Eucalyptus moorei var. moorei

Eucalyptus moorei var. moorei is a species with moderate growth and low development, rarely exceeding 6 m (19 ft 8 in) in height. This bush mostly forms multiple trunks, which display a beautiful decorative bark in whitish, beige, grey and other colours. It is recognised by its fine and abundant foliage, consisting of small green leaves with shiny reflections, which in the juvenile state take a beautiful slightly bluish hue. It also produces a pretty flowering in white pompoms that can spread over many weeks. An ideal variety for small gardens, easy to acclimate in most regions except those with very cold winters.

Eucalyptus constitute a wide genus of plants, rich in about 800 species, grouping both bushes a few metres high and immense trees, sometimes peaking at more than 90 m (295 ft 4 in) high (E. regnans, E. nitens...). All belong to the Myrtaceae family, richly represented in the tropics and warm temperate climates. Like most species, the Eucalyptus moorei subsp. moorei is native to Australia, where its distribution area is mainly located in the state of New South Wales. It is found in different areas, such as the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, at an altitude varying from 1000 to 1200 m (3280 ft 10 in to 3937 ft), as well as in the Budawang mountain range, further south, towards Canberra, between 600 and 800 m (1968 ft 6 in and 2624 ft 8 in) altitude. These are regions characterised by hot summers and cool or cold winters, without a distinct dry season. This plant grows in often shallow and poor soils, near swampy areas, without having its feet in the water. It actually prefers grounds made up of coarse sands, even if it tolerates short periods of marked humidity.
This species is part of the mallee group, an aboriginal term for several genera, including Eucalyptus, characterised by a height of less than 10 metres (32 feet 10 inches), and a bushy habit starting on several stems from ground level. It thus often forms dense thickets in nature. It develops a lignotuber, an underground formation from which many buds emerge that regenerate branches when the aerial part is destroyed by fire or grazed by animals. This characteristic is interesting for ornamental purposes, as it is possible to prune the bush to limit its development, or to force it to branch out lower.
Eucalyptus moorei var. moorei is one of the two known subspecies (the other being serpentinicola). It forms a bushy shrub reaching 6 to 7 m (19 ft 8 in to 23 ft) in height and about 4.5 m (14 ft 10 in) in width. It sometimes develops a single short trunk, but more often multiple trunks, which is an advantage at the ornamental level, because the bark is very decorative. It is smooth and peels off in shreds that fall at the foot of the plant, it takes on varied colours: white, yellow, grey, beige-brown, green... This shrub is also remarkable because of its graceful, evergreen and aesthetic foliage. Its fineness earns it in Australian English the nickname of "little willow" or "narrow-leaved willow" (narrow-leaved sally), because the resemblance is indeed quite strong with this genus yet far removed from the Myrtaceae… The small juvenile foliage, is made up of opposite and sessile, ovate to elliptical leaves, only 2.8 to 4.5 cm (1.1 to 1.8 in) long and 0.6 to 2.5 cm (0.2 to 1 in) wide. They have a beautiful blue-green colour at first, then gradually turn a shiny green. The adult foliage, slightly larger, is even narrower, the lamina of the leaves measuring up to 9 cm (3.5 in) long and 1.3 cm (0.5 in) wide. Lanceolate to crescent-shaped, petiolate and alternate, also a beautiful shiny green.
Between February and May in Australia, this shrub is adorned with a beautiful white flowering in pompoms. The axillary umbels group together 7 to 15 small flowers without petals, whose white stamens form very visible bouquets. They are followed by small brown fruits that form balls, without any real aesthetic interest.
This species grows in a fairly significant variety of soils, with an acidic, neutral or even moderately alkaline pH. It will grow in moist to temporarily wet, even waterlogged soils, and drier conditions. Resistant to frost down to -10°C (14 °F), it is therefore an easy species to acclimatise in many regions, with the exception of those with really cold winters.

This Eucalyptus shrub, ornamental for its bark, its original foliage, and its white flowering, will find a place in the smallest gardens, thanks to its reduced dimensions and its tolerance to severe pruning. It adopts a natural habit that will integrate well into a natural garden, with a small exotic touch. Plant with it an Asimina triloba Allegheny, the pawpaw with its amazing fruits tasting of mango and banana, and which will also offer you beautiful autumn colours. Its rather large foliage will contrast well with the fineness of your little Eucalyptus. Magnolia tripetala will allow you to create a similar contrast due to its large, bright green leaves.