Obrázok č. 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8

Description:
Eucalyptus gunnii or Cider Gum is an evergreen tree native to Southern Australia and Tasmania. In its natural habitat it can reach up to 100 feet (30 m) tall. The branches are upswept and the bark is smooth green and white. Young leaves are leathery, glaucous blue and rounded to oblong and 2.5-5cm wide. The adult leaves are greenish to 4 inches (10 cm) long and narrowly to broadly lanceolate. When leaves are crushed they are heavily scented. The trees bloom in April to June with very small creamy white blooms in clusters of 2-3. When left to its own devices, it quickly turns into a substantial tree with flaking, coloured bark giving an elegant effect. When burnt on an open fire, the flaked bark gives off a delightful fragrance. Eucalyptus gunnii need full sun to partial shade when young and full sun when adult. Trees are hardy only down to -12° till -15°C (exceptionally −20 °C for brief periods), therefore in Middle Europe we protect young trees for winter with thick straw or multiple unwoven textile or bubble foil layers. Or we grow them in containers and during winter month move them to cold interiors with temperatures around 9°C. Water has to be somewhat restricted during this period. These plants grow quite well on sandy/chalky soils, but prefer a loamy soil. They do not tolerate very wet sites, but generally grow on well-drained, moist but well-drained and also poorly-drained locations. In their original habitat (South Australia, Tasmania) they can be found in alpine areas on rocky well-drained soils and sometimes also on marshy soils. The substrate to be used in containers can consist of 1 part peat moss to 2 parts loam to 2 parts sand or zeolite.