Eucalyptus vernicosa - Varnished Gum

The Eucalyptus vernicosa is a very rare species that displays a particularly graphic habit. In the garden, this small bush usually forms a dome about one metre tall, with relatively regular contours. It can also develop into a narrow tree. Its shiny dark green foliage, made up of small oval leaves, is evergreen. In winter, and almost all year round, it produces solitary cream-white flowers, which are pretty but too small to be truly decorative. Native to the cold and mountainous regions of Tasmania, it can withstand temperatures as low as -18°C, snow for several weeks, and strong winds. It has a very slow growth rate and does not tolerate dry conditions, so it requires a suitable location in the garden, with moist soil and full sun.

Eucalyptus is a large genus of plants, with about 800 species, ranging from shrubs a few metres tall to towering trees over 90 metres tall (such as E. regnans, E. nitens...). They all belong to the Myrtaceae family (like Myrtle or the famous Bottlebrush, or Callistemon), which is well represented in tropical and warm temperate climates.
The Eucalyptus vernicosa is native to cold regions. It is found at altitudes of 700 to 1350 metres in the alpine regions of southwestern Tasmania. It mostly grows in acidic peaty soils, developed on quartzite or sandstone rock. The climate in these areas is particularly rainy (1000 to 2500 mm of annual precipitation) and very harsh in winter, with continuous frost and snow for several months. This explains the high hardiness of this species, capable of enduring temperatures as low as -18°C!
Derived from the Latin word vernicosus, this Eucalyptus is commonly called Varnished Gum or Varnished Gumtree (in French: Gommier verni), referring to the glossy and shiny appearance of the leaves. It is a slow-growing plant that forms a ramified bush with a stunted growth, reaching about 1 metre in all directions. It naturally takes on the shape of a fairly regular dome, which is very graphic and interesting from a landscaping perspective. In its native environment, and under favourable conditions, it can eventually become a small tree 3 to 4 metres tall, with a relatively narrow habit, over a period of 20 to 30 years. This species belongs to the group of mallees, an Aboriginal term that refers to several genera, including Eucalyptus, characterised by a height of less than 10 metres and a bushy habit with multiple axes emerging from ground level. These plants have the ability to develop a lignotuber, an underground formation from which numerous buds emerge. These buds regenerate into branches when the aboveground part of the plant is destroyed by fire or grazed by animals. This characteristic is interesting from an ornamental standpoint, as the bush can be cut back to limit its growth or forced to branch lower.
The stems have a smooth bark that is grey or grey-brown in colour. The juvenile leaves have a beautiful dark green colour and are truly glossy and shiny. Small, measuring a maximum of 2 cm long and 1.5 cm wide, they are oval or elliptical, usually sessile (without a petiole), and positioned opposite each other on the branches. In contrast, the adult leaves are alternate, borne on petioles 0.1 to 0.8 cm long, also oval or elliptical, and sometimes orbicular. The flowering occurs in the middle of the juvenile foliage, with small flowers measuring 1 to 2 cm in diameter. These flowers consist of protruding cream-white stamens surrounding a slightly yellowish centre. The main flowering period is from December to April and can extend beyond for a good part of the year. However, the flowers are too small and too few to be truly ornamental.

Eucalyptus vernicosa will interest collectors and enthusiasts of rare plants. It will also allow gardeners in cold regions to enjoy a small pleasure without the fear of their Eucalyptus dying in the first winter. It will fit well in an alpine rockery, in a sunny location, provided there is enough moisture available. To create a themed scene, you can plant perennial flowers such as the Alpine Blue Thistle (Eryngium alpinum Blue Star), which produces beautiful flowers with sophisticated patterns in June and July, in a stunning steel blue colour. A few clumps of Silene acaulis, or Moss Campion, will create a beautiful persistent green carpet that will be covered with charming little pink flowers in summer. Earlier in spring, the Gentiana acaulis, or Gentian, will offer its incredible blue trumpets as early as May to complete this scene.