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Family: Myrtaceae
Native to: endemic to Tasmania
Dimensions: tree to 60 - 80' tall
Cold resistance: hardy to around 8 - 12°F
Drought resistance: moderate, grows faster under irrigation, not a great performer in very dry conditions
Key Features: rounded juvenile leaves, smooth bark; comparable to Eucalyptus gunnii but usually not quite as large, has urn-shaped seed capsules
Uses: specimen tree for full sun, wind tolerant, coastal exposure, can be coppiced for cut foliage.
Description:
Urn gum is similar to the well-known E. gunnii in general, but (on average) a superior ornamental. I have to say "on average" beacuse both species exhibit substantial variation in leaf color, bark, and form. The leaves on urn gum are usually glossier than those of E. gunnii, for one; the tree has a better "cleaner" habit than many forms of E. gunnii, and the bark is usually smoother with more colors. Other differences from E. gunnii include the crenulate ("ruffled") margins of juvenile leaves, and cool urn-shaped seed capsules, from which the tree gets it common name. I have observed that this species is not very drought tolerant as eucalypts go, and performs better in more fertile soil in cultivation. In nature it tolerates acidic soils and poor drainage, but in cultivation planting it under such conditions can result in a tree that is unstable when it snows.
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