Eucalyptus cordata subsp quadrangulosa

Eucalyptus cordata subsp quadrangulosa is a Heart-leaved Gum, with heart-shaped or rounded leaves. While eucalyptus often have juvenile foliage of this shape, it rarely persists to maturity. In the Eucalyptus cordata, this shape is always present on the majority of the adult crown. The term quadrangulosa refers to its square-section stems, it is a subspecies that can form much larger trees in its native area in Australia. This Eucalyptus makes a very good windbreak, especially in coastal gardens, thanks to its upright, pyramidal and bushy habit, where all its lower branches remain. It is very tolerant to sea spray. Its smooth bark is marbled with green, white and grey tones. Its spring flowering in white pompoms is relatively abundant. Hardy down to about -10 to -15° (14 to 5 °F) C, it tolerates opposite climate conditions: humidity as well as drought and clay or dry soils.

Eucalyptus cordata subsp quadrangulosa or Heart-leaved Gum is a large bush of the myrtaceae family, whose range is limited to the sub-coastal ranges of southeastern Tasmania. This subspecies grows in moist clayey to clay soils. This gum reaches a mature height of 10 m (32 ft 10 in) and a spread of 4 to 5 m (13 ft 1 in to 16 ft 5 in), with rapid growth. The young shoots of this eucalyptus carry evergreen foliage, composed of round to heart-shaped leaves, grey-green or glaucous in colour. Most keep this shape while others lengthen into a more lanceolate shape at adult age. They are slightly aromatic when crumpled. Flowering occurs in late summer under our climates, on plants aged a few years. These are round petal-less flowers, composed of a multitude of tightly packed cream-white stamens like a pompom. They bloom between the leaves, grouped by three all along the shoots and are followed by the formation of large green cone-shaped fruits, becoming brown when ripe. This eucalyptus has a lignotuber just below the surface of the soil. This organ allows it to regrow from the stump in case of severe frost, fire or hard pruning. The plant also produces numerous shoots from dormant buds located under its bark, allowing it to respond well to pollarding and topping.

Eucalyptus cordata subsp quadrangulosa copes very well with pruning and can be grown as a bush 2 m (6 ft 7 in) high or more or it can be left unpruned. It naturally has a narrow habit and very dense foliage, present from bottom to top, which gives it a good quality as a windbreak. Eucalyptus are generally big water consumers, even in winter, contributing to drying out the soil. On the other hand, their resistance to summer drought is proven. Eucalyptus cordata, due to its branching habit, makes a beautiful screen of foliage and works wonders in groves. It brings a touch of exoticism to the garden, planted in a hedge with other relatively hardy bushes such as Buddleia 'Lochinch' and 'Bicolor' or some oleanders (Luteum Plenum, 'Provence', 'Atlas'). But it can also make a beautiful fast-growing tree on its own, very tolerant of extreme conditions.