Sabrina Hahn: Five of WA’s rarest and most beautiful eucalypts

Western Australia has some of the most extraordinary eucalypts that are true collectables for those who love the unusual.

Some are very rare and hard to find but definitely worth the hunt to incorporate something very special, and quintessentially Australian, into your own garden.

Among all the species available, the following five collectables are my favourites:

1. Eucalyptus brandiana: these are extremely rare to find in the wild. It was discovered by Stephen Hopper and Nathan McQuoid and can be found in small numbers in the Fitzgerald River National Park. It has extraordinarily large winged red fruits up to 50-65mm long and 30-59mm wide. The leaves are glossy and lance shaped up to 240mm long. A small mallee growing to only 5m in height.

2. Eucalyptus synandra: this is restricted to the northern Wheatbelt and adjacent farming areas north of Morawa to Beacon. It has the most delicate ballerina-tutu pendulous flowers on long stalks in either pink or cream. The tree is weeping with an open canopy and is usually multi-stemmed. Ideal for small gardens as it grows only to 5m in height.

3. Eucalyptus websteriana: another small mallee, found in central and eastern Goldfields, eastern Murchison, Mardabilla, Shield and Southern Cross. It has beautiful peeling miniritchie-type bark and deep-green heart-shaped leaves. It grows only to around 4m high with a spread around the same. It flowers in spring to early summer with yellow blossoms, followed by decorative seed capsules.

4. Eucalyptus conferruminata: this is endemic to the south-west coast of WA from Albany to Esperance and Bald Island. It has very long finger-like bud caps that kids love sticking on their fingers and the flowers are yellow to bright green, forming large balls. The fruits fuse together with pointy valves, making them look like a medieval weapon. It has a dense crown and grows exceptionally well in windy, sandy places.

5. Eucalyptus orbifolia: located on granite outcrops near Mukinbudin and Paynes Find, to the west of Lake Ballard. Related to E. websteriana, it has the same miniritchie peeling bark but has round grey-green glaucous leaves and a dense bushy growth. Another small mallee, it grows to only 5m with small pale yellow/cream flowers and waxy white buds.

Nurseries that supply unusual eucalypts are Muchea Tree Farm, Zanthorrea and Australian Native Nursery.

Tip

Eucalypts are best planted in smaller rather than large pots, so they develop a healthier taproot system. Prune off the lower leaves and plant the tree deeper into the soil.

3 jobs to do now

1. Prune back wormwood and lavender plants and remove lavenders that have more dead wood than new growth.

2. Start planting bulbs in pots now. Most do well in pots in a full-sun position. Always label them so you remember what they are next season.

3. Keep putting manure on pumpkin plants until the end of April.