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Eucalyptus sideroxylon (Red Ironbark) - This fast-growing evergreen tree has a variable growth habit that can range from weeping to upright and from 20 to 60 feet tall with rough furrowed reddish-gray bark that peels off to expose the copper-brown layer beneath. The lance-shaped blue-green foliage changes to a more bronze color in the winter. The fragrant flowers are fluffy balls of pink stamens that form in pendulous clusters in fall and late spring.
Plant in full sun in a moderately well-drained soil and irrigate occasionally to infrequently - it is a drought tolerant tree and tolerates clay soils, seaside conditions and is cold hardy to about 20 degrees F. A useful and attractive tree that is also attractive to honeybees.
Eucalyptus sideroxylon grows naturally in south-eastern Queensland through New South Wales to Victoria. The name for the genus comes from the Greek words 'eu' meaning "well" and 'kalypto' meaning 'to cover' as with a lid and an allusion to the united calyx-lobes and petals that is called an operculum that forms a lid or cap that is shed when the flowers open and the specific epithet comes from the ancient Greek words 'sideros' meaning "iron" and 'xylon' meaning "wood". This species was first documented growing in Santa Monica California in 1908. We grew it at our nursery from 1980 until 2011.
This information about Eucalyptus sideroxylon displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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