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Family: Myrtaceae
Native to: southeast Australia at high altitudes
Dimensions: tree to 50 - 60' with equal spread
Cold resistance: hardy to around 10°F
Drought resistance: moderate
Key Features: ovate pendulous leaves, very fast growing, hardy and adaptable
Uses: specimen tree for full sun, cut foliage production, soil drainage improvement, tolerates wind exposure, any soil, tough and hardy.
Description:
Mountain swamp gum inhabits low-lying areas and drainage basins in the high country of southeastern Australia. Its rounded to ovate green leaves always have a nice fresh look year-round, and can be useful in cut foliage arrangements. As with most hardy eucalypts, it is not fussy about soil, demanding only full sun. It will also tolerate marshy soil and terrible sticky clay; in fact, I have found that it will even improve winter drainage over time once the trees get large enough. I suppose they are moving a lot of excess water out of the soil and into the air year-round, even here in the Northwest. Expect a maximum height of about 50 - 60', perhaps slightly larger if it is really happy; columnar at first but spreading with age. It is a quick grower and very easy, and cold-hardy enough to survive all the winters when I grew it in Olympia for many years; this, of course, is my seed source for our E. camphora trees in the nursery.
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