Eucalyptus urnigera Fruit (11/03/2012, Kew, London)
Position: Full sun to partial shade
Flowering period: Late summer
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 20m
Eventual Spread: 10m
Hardiness: 7a – 9a (juvenile tree 8a-9a)
Family: Myrtaceae
Eucalyptus urnigera (11/03/2012, Kew, London)
Eucalyptus urnigera is a fast growing, upright evergreen tree. As with a most Eucalyptus its leaves grey/ green and appear in juvenile and adult form. The juvenile are leaves are cordate with an emarginate tip and crenate margins, opposite and have a purple margin to the leaf. The adult leaves are oblong/ ovate, entire and opposite. Its bark is varies with the age, initially silver/ white, maturing to a mosaic of smooth white, gold and olive. Its white flowers are arranged in groups of three, are umbels and give rise to fluffy stamens which may be white, cream, red or pink. Its fruits are poricidal capsules appearing in threes on very long peduncles.
Eucalyptus urnigera, commonly known as the Urn Gum, Urn Pod Gum or Urn Tree, is native to Tasmania. In its natural habitat it grows on rock slopes to a height of 900m. It was described in 1847 by Joseph Dalton Hooker.
Eucalyptus urnigera Leaf (11/03/2012, Kew, London)
The etymological root of the binomial name Eucalyptus is derived from the Greek eu ‘good’ and kalyptos ‘covered’ referring to the calyx which forms a lid over the flowers when in bud. Urnigera is derived from the Latin urna ’urn’ and gero ’to bear’, referring to the fruits.
Eucalyptus urnigera Bark (11/03/2012, Kew, London)
The landscape architect may find Eucalyptus urnigera useful as a large, upright evergreen specimen tree.
Ecologically, E. urnigera is attractive to bees and pollinating insects.
E. urnigera prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. Will tolerate wet soils.
E. urnigera requires little maintenance.