Although it will likely generate some flak (seems like it does everytime I offer a differing opinion), I'm going to disagree.....again :-) Eucalyptus are often coppiced or pollarded to encourage shrub-like growth. It often happens naturally in colder climates where the plant experiences considerable winter dieback of the topgrowth. In extreme cases, eucalyptus can be treated as virtually a herbaceous perennial, dying back to the roots in winter and then producing rapid topgrowth in season. In a good hard winter here, eucalyptus will typically follow this pattern. Coppicing or pollarding is a well-accepted practice with a lot of larger growing shrubs and trees. It has been practiced in Europe for centuries. And it doesn't necessarily create diseases issues or affect longevity. Catalpa, paulownia, black locust, hornbeams, cercis (redbud), certain maples, ash, oaks, willows, cotinus and eucalyptus can all be pollarded or coppiced routinely to maintain a smaller size or to enhance the foliage effect or eliminate flowering and seeding. And that's only a few of the suitable species. Your little tree looks like a cider gum, Eucalyptus gunnii. While one of the hardier eucalypt species, it frequently does get killed back in a bad winter in zone 8. These are often seen as shrubs in my area for that reason. There is a quite mature one (large diameter trunk) planted in a nearby traffic circle that is maintained at around 6'. One of the common reasons for intentionally coppicing or pollarding this plant other than to maintain a specific size is to maintain the juvenile, perfoliate foliage. But it would be happiest in as much sun as possible. Here is a link that might be useful: pollarding eucalyptus

Here are some companies with good seed selection: http://www.seedman.com/eucal.htm http://www.seedcoseeds.com/eucalypt.htm http://www.b-and-t-world-seeds.com/a1.asp?title=Eucalyptus+tree+seeds+(hardy)&list=16 http://www.chilternseeds.co.uk/chilternseeds/211/default/ http://www.australiannativeseeds.com.au/OnlineShop.aspx?c=126914&mc=168 http://members.iinet.net.au/~nindseed/SL2.htm Joe

Pollarding is when you cut off the top growth, coppicing is when you cut it down at ground level. Both will work with a healthy vigorous bay tree. The former is done when you want a mop topped single trunk tree, the latter when you want a multi stemmed bush. Round here they grow thirty feet or more and can be hacked about quite roughly and come back happily.

Drew, I can send you some seed of a few of the varieties you listed if you are interested - they grow locally or as street trees in my area. Im pleased that you are interested in our beautiful aussie flora. Cheers