A few more pics

A few more pics

few more pics

To be perfectly honest jero...., your photos do not resemble the lemon-scented gum, Eucalyptus citriodora. Here's a link to the tree you might take a look at.
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=eucalyptus+citriodora&biw=1920&bih=896&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=-Nz0UYiDIIyPkgX_nYDQDQ&sqi=2&ved=0CDwQsAQ

Hi funnelweb thank you for your reply,

I am pretty certain that they are indeed citriodora, since i bought the seeds and planted them myself (last year so still juvenile leaves).
Also the very very strong scent of lemon is another confirmation.
Maybe its not so visible on my pictures but is actually a little tree already even with a little lignotuber.
I will post a few more pics tomorrow its to dark right now.
So if you have any suggestions whats up with the red new growth that would be great..

the pics

the base of the tree and lignotuber

the seed packet

Well, the picture on the packet certainly looks right and if the seeds came from that then perhaps those earlier leaves are the immature version: many eucalypts have different juvenile leaves to those they have at a later stage. If they're healthy enough, I wouldn't be too concerned about the tinge of red on the young leaves, however, bear in mind that most Australian natives resent root disturbance so when you plant them out I'd suggest you disturb the roots as little as possible. Also they prefer a neutral to slightly acid, well drained soil.

Hi Funnelweb,

Thank you for your reply and advice.
Yeah i guess the Netherlands with is moderate tempatures and high humidity are not the ideal place to raise Australian natives and they are not as happy as they should be.
That said, they make me very happy, i went to your beautifull country twice for 7 months and drove in total 75.000 km (still not enough) and i am just in love with your nature.
Thats why now its little Australia in and around my house..
Ordered more than 20 different seeds on ebay..im trying everything from the amazing Sturt Desert pea to the awesome Boabab tree. Also like 10 different Eucalyptus species since yesterday i am the proud owner of lots of little Corymbia or Eucalyptus papuana var aparrerinja a.k.a. Ghost Gum.
Thanks again for your advice concerning soil and root handling.

75,000kms in 7 months, that's a bit of driving! Good luck with the Sturt's desert pea, I've tried them twice and while I got a flower or one, they didn't last long so I've given up on them - as their name suggests, they don't like humid weather. Some of the hardiest Aussie natives are among the leptospermums, banksias and eremophilas.
Not all but many from Western Australia are the most difficult to grow, though often the most interesting. Kangaroo paws (anigozanthos) are also quite hardy.
I've posted quite a few Aussie natives flowers on the Oz Garden Gallery site and on FLickr under the name Bloody_L which may be of interest to you.

Good luck with the Eucs.
B.

Hi again,

Yeah in fact is was 2006 7 months 30.000kms that was not enough so second trip to Ozzie 2009 7 months 45.000kms.
My desert peas are doing ok but no flowers yet.
And you are right Western Australia has amazing flowers and plants with unique features and they are tough to grow but well worth it.
I am also trying the banksia coccinea(one of the hardest to do) and Kangaroo paw.
We'll see what happens...

Regards Jeroen

I don't think you'll have much luck with the B. Coccinea, they say it's among the toughest of the lot anywhere outside of its native habitat. I've tried it 3 times and managed to get one to maturity, lasted about 5 years and produced a few flowers, but last summer in the humidity it simply couldn't manage. Make sure you give it very good drainage and in the least humidest position you can find. I've included a picture of one of my flowers during its best season. Kangaroo paws, pretty much all except the black variety (Macropidia fuliginosa) are fairly hardy.
Regards
Bill

Hi Bill,

All i can say wow... it may took you a long time and sadly it died but it looked amazing!!
Because of the amazing flowers which this plant produces, i tough it is certainly worth a shot.Here is the one lone survivor which i managed to propagate. Its 2 months old now.

my kangaroo paws which are also a few months old. I think this year no flowers or even stems will come. Also it has the black tips which are not so good i believe.
So today i repotted them (the did develope a very good root system) in a very free draining soil.

my Sturt's desert peas which are not unhappy i think..

My Queensland Bottletree or Narrow-leafed Bottletree (Brachychiton rupestris)..

and my little sad Boab tree (Adansonia gregorii) at first it had a bit of fungus problems on the cotyledon leaves.
After i cut those pieces off and since then repotted it in better free draining soil it is now slowly reviving.
Thanks again for your advice.

Regards Jeroen

Yeah, the blackspots on the leaves of the Kangaroo paw isn't good but hard to avoid; it's caused by a fungus brought about by growing in humid conditions. I've a fungicide (Triphorine) which helped a bit but not much. I also found that while the black looks a bit unsightly, it shouldn't affect flowering. I've included here a picture of my black variety, macropedia fuliginosa, which, in this east coast garden, only lasted one season. I also meant to mention grevilleas are mostly also quite hardy and worth a try. Have you got a garden to plant these out in, or do you just keep them in pots?

Regards
B.

wow.. what an amazing colors on your macropedia fuliginosa to bad it only lasted one year (i am definitely trying that kind next year allthough the seeds are not so easy to find i discovered).
Ok so the black spots are not good but if it doesnt affect flowering that much i shouldnt worry to much about it.
Do you know if the stalks with the flowers on the Kangaroo Paws should also develope in the first year, mine only show the grassy leaves but no stalks yet?
Also thanks for the tip on the grevilleas they are beautifull, i will try a few species next year in spring.
Sadly i do not have a garden but i have a balcony which is packed to the rafters (i think thats the expression used in Australia :D )with plants and i converted one window in my house into a sort of greenhouse so everything is in pots. I do have the option to plant them out in my mums garden but since our winters are pretty cold most will have to go back inside when it strats freezing.
But i am also interested in bonsai so next year a few of the different trees i have will go in the ground to make the nebari grow a bit more.
Here are a few pics off the limited space i have...

balcony..

more balcony

and my makeshift greenhouse

Well, most of what you've got really only grows in the open in temperate climates, you have to obtain alpine natives for anything to survive where the soil freezes, for example snow gums. And anything that grows to 2 metres or more really should go in the ground. Your kangaroo paws still look a bit small to flower and you may have to separate them off into individual pots. When each plant is 2 to 3 times the size of yours you might get a flower spike.
The picture above is another I thought might interest you, it's commonly referred to as the 'white Bat Plant', Tacca integrifolia. It's native to the tropical areas of Australia, and also New Guinea and parts of South East Asia. Not something you'd be able to grow in the Netherlands, I don't think.

Sorry for the delay.. Yeah i know most of the plants i have now are not really supposed to grow in this climate...but hey.. if you never try you never know and i like a challenge.
Thanks again for your advice i will try to find a few spots to let my aussie plants grow in the ground.
And thanks for my new challenge for next year... growing the 'white Bat Plant', Tacca integrifolia indoors... wow what an amazing flower.
This is a picture a kind of succulent desert plant (dont know the name) of Tunisia which i find very special.
On every leaf it grows little clones of itself, drops them and then grows a new set of clones on the leaves.
Also it has little orange flowers on spikes when in bloom.

Heya. Matt here. I recommend losing the

Eucalyptus citriodora, unless you've managed to obtain one of the dwarf varieties developed by the CSIRO. Eucalyptus citriodora tolerate both acidic and alkaline soils but no more that 50% clay at most. For kangaroo paws try finding one of the newer hybrid varieties. They're more resistant to disease.

Eucalyptus camaldulensis obtusa makes a great bonsai tree. Might be ideal for a balcony.

Best luck.