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Eucalyptus torquata (Coral Gum) – A small upright evergreen tree to 15 to 20 feet tall by as wide with persistent gray-brown bark on the trunk and larger branches and with pale blue-green leathery 4- to 6-inch-long leaves. Masses of beautiful flowers appear throughout the year but primarily late spring through fall with orange barrel-shaped buds that have a corrugated base and with horned caps that lift of to expose coral red stamens with yellow tips.
Plant in full to part sun in well-drained soil and irrigate occasionally to infrequently - a drought tolerant species in coastal California gardens that is cold hardy to short duration temperatures down to around 17°F. This very attractive tree tolerates heat, wind, and moderate frost.
Eucalyptus torquata is native to hillsides around Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie in the Goldfields region of Western Australia where it grows in stony loam, clay loam and red sandy soils. 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. The specific epithet is from the Latin word 'torquatus' which means "adorned with a neck chain or collar" in reference to the corrugated base of the buds and fruit. It is also called Coolgardie gum for the location it was first described from in 1897, Christmas Tree, for the flowers that appear in December in Australia and Goldfields Red Flowering Gum for mining operations near its native habitat.
It was first introduced in the US by the USDA's Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) in 1936 (BPI 104163-1936). We first listed this plant in our 1981 catalog and are growing it again thanks to Jo O'Connell at Australian Native Plant Nursery, who produced a nice seedling crop for us in 2021. The accompanying picture courtesy of Matt Ritter.
The information about Eucalyptus torquata displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include 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 we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |
