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Eucalyptus elliptica

Eucalyptus elliptica
White Gum

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This rare eucalyptus has a very noticeable style, white bark contrasts with blue-green foliage of beautiful brilliance. Endemic to the east of Australia, from subtropical regions with a temperate climate, it is fond of very hot summers (up to +35°C (95°F)), and cold winters (down to -12°C (10.4°F)), with moderate and regular rains. This beautiful tree, which can reach 15 to 20 m (49 ft to 66 ft) in height, highlights aromatic foliage and white flowering, attractive to bees. Attractive all year round, it quickly becomes a very visible specimen, able to adapt to many gardens. 
Flower size
2 cm
Height at maturity
8 m
Spread at maturity
4.50 m
Exposure
Sun
Hardiness
Hardy down to -12°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil
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Best planting time March, September
Recommended planting time March to May, September to November
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Flowering time April to June
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Description

Eucalyptus elliptica, nicknamed the Bendemeer white gum tree, is a unique species distinguished by its white bark. This medium-sized eucalyptus quickly takes on the shape of a beautiful specimen, undemanding and attractive all year round with its particularly decorative bark and evergreen, aromatic foliage, with bluish hues. Its cream-white flowering is quite insignificant, in the midst of the mass of foliage, but extremely fragrant and attractive to bees. With a hardiness of -10 to -12°C (14 to 10.4 °F), it will prefer a temperate coastal climate, in dry to moist soil, well-drained and not too dry in summer. Fast-growing, in less than 10 years, it is capable of forming a remarkable tree that will structure the landscape in gardens large enough to accommodate it.

Eucalyptus elliptica, synonymous with E. mannifera subsp. elliptica, is an endemic species of eastern Australia, particularly the regions northeast of New South Wales from Barrington Tops National Park to the Bendemeer and Walcha regions. On granitic hills, it thrives in a subtropical highland climate with strong continental influences, which gives a cold atmosphere in winter and mild to warm in summer. Belonging to the Myrtaceae family, it is commonly called: Bendemeer white gum or sometimes brittle gum. According to the original description by William Faris Blakely (1875-1941), an Australian botanist and collector, the name Eucalyptus elliptica comes from the Latin ellipticus which means elliptical, in reference to the shape of the fruit.

This eucalyptus forms a tree, with an upright habit on a straight trunk or with a spreading habit on several large twisted branches. Fast-growing, in its natural environment, it reaches a height of 15 to 20 m (49 ft 2 in to 65 ft 7 in) and a span of 10 to 15 m (32 ft 10 in to 49 ft 2 in). It generally rises on a single trunk that comes from a stump called lignotuber* located just below the surface of the soil. When young it has rounded branches, bearing juvenile foliage, composed of leaves, without petioles, opposite, ovate to elliptical, 2 to 10 cm (0.8 to 3.9 in) long by 2 to 6 cm (0.8 to 2.4 in) wide, blue-green or glaucous. Then, as it develops, the leaves are petiolate, alternate and take on a lanceolate to crescent shape, 8 to 20 cm (3.1 to 7.9 in) long by 1.5 to 3 cm (0.6 to 1.2 in) wide, of a pretty bright green. The leaves are tough, very aromatic and emit a menthol fragrance when crushed, rich in eucalyptol. As it ages, the bark peels off in irregular plates, revealing a smooth, powdery, white underlayer with yellow, orange or grey spots. The flowering occurs mainly in spring and early summer, but occasionally at other times. It does not constitute a real interest, drowned in the mass of foliage. The inflorescence, arranged in the leaf axil, on a short peduncle, is composed of 7 floral buds gathered in a tight umbel and blossoms into small flowers with numerous cream-white anthers, forming a pompom. Rich in nectar, they are very attractive to bees and birds. After flowering, the fruits, called “gumnuts“, appear in the form of a woody, hemispherical capsule, which contains brown-black seeds 1 to 2 mm (0 to 0.1 in) long.

This eucalyptus has a *lignotuber, made up of a swelling rich in starch that forms on the roots just below the surface of the soil. This organ allows it to grow again 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 coppicing, topping or more severe pruning.

The White Gum of Bendemeer finds a place in a large garden, planted alone, in an open space, to appreciate the beauty of its bark and the elegance of its foliage. In order to highlight its architectural habit, it is trained on a single trunk. This attractive and robust tree brings quite an unusual touch in a wide range of situations, including in cold and humid regions. As much as it copes well with cold and hot summers, in poor soils, it dislikes periods of long droughts and soils that are too clayey or too chalky. Comfortable in moist but not marshy soils, it has the ability to dry them out. With a highly developed root system, care must be taken when choosing its location, keeping it away from the foundations of a house or from pipes.

 

Eucalyptus elliptica in pictures

Eucalyptus elliptica (Foliage) Foliage

Plant habit

Height at maturity 8 m
Spread at maturity 4.50 m
Habit spreading
Growth rate fast

Flowering

Flower colour white
Flowering time April to June
Inflorescence Cluster
Flower size 2 cm
Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators

Foliage

Foliage persistence Evergreen
Foliage colour blue
Aromatic? Fragrant foliage when creased
Foliage description Slightly aromatic foliage when crushed.

Botanical data

Genus

Eucalyptus

Species

elliptica

Family

Myrtaceae

Other common names

White Gum

Origin

Australia

Product reference18818

Planting and care

Eucalyptus elliptica is best planted at the beginning of spring in a mild and humid region or at the beginning of autumn in a dry and hot climate. Plant it in well-prepared, light and drained soil, in a very sunny situation. Sandy, loamy, slightly clayey, acidic or even limestone soils are well tolerated. A well-established subject is hardy down to -12/-15 °C under these conditions. Young plants are more sensitive to severe frosts, especially if the frost sets in for several days and the soil is wet. In most regions, you can plant it in the ground, ensuring good drainage, possibly by adding coarse sand, pozzolana or gravel. Then let nature take its course, growth is rapid.

For the first two years, regular watering is necessary, then the bush no longer needs watering in summer. Fertiliser is not recommended. Pruning is not necessary, but it is well tolerated after flowering, or at the end of winter if the stems have frozen. The eucalyptus can be shaped into multiple trunks or a single trunk, by selecting the best placed one and cutting all the others flush. And it is possible to coppice this small tree to form a large bush whose height you can limit.

Eucalyptus trees are useful for drying out wet land, as they are large consumers of water even in winter. However, they become quite resistant to drought once well established (depending on the species and varieties).

Young subjects take root most easily in the ground. The extensive and deep root system of the Eucalyptus does not like to be disturbed and it tends to form a "bun" if the plant remains too long in its pot. Choose its location carefully.

Planting period

Best planting time March, September
Recommended planting time March to May, September to November

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow
Type of use Free-standing
Hardiness Hardy down to -12°C (USDA zone 8a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Any
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light)
Soil moisture Moist soil, ordinary, drained, not too dry

Care

Pruning instructions Pruning is not necessary, and even discouraged, to let the unique habit of this superb eucalyptus express itself. However, it is well tolerated at the end of winter if the stems have frozen, or after flowering. The eucalyptus can be formed on a single trunk, by selecting the best placed one and cutting all the others flush. It is possible to coppice this tree to form a branching clump in order to limit its height.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time March to April
Soil moisture Moist soil
Disease resistance Very good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

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