tolerates −11 to −14�c (12 to 7�f). Also with green foliage is one of Hilary’s favourites, E. moorei (little Sally) an elegant, slow-growing tree to 6m (20ft) with narrow leaves and good on poor soils. It is hardy from −11 to −16�c (12 to 3�f).

By contrast, for those who like eucalypts as cut material for flower arrangements, E. pulverulenta ‘Baby Blue’ is a must. A small, slow-growing tree to 6m (20ft) in maturity, its striking silvery-blue juvenile foliage can be encouraged by regular hard pruning, which will keep it far smaller. Its is hardy to −14�c (7�f).

A strong candidate for smaller gardens is E. gregsoniana (Wolgan snow gum) which reaches around 6m (20ft) and is hardy from −9 to −16�c (16 to 3�f). It is most appealing, with a multi-stemmed habit, pale marbled bark and narrow grey-green leaves. However, perhaps the smallest hardy species is slow-growing E. vernicosa (varnished gum) which forms a dense shrub or sometimes small, bushy tree, eventually to 3m (10ft),

with small shining green leaves held erect rather than drooping. It is hardy to around −17�c (1�f).

Worthy replacementAs a replacement for my lost snow gum I chose E. nicholii (narrow leaved black peppermint) which attracted my attention with its elegant, willowy habit, weeping branches and narrow, pendulous grey to blue-green leaves smelling of peppermint if crushed. It may eventually reach a maximum of 15m (50ft) and survives temperatures down to −15�c (5�f).

To help customers choose the best

species for their particular soils and sites, Kangaroot Trees has produced a fine and tempting guide listing 53 different eucalypts showing their characteristics and cultural needs. There are also helpful tips on planting from Air-Pots, aftercare and winter hardiness, which (intriguingly) Hilary describes as a sliding scale dependent of several factors.

Eucalypts may not immediately appeal to everyone, but there is no doubting the diversity and great garden appeal found among these often noble trees. Chosen with care, many will fit happily into our gardens and urban landscape.

The flowers of many gum trees are surprisingly attractive, such as those of Eucalyptus glaucescens (above). Roy was fascinated by the diversity of eucalypt leaves (above right); these plants often have dimorphic foliage: juvenile leaves are a different shape from mature ones, which usually become more elongated with age.

Larger plants, such as a specimen of Eucalyptus coccifera (above) are kept in a polytunnel (left) at Kangaroot Trees. Many of these are used in flower show exhibits.