Eucalypts dominate our continent. They are found throughout Australia with the possible exception of the driest inland areas and the depths of rainforest.
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Australia-wide there are at least 800 species with 240 occurring in NSW and of these a surprising 75 eucalypts are native to the Northern Tablelands.
This time we will wax lyrical about a few of the 67 local eucalypts. All the varieties described develop into reasonably sized trees and are probably too large for the average suburban garden. A future article will describe a range of eucalypts suitable for suburban planting.
When you drive out of Hillgrove along the Long Point Road you come to large eucalypts with smooth, mottled trunks. These are the Hillgrove Gum, Eucalyptus michaeliana.
The Hillgrove Gum is an attractive tree with a single, smooth trunk that has white to grey blotches. The bark is shed in plates or flakes. Long leaves are lance-shaped, leathery and dark green on both surfaces.
The Hillgrove Gum is an attractive tree with a single, smooth trunk that has white to grey blotches.
Cultivated plants often have foliage almost to ground level. Large clusters of buds are carried in groups of three to seven. Flowers are said to appear between August and November. Our specimens often flower in February. The white flowers are an eye-catching feature as they are carried in unusually large clusters.
The Hillgrove Gum is a rare species with limited distribution.
Keeping in the same area we journey to the Metz Gorge. Around the gorge perimeter there is another rare eucalypt. The Blue Box, Eucalyptus magnificata, reaches a height of 15 metres. Bark is rough and persistent. The leaves are oval and five to ten centimetres long by four to six centimetres wide.
They are bluish-green in colour and are said to yield a red colour when used for dyeing. The buds are carried in clusters of seven. Flowers are white and appear from late spring to early summer. They are followed by distinctive, cylindrical gum nuts.
The Blue Box also occurs in southern Queensland and is another rare species with limited distribution.
Eucalyptus prava, the Orange Gum, is a small to medium tree usually with a twisted trunk. The smooth bark is patchy grey, grey-brown, orange and red-brown. In spring the bark is shed in large plates or flakes.
This is when the orange colour is most vivid. Large white flowers appear in late spring and summer and they are followed by attractive gum nuts.
The Orange Gum is one of the dominant eucalypts around Tea Tree Creek, west of Armidale. The bright orange, spring bark is an attractive feature.
Finally we should mention Eucalyptus boliviana: the Bolivia Stringybark. This is another rare species this time from the Bolivia Range Nature Reserve, north of Deepwater.
The Bolivia Stringybark will develop into either a single-trunked tree reaching a height of 12 metres or adopt a mallee growth habit with multiple trunks.
Leaves are glossy green and carried on unusual, square branches. Large cream flowers appear, on our tree, in June. They are followed by gum nuts that are hemispherical and broadly funnel-shaped.
These are just a few of our local eucalypts that are suitable for rural planting,
