If you have to ask, it is too big. E. globulus grows to something like 80m in the wild, and will easily cover a whole suburban block. In its place you might grow E. bicostata which is much smaller and has nifty blue leaves all year round. Where are you in vic?

Nathan, I live in Metung in the Gippsland Lakes area. I have planted another bluegum, a bicostata down at the bottom of the garden but when i looked it up in my books, it is said to grow as big as the globulas. The one near the house might be a Bicostata also, I forget - it was 3 years ago. Although subject to coastal winds high on a bluff, this gum hasn't taken on an inch of lean away from the wind; unlike almost every other tree in the area!

E globulus has kept tree loppers in work in Melbourne for years. I am surprised gardeners still plant them. There are plenty of other native trees to choose from before considering these.

Thanks Robert & Nathan, you helped me make up my mind.
Its gone and will be replaced by a Eucalyptus leucoxylon rosea flanked by a Melaleuca diosmofolia to the left and a bushy yate to the right; tomorrow, weather permitting.

Excellent. Tomorrow looks like a good day for planting - rain tonight and a warm day tomorrow!

Euc. leucoxylon grows pretty big as well. Why not try some of the mallees like E. leptophylla. These make extremely attractive bushes and will grow to 5 or 6 metres if you let them go. The good thing about them is they like to be pollarded and will regrow quite well if you cut them off at ground level every few years (or as high as you like.)

g'day hank,

it always pays to research trees before buying and planting, for larger specimens like the gums etc.,. the safe working distance from homes, sheds, overhead utilities etc.,. is the maximum height growth plus 50%. for me i just simply reckon most of those big forest trees just aren't suitable in suburbian gardens or streets. and lopping them just creates bigger problems as the new growth is more prone to parting company with the tree in bad weather or even in not bad weather.

len

mail len

lens garden page

Eucalyptus leucoxylon rosea can be tall, short, or medium in size depending on which form of E. leucoxylon or related species it is. E. leucoxylon rosea is a nurseryman's name used to describe a red or pink flowering E. leucoxylon. E. leucoxylon megalocarpa is a small form growing to 5-8m. The flowers are large and produced in profusion. Red/pink forms are available. This form is a very desirable garden plant and unlikely to create problems.