What a treat. Thanks for the notice. I have been meaning for quite a while to get "wild plants". Perfect opportunity.

Hi All, I just joined the site, and was hunting for information about the Eucalyptus...I see that the last posting was awhile ago (July 26th), but I'm hopeful one of you will read this & HELP!?! I brought home a very small Eucalyptus (don't know the variety) that fit into my miata (with the top down of course), so it was only about 6' tall, and very skinny. I remebered the ones I had seen along Hwy 101 between Eureka and Arcata, California and thought how pretty they were, and nonchallantly (sp?) planted it in my back yard near the walkway, about 6' from our garage. Well, two years (maybe 3) and some months later...it's HUGE, and leaning into the garage...not touching it with the trunk, but the branches do brush the roof all the time, and the leaning trunk is only about 5 inches from the edge of the roof! Now...obviously, the tree has to come down for certain. I checked with a few of the "big tree" places to see if they wanted it since it's very healthy, but no takers. So, my husband and a friend are going to cut it down, which saddens me a bit, but...what else can be done! MY BAD! My question is...does anyone out there know what kind of root structure this kind of tree has? You see, we have an oil tank somewhere in the vacinity of the tree, and once cut down, we're going to have to dig up the roots. I know that for certain, we can find out the hard way, but I was hoping to find out whether the roots go straight down to you know where?, or if they grow out, more laterally. I'm not sure how to include a picture since I don't have a website, but I'll try to look up how to do that, and then include a picture. Suffice it to say (for now) that it's about half again the height of the garage...and climbing! Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer!

I sometimes propagate a few E. regnans and may have some next spring or summer. The tree pictured froze dead in December 2009 after reaching almost 70' tall so I can't really recommend it for most normal Northwest gardeners who don't like giant dead trees. I might have a couple pots of variegated Algerian ivy kicking around; I'll have to check. This plant and Podocarpus salignus did not sustain any damage last winter, so that is nice. Here's a preliminary report of how the eucalyptus fared last winter - I'll be producing a more complete report soon. Eucalyptus acaciiformis [Chiltern Seeds] dead to the ground Eucalyptus acaciiformis [Chiltern Seeds] dead Eucalyptus aggregata [Milligan Seeds] small one dead, big one dead to ground, resprouting Eucalyptus aggregata [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus amygdalina [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus apiculata [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus archeri [Burnt Ridge] heavy leaf burn, but no dieback, also major resprouting Eucalyptus archeri [Celyn Vale?] no damage Eucalyptus archeri x nitens [Milligan Seeds] mostly dead, resprouting at 4' Eucalyptus badjensis [Milligan Seeds] both dead Eucalyptus badjensis [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground Eucalyptus baeuerlenii [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus barberi [Wildseed] frozen to ground, resprouted Eucalyptus bicostata [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus bicostata [Milligan Seeds] still dead Eucalyptus bicostata [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus bridgesiana dead Eucalyptus bridgesiana [Frank] dead Eucalyptus brookeriana [Milligans] still dead Eucalyptus brookeriana [Milligans] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus brookeriana [Milligans] top dead, resprouting to about 8' up Eucalyptus camphora [Milligan Seeds] defoliated, but releafing throughout Eucalyptus camphora [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus chapmaniana [Milligan Seeds] defoliated, resprouting from about 1' up Eucalyptus cinerea dead Eucalyptus cinerea [California] dead Eucalyptus coccifera [Celyn Vale] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus coccifera [Celyn Vale] dead Eucalyptus coccifera [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground Eucalyptus cordata [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus cordata [Chiltern Seeds] dead, resprouting from base Eucalyptus cordata [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus crenulata [Milligan Seeds] about 70% burn, trunk severely split, but no real dieback, looks like it will be fine? Eucalyptus crenulata hybrid [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus crenulata x nitens [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus dalrympleana [Burnt Ridge] dead to the ground Eucalyptus dalrympleana [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus dalrympleana [Milligan Seeds] slight tip damage, 20-30% defoliated, resprouting Eucalyptus dalrympleana [Milligan Seeds] slight tip damage, 20-30% defoliated, resprouting Eucalyptus dalrympleana [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus dalrympleana [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus delegatensis [Colvos Creek] 50% burn but branches still alive, ought to make it Eucalyptus delegatensis [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus dendromorpha [Milligan Seeds] still dead Eucalyptus dives [Milligan Seeds] heavy leaf burn, resprouted at 2' Eucalyptus dunnii [Nindethana] really dead Eucalyptus elliptica [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus elliptica x nitens [Milligan Seeds] (little one) dead to ground, resprouting Eucalyptus elliptica x nitens [Milligan Seeds] (huge one) about 70% dieback, some branches alive? Eucalyptus elliptica x pulverulenta [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus fastigiata [Milligan Seeds] 50% leaf burn. impressed that it's even alive Eucalyptus fastigiata [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus glaucescens [Celyn Vale] trunk split, no other damage Eucalyptus glaucescens [Celyn Vale] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus glaucescens [Celyn Vale] no damage Eucalyptus glaucescens [Chiltern Seeds] top dead. Resprouting @ about 8' up Eucalyptus glaucescens? Hybrid [Celyn Vale] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus globulus dead to the ground Eucalyptus goniocalyx? still dead Eucalyptus gregsoniana [Chiltern Seeds] 20% defoliated, trunk split, but ought to be fine Eucalyptus gunnii [no special provenance] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus gunnii [Silverdrop] no damage Eucalyptus gunnii [Silverdrop] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus gunnii var divaricata no damage Eucalyptus hybrid (nicholii x ???) defoliated, resprouting all along trunk to top! Eucalyptus hybrid [parvula x ?] (near gate) dead Eucalyptus johnstonii (hybrid?) [Celyn Vale] 10% leaf burn Eucalyptus johnstonii [Milligans] top dead, resprouting to about 10' up Eucalyptus kartzoffiana [Frank] still dead Eucalyptus kartzoffiana [Frank] still dead Eucalyptus kitsoniana [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus kitsoniana [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus kybeanensis [Celyn Vale] lower lvs/brs dead, but mostly fine Eucalyptus lacrimans [Celyn Vale] died back to trunk, resprouting from 5' up Eucalyptus lacrimans [Celyn Vale] no damage Eucalyptus ligustrina [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus macarthurii [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, has resprouted vigorously Eucalyptus macarthurii [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus mannifera dead Eucalyptus mannifera praecox (E. praecox) [Milligan] about 20% leaf burn Eucalyptus mitchelliana [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus mitchelliana [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus moorei [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground Eucalyptus moorei nana dead, resprouting from base Eucalyptus morrisbyi [Wildseed Tasmania] all dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus neglecta [Milligan Seeds] 10% leaf burn Eucalyptus neglecta [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus nicholii [Celyn Vale] was cut down before winter, did not resprout Eucalyptus nitens (Chilean landrace) [GIT] dead Eucalyptus nitens [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus nitens [Victoria BC] dead Eucalyptus nitens [Victoria BC] dead, resprouting from base Eucalyptus nitida [Celyn Vale?] dead Eucalyptus nova-anglica [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus obliqua [Milligan Seeds] still dead Eucalyptus ovata? Yarraensis? [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus paliformis [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus parvula [Celyn Vale] about 30% burn to lower lvs Eucalyptus parvula [Chiltern Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus parvula x nitens [Celyn Vale] no damage Eucalyptus parvula x pulverulenta [Celyn Vale] no damage Eucalyptus pauciflora [Mt. Buffalo] no damage Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp pauciflora [Milligan Seeds] dead to ground, resprouting Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. debeuzevillei [Celyn Vale] no damage Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. debeuzevillei [Celyn Vale] no damage Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. debeuzevillei [Milligans] some damage to trunk/bark, top still growing fine Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. pauciflora [Chiltern Seeds] 70% leaf burn, trunk cracked, but top keeps growing Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. pauciflora [Milligan Seeds] one undamaged. The other dead to ground, resprouting Eucalyptus perriniana (mainland form) [Milligan Seeds] 60% burn Eucalyptus perriniana (Tasmania) [Burnt Ridge] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus perriniana [Celyn Vale] no damage Eucalyptus perriniana Tas. Form [Milligan Seeds] 30-40% leaf burn, ought to be fine Eucalyptus pulverulenta [Celyn Vale] defoliated, resprouted to 9' up trunk Eucalyptus quadrangulata dead Eucalyptus radiata [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus radiata [Milligan Seeds] still dead Eucalyptus regnans [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus regnans [Milligan Seeds] still dead Eucalyptus retinens [Frank] still dead Eucalyptus rodwayi linear juv lvs [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus rodwayi round juv lvs [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus rubida [Celyn Vale] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus rubida [Chiltern Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus rubida [Frank] dead, resprouting from base Eucalyptus rubida [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus rubida x nitens [Celyn Vale] dead Eucalyptus rubida x viminalis [Celyn Vale] dead Eucalyptus scoparia [Forestfarm] dead Eucalyptus sp. aff lacrimans [Celyn Vale] 20% leaf burn Eucalyptus sp. was supposed to be saxatilis [Milligans] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus stellulata [Chiltern Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus subcrenulata [Celyn Vale] dead Eucalyptus subcrenulata [Milligan Seeds] 60% leaf burn, regrowing throughout Eucalyptus subcrenulata [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus urnigera (Mt. Field, Tas) [Frank] mixed: some dead, resprouting; some fine Eucalyptus urnigera [Luke Isham] 90% burn, top half is dead, ought to recover Eucalyptus urnigera [Milligan Seeds? Not sure] dead Eucalyptus urnigera x dalrympleana [Celyn Vale] minor leaf burn, no real damage Eucalyptus urnigera x nitens [Milligan Seeds] 50% defoliation, top regrowing, and resprouting at base Eucalyptus v.was supposed to be vernicosa but too big no damage Eucalyptus v.was supposed to be vernicosa but too big no damage Eucalyptus viminalis [Celyn Vale] dead Eucalyptus viminalis [Chiltern] dead to the ground Eucalyptus volcanica [Frank] dead, resprouting from base Eucalyptus williamsiana still dead Eucalyptus youmanii [Milligan Seeds] both dead now, one resprouting from base

I'm glad you enjoyed the pics. I haven't planted the Phormium seeds yet, but in the past, I have had success sowing them outdoors in late winter so they receive some cold stratification - then they come up pretty quick. I do have a tasmanian tree fern (Dicksonia antarctica). I have had it since 1997, and I have protected it as needed when the weather gets cold. It has no problem with cold temperatures down to about 20°F. Below about the upper teens, it's certain to die unless it is protected, even if it is mature. I've seen many gardeners expect this fern to survive a cold winter once it is large and established, after it has lived through many mild winters, but it doesn't work that way. That is why you don't see any large ones around here. You can protect it with straw, old blankets, or fiberglass insulation. Here are a few more pictures from Poulsbo, where I recorded a low of 13°F this morning and 19°F the night before. That was colder than I expected, and a number of plants in the unheated greenhouse were damaged or killed, I am certain. However, those plants are still at an advantage compared to the ones left outdoors, since the temperature in the greenhouse rose well above freezing during the day when the sun came out. I took these pictures yesterday; today, the sun did not come out.