Rainbow Eucalyptus

 I really like this tree.   Saw a specimen of it in the ground at a local
nursery, it was about 15' tall with a tree trunk about six inches in
diameter.  They said it has been there since 1998.  They planted it about
five feet from the wall of the store.  They have some for sale right now.

http://eucalyptusdeglupta.com/trunk02a.jpg
http://eucalyptusdeglupta.com/trunk03.jpg
http://eucalyptusdeglupta.com/5tree.jpg

The problem is according to my search, in it's native habitat it grows to
250 feet with huge trunk.  The local nusery said in here (miami, south
Florida) it will not grow to near that size, but they can't tell me anything
more.  They planted one right next to their foundation wall and it has not
grown to be huge.

So my question is whether I should take a risk and plant one.  On my
property I can plant one 25' or 30' from the house.  I don't know if this is
enough distance, the guy at the nusery says no problem, but he was trying to
sell me a tree.  Anyone has experience with this tree?

 On 1/9/11 6:49 PM, MiamiCuse wrote:

I have no experience with it.  But it's listed in my Sunset's "Western
Garden Book".

Eucalyptus deglupta is also commonly known as Mindanao gum.  It can grow
75-200 ft tall with a branch spread 30-75 ft wide.  It is hardy to
24-26F.  Sunset says it is fast-growing.

If you plant it, you can have a tree service prune it periodically.
Most eucalyptus grow sufficiently fast and vigorously that pruning scars
are quickly hidden.  In fact, some eucalyptus can be cut down to a 3 ft
high stump and, within 4-5 years, will become a new tree with little
sign of having been cut other than remaining small.

--
David E. Ross
Climate:  California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening diary at <http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary>

 MiamiCuse wrote:

It's certain not to grow to that size in any timeframe that the nursery
would care about but that isn't the answer to your question.


How close is your climate and soil to those of its native range?  Will it
get full sun?  The closer you are to its native environment the closer it
will get to its maximum size.  Even though many eucalypts are fast growing
it is unlikely to make 200ft in your lifetime :-)

Big trees near the house are a risk of falling over or dropping branches.
Some Eucalypts have additional risks in that they shed branches at
unpredictable times - that is you don't have to wait for a wind storm.  I
don't know if this one has that habit as being a foreigner it isn't in any
of my books.

Even if it only makes 60-80ft high, 30ft from the house is too close for me.
When you see houses crushed under eucalypts on the TV news after every big
storm  because optimists don't think it can happen to them you get cautious.
Are you prepared to take it down in 10-20 years time if necessary?

David

 
In addition it is likely to be messy like most eucalypts, they drop
leaves all year round and this one sheds bark as well. You will not
have much success at growing anything under it, they use all available
water. Maybe bromeliads that you can overhead water.

JB

 On 1/12/11 11:36 PM, Golden One wrote:

All trees drop leaves.

Some drop throughout the year.  Ask anyone who has a pine tree or a
southern magnolia.

Others drop leaves seasonally.  I have mounds of leaves on my patio and
paths because the garden-waste bin is full of leaves, all from my ash
tree.  My compost pile has all the leaves it can handle without
disrupting the composting process.  My flower and shrub beds are mulched
with enough leaves to keep the soil cool and moist this coming summer.
And the tree is still dropping.

Even palms drop their fronds.

Also, while this particular eucalyptus sheds bark, there are "iron-bark"
eucalyptus trees that do not shed.  These include the red-flowering gum
and the pink ironbark.

--
David E. Ross
Climate:  California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening diary at <http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary>