Does anybody grow this tree? I bought a teeny one several years ago at H'wood and it's been up-potted a few times and now is about 5 feet tall. The trunk and branches are beautifully shaped with gorgeous graceful curves and wonderful red peeling bark. The foliage is typical euc, with rounder immature leaves near the bottom and long graceful wavy older ones near the top. This would be an absolutely perfect tree if I could keep it to this size. In its native environment it grows to 150 ft but wondering how large it will get here and if there's any way to prune or otherwise keep it much smaller.   

I do not know the tree you speak of, at least not personally BUT I do know how to keep trees small. You bonsai them sort of! Lets say you plant it in the ground and you prune it enough to keep it the shape you want, you then have to root prune. You do this by taking a spade and jamming it into the soil along the root line all the way around the tree. You are trimming the roots just as a bonsai.
I did this with a tree that gets quite large, a...a...oh oh drawing a blank. I will think of it and post it so you know that a large tree can be done this way. I wanted to enjoy it where it came up at on its own, but I could not allow it to become large as it would have taken over the area so I did the above with it.
good luck

Fern, normally I like to see trees and shrubs take their natural shape too, but in this case, the tree is so beautiful at its present size and shape. Right now it branches low but the pictures I have seen of it in the wild it has a single massive trunk. I could see letting it get a few feet larger but I have a spot where it would make a fabulous focal point but because of it's proximity to the house, I wouldn't want it any larger. I probably should just plant it on the perimeter of the property somewhere where it could grow naturally and get something more appropriate for this spot.

Barb, thanks for the info on how to dwarf/bonsai it. I've also thought about just keeping it containerized above ground or sinking the whole container in the ground.

I think I recall seeing a slightly larger but similar looking one in a border at Cistus. Should have paid more attention.

Here is info from an Australian forum that I found by googling:

"Nice to see anyone trying to Bonsai the Eucalypts.

Yes it does have a tap root but I believe many worry too much about cutting the taproot.

The correct name for the main regenerating organ of the Euc. is "lignotuber", it is found as a swelling at the base of t he tree. However, in many species they can also regenerate from epicormic buds all along the trunk. All very handy for recovering from fire and very useful for the Bonsai-ist.

Despite what many will say the Euc. can tolerate root pruning very successfully if appropriate precautions are taken (I have done this on many ocassions - one of my gum trees has been in full Bonsai training for over 20 years).

Put simply if you root prune a Euc. you must not let the root ball become dry at all for 3 to 4 weeks. After that normal Bonsai treatment will be adequate. Over several years of root pruning they become better able to withstand root pruning with minimal stress.

I am sure that many will disagree but this has been my actual experience over many years of Bonsai practice. "



Edited by HarleyLady

Originally posted by Fern I got a Eucalyptus moorei nana this year and I tried asking around about it but no one seemed to know much about it. I hope you have better luck, and if any one knows about my tree it sure would be nice to hear.

Fern, I did a google on your tree and as I suspected with "nana" in the name it stays quite small - 7-10 feet. Check this out:

www.australiaplants.com

I fell in love with a Euc last year but alas mine will get big too, I wish I'd found yours instead!

I got Eucalyptus nicholii, "medium tree to 50'" Oh my gosh, not sure what I was thinking....