Mountain gum (Eucalyptus dalrympleana)

Features and Characteristics

Eucalyptus darylmpleana is native to tablelands and forest slopes in the mountains of southeastern Australia. It is a columnar, fast-growing, broadleaf evergreen tree with a straight, creamy white trunk. It typically matures to 70′ tall and 25′ wide with a trunk diameter to 4 1/2′. In favorable growing conditions in its native habitat, it sometimes grows to as much as 180′ tall with a trunk diameter to 6′. Lower branches drop as the tree grows upward. Light, ovate, dull bluish-green juvenile leaves (to 4″ long) are followed by narrow, lanceolate, curved, drooping, willowy, bright green adult leaves (to 8″ long). Juvenile leaves are copper-tinged when young. Foliage is aromatic. Apetalous creamy white flowers bloom in umbels of 3 (less frequently to – in summer.

Genus name comes from the Greek words eu meaning well and kalypto meaning to cover, as with a lid and an allusion to the united calyx-lobes and petals forming a lid or cap which is shed when the flower opens.

Specific epithet honors Richard Dalrymple-Hay (1861-194- , Commissioner of Forests in New South Wales.