Eucalyptus globulus ssp. Bicostata - Southern Blue Gum

Nursery Notes 2020:  Spring

5 litre stock are ready - fast growing and fragrant as ever!  

Description, habit,  uses and attributes:

An exceptionally fast growing, large handsome tree of majestic stature, with a very straight trunk, white bark and large bunches of very long, elegant, sycle shaped leaves.  The fragrance from the foliage is powerful.  E. globulus is one of the Eucalyptus species used to clear the Pontine marshes of Rome from flooding and thus ridding the area of mosquitos.
Forms a lignotuber (which is a good thing); will regrow if cut down by man, beast or weather.  Responds well to pruning and coppicing. Also readily shoots from epicormic buds lying dormant beneath the bark

How to use this tree:

• Excellent for coastal planting, a handsome tree for the west coasts and southern coasts of UK, islands and sheltered locations. Tolerant of salt laden winds, E. globulus bicostata is good as a wind break tree.  Is windfirm very early on in its life, due to it producing slender adult foliage very quickly. This means it does not present a large windsail for very long, reducing the risk of blowing over.
• Competition - have a competition with your neighbour. Plant a E. globulus each in a 40 litre patio pot over the summer and see who produces the tallest tree by Bonfire Night!  You know what's coming next...harvest your tree and use it to light the barbecue or fire pit. Do not be tempted to plant it out in the garden, after growing it in a patio pot.
• Timber - very good quality timber for firewood production, given the right growing conditions   Timber not good for fine woodworking, but suited to poles, construction etc.
• Annual bedding plant - exudes bags of attitude - great for Jurrasic Park style planting schemes
• For bees - E globulus yields copious pollen and nectar producing a rich flavoured honey

 

Shoots 'n Leaves: Young shoots: very silvery white, covered in white wax (like suntan lotion), square juvenile stems

Juvenile foliage: large blue or silvery blue foliage - excellent summer patio plant

Adult foliage: Very long sycle to falcate in shape - bright glossy green and very elegant

 

Bark: White to silvery grey, sometimes with pale lemon or creamy orange tones. Very smooth, ultimately shredding into long strips

 

Flowers: Creamy White flowers up to 5cm in size, produced in profusion. Good for bees

 

Leaf Aroma: strongly aromatic. Principle source of Eucalyptus oil

 

Rate of Growth: Very fast at 1.5-2.0 m per year in the garden. One year, our RHS garden show tree grew 3m between end of July and September!  It finished the year at 5m tall.

 

Height in maturity, if left unpruned:   well over 20 m in maturity, could reach 45-55m

 

Hardiness: E. globulus subsp. bicostata is hardier than the type, should be hardy generally down to -8 to -10°C or slightly lower. Grows very well in our soggy Worcestershire field. For straight E. globulus -5 to -7°C:  very likely to get cut down in the winter frosts so possibly only worth considering straight E globulus as an annual tree in colder parts of the UK. 

 

Planting Position and Soil Preference: Prefers a cooler climate, tends to be stunted in hot environments (so not a UK problem then!). Generally not fussy: Tolerates partial shade but basks happily in full sun. Good in loam or clay soils, enjoys well drained, damp or boggy conditions; also drought tolerant.  Will grow in acidic, neutral and alkaline medium.

Origin of the name globulus: from the Latin, meaning a globe, a ball - referring to the shape of the fruit