Looking for a gum expert

I,ve had this eucalyptus around for the best part of 30 yrs.

I first grew it from seed of mixed gum trees from T&M, so no name, it grew slowly at first but took off fast after 5 yrs or so, meaning I cut it back quite hard for a few years.

Eventually after it flowering and producing seed I cut into the trunk one year, and that killed it stone dead.

I now have this one reaching for the sky, from my own seed, its a good looking gum, shiny leaves that reflect the sun and red new stems.

Makes a good ten ft a year and smells good on a bonfire


.:D

Any ideas as to the ID?

 

Hiya, pete.

As you know I live in the land of Eucalyptus but certainly do not claim to be an expert on them. However, could yours be the E viminalis, or Ribbon Gum ... its new stems are red and the leaves are more narrow and tapering. This is the one widely planted for timber.

 

Had a quick look and you could well be right Vicky.:gnthb:

 

Forgot to say, these are the ones that predominantly cover the mountains here .... they start off looking like Blue Gum leaves but as they grow they become these straggly looking trees. They are definitely fast growing as you say. I'm sure I've got pics somewhere up close of them in Country Life both of the trees in general and as logs ready for the timberyard.

 

There are two gum trees in the garden here both must be roughly 30+ feet (10 metres) could be higher. We would love to know how old they are - any ideas? Many thanks!

 

Probably not very old Winnie.
Most gums grow very quickly after a year or so to settle in, so if they have been left unpruned from the day they were planted they could be only 10 to 15 yrs old.
On the other hand they could be older, the trunk diameter might give a clue, I suppose.

 

Hi Winnie

I agree with pete that it's very difficult to tell how old they are because they grow at an exceptional rate.

You don't say how long you have lived in the property and if they were there when you moved there. This would give us a clue as to age.

 

We've been here for 5 years but the garden was landscaped by a very affluent radiographer (his country retreat for his mistress) ... well we are in France!!! I'll have to get out the house documents which date back a bit - I'm thinking he may have been here during the sixties so I've probably answered my own question!! There's also the sequoia .. I guess that must be just as old! Trouble is with the eucalyptus it makes a mess - tons of leaves and bark and the occasional branch (luckily not been beneath those when they've fallen)!! Thanks for your quick replies ... I love this forum!!

 

Pete, it looks similar to Eucalyptus Rubida that I grew a few years ago ,red stems and red new growth
Possible?

 

Its a definite possibility Strongy, one thing that really stands out is the way the leaves reflect the sun and flash like mirrors in the slightest breeze.