The name Eucalyptus gunnii 'Silver Drop' is widely presented as a cultivar name and therefore does not qualify for trademark protection. A company could use another name to sell the plant (eg. Brandon's Bodacious Eucalyptus series), and have that name trademarked, but nothing like that has been mentioned here. If the plant was being sold under a trade name, that would not preclude seed propagation. It would only limit what you could name your plants when reselling them. The plant itself, Eucalyptus gunnii 'Silver Drop', does not appear to be patented. Since there is no patent, you are free to vegetatively propagate it (cuttings, grafts, etc). Plant patents only apply to vegetative propagation. Plant variety protection is used mostly for some agricultural crops to limit propagation from seed. I know of no woody ornamental plant that has ever been given this legal status. And, to go to even further extremes, I am absolutely sure that there is no patented gene in this plant. Growing the seed is 100% legal.

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

Thanks for the replies. It seems eucalyptus grafting is more hush hush than fight club. Looks like we'll be going with a grafted C. ficifolia but I have started growing a few E. deglupta and E. gregsoniana from seed just from curiosity. Out of 100 seeds, I have four deglupta seedlings coming along and 60 out of 100 gregsoniana shooting up. I understand Sydney and Melbourne botanical garden's troubles. I'll have to check out the Alloxylon flammeum. Sounds familiar.

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...