Eucalyptus deuaensis

Eucalyptus deuaensis is a species well adapted to the Mediterranean garden. Of small size it develops on several branches starting from the base, thus forming a tuft with a picturesque habit, accentuating with age. Its sparse vegetation leaves the architecture of these coloured branches well visible. The lanceolate, evergreen leaves of a pretty bluish-green, give charm to this bush all year round. This eucalyptus tolerates pruning well, and adapts well in a small garden, in a rather dry atmosphere and well-drained soil, in full sun.

Eucalyptus deuaensis is a rare endemic species, originating from a single stand, close to Mount Mongamulla (601 m (1971 ft 10 in) altitude) in the Deua National Park in the south-east of New South Wales, about 30 km (18.6 mi) east of the coastal town of Moruya. In these mountainous regions, this bush develops on cliffs in extremely sparse and poor soil. Belonging to the Myrtaceae family, in Australia, it is more commonly called Mongamulla mallee or Mallee of Mongamulla, in reference to the nearby Mount.

This eucalyptus is named "mallee" in Australia, because of its stature formed by several branches starting from the soil, reaching a height of less than 10 metres (32 feet 10 inches). With quite slow growth, it forms a bush of 3 to 4 m (9 ft 10 in to 13 ft 1 in) in height and spread. It rises on several branches starting from a stump called lignotuber* located just below the soil surface. When young, it features rough, silver-grey shoots, carrying juvenile foliage, composed of petiolate-less, ovate to lanceolate, pointed, 4 to 7 cm (1.6 to 2.8 in) long and 1.5 to 2.5 cm (0.6 to 1 in) wide, blue-green leaves. Then as it develops, the leaves, with a petiole of about 1 cm (0.4 in), take a lanceolate to crescent shape, pointed at the end, 7 to 10 cm (2.8 to 3.9 in) long and 1 to 2 cm (0.4 to 0.8 in) wide, of a pretty bluish green. The leaves are tough and slightly aromatic, releasing a menthol scent when crushed, rich in eucalyptol. As it ages, the smooth bark of the branches evolves by taking grey, white, pink or yellow hues. Flowering occurs in summer on plants a few years old. The inflorescence, arranged in the axil of the leaves, is composed of seven diamond-shaped floral buds, gathered in a tight bouquet, which bloom into small white flowers, delicately scented and very attractive to bees. After flowering, the fruits, called "gumnut", appear in the form of a woody, globular, truncate capsule, stuck to the branch. Of a beautiful silver-grey colour, they remain attached to the stem for a long time.

This eucalyptus has a *lignotuber, consisting of a swelling rich in starch that forms on the roots just below the soil surface. This organ allows it to restart from the stump in case of severe frost, fire or severe pruning. The plant also produces numerous shoots from dormant buds located under its bark, which allows it to respond well to coppicing, topping or more severe pruning.

The Mallee of Mongamulla finds a place in a rockery, a stony slope, a mountainous area or a wild space. It tolerates pruning well, even coppicing, in order to highlight its architectural habit, it generally grows as a bushy tuft to give volume to the vegetation and amplify the flowering. Used to rocky soil, this plant withstands summer drought quite well, with little irrigation, in well-draining, even poor, soil. It tolerates hot and dry summers, wind and sea spray well. It is an ideal plant in a Mediterranean garden in association with Strawberry trees (Arbutus unedo), Callistemon (Bottlebrush), Pomegranates (Punica granatum), Olives (Olea europaea), Mimosas, Pistacia lentiscus …