Tree 23

Eucalyptus saligna

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Quick Facts

Genus: Eucalyptus

Species: saligna

Common Names: Sydney Blue gum

Mature Size: 50 metres (sometimes 65 metres)

Height: 16.8 metres
Width: 13.5 metres
Diameter at Breast Height (DBH): 40+44+46+77 4 stems = 107cm

Age of Tree: Semi-mature, this tree is yet to reach its potential size in this position. It is confined, with the compacted gravel driveway that runs along its west side, limiting the roots in this area of functioning at their optimal level.

Place of Origin: Monterey Peninsula California USA, and a variety of this species on two small islands off Bahaj Peninsula, Mexico.

Plant Habit: Tall tree with wide spreading canopy at maturity.

Growth Habit: Fast for much of its early life, slowing as it reaches maturity.

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Story

It has been cared for by the current owner since it was a small plant when they moved there in the 1970s.

This type of tree is a preferred food for Koalas. Flying foxes are attracted to its flowers, with large trees prized due to their concentration of large clusters of flowers.

The wood of this tree type is generally straight-grained, 830kg dry weight and prized for flooring, furniture and boat building. This type of tree is rarely grown in plantations in Australia; it is therefore not well known or used commercially here. Grown commercially in South Africa.

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Horticultural Information

Preferred Conditions: Good Soil Moisture thoughout the year

Soil Type, prefers it well-drained with high level of organic matter

Medium Tolerances to dry conditions for short periods of time

Useful Life Expectancy (ULE): Long-lived in its home range. This type of tree

is often removed in the urban landscape due to its large mature size.

Significance: Private tree in 14 Roch Court, can be seen from a long distance along street.

Flowering Characteristics:

Features: Bark is usually thick and fibrous at its base, changing to smooth on trunk and scaffold branches. Mostly waxy white in colour with some streaks of grey-blue colour. Buds are in 7-11’s, with pointed operculum, buds are generally sessile on a single peduncle that arises in leaf axils.

Flowers are white in colour, generally from October to March. Woody fruit are barrel-shaped, with valves opening as point that rise above the disc. Foliage is a wide lanceolate shape, dark green on the upper surface and a pale green below with veins obvious.

Points of Interest: This tree is growing in a private residence on the front boundary. It can be seen from a distance along the street. It commands attention with its full spreading canopy hanging low over the nature strip. These long upwardly spreading branches of pale colour is a strong contrast against the dark green leaves.

Additional Notes

This type of tree is prone to longicorn beetle when stressed; though its mostly clean stems result in the beetles being consumed by birds before they can lay excessive amounts of eggs, that would then adversely impact the health of a tree.

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