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Family: Myrtaceae
Native to: Central Plateau of Tasmania
Dimensions: tree to 70 - 120', often initially columnar, but with equal spread over time
Cold resistance: variable from about 2 - 12°F; it is important to obtain seedlings from a tested provenance
Drought resistance: adequate, but grows faster with irrigation
Key Features: very fast growing, round sessile juvenile leaves mature to willowy adult leaves, variably rough or smooth tan bark
Uses: tolerates wind, coastal exposure, can be used in cut foliage production/coppicing, has been tapped to produced a drinkable cider (I have never tried this)
Description:
This species from Tasmania's central plateau has long been one of the most popular hardy eucalypts. Certainly it has been one of the most available hardy species, as Seattle's largest specimens are now approaching 100' tall; but some forms offered by retail nurseries over the years have turned out to be less than fully hardy through the coldest Northwest winters. My trees are seed grown from trees that have been established locally, and can be expected to have superior hardiness. The glaucous silvery leaves of this form are particularly attractive against the grey winter sky. Some references continue to lead readers to incorrectly believe E. gunnii is one of just two or three eucalypts that is at all hardy in the United States outside of California and Florida, but that is a story for another day.
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