Eucalyptus gomphocephala Kaduri-KKL

Eucalyptus gomphocephala 'Kaduri' is a compact bush that naturally forms a fairly regular ball shape. Its very dense vegetation is made up of thin stems, carrying numerous almost triangular leaves. Its architectural silhouette and the green-blue of its vegetation make it a beautiful subject for planting in isolation. It is not very hardy, its spherical shape resembling some topiaries also makes it suitable for container cultivation, where it will enhance a terrace during the summer and be brought indoors in winter. This Eucalyptus adapts well to a Mediterranean climate with mild winters. It tolerates most types of soil, even poor ones, as long as it is well-drained and enjoys full sun.

Eucalyptus is a member of the Myrtaceae family, which includes about 3000 species of trees and shrubs from temperate to tropical zones. The family is represented by the Common Myrtle in the Mediterranean, and in gardens, mainly by the genera Callistemon (the famous "bottlebrush" with its brush-like flowers) and Acca (the Feijoa). Eucalyptus is a group of plants, rich in more than 800 species, ranging from shrubs a few metres high to immense trees, sometimes reaching over 90 m in height (E. regnans, E. nitens...). Eucalyptus gomphocephala is native to a fairly restricted geographical area in southwestern Australia (Perth region). It grows in a mild to subtropical Mediterranean climate, characterised by dry summers and very mild winters where frost is exceptional, with an annual rainfall of around 550 mm to 700 mm. In these regions, it forms a tall tree with an upright habit, reaching up to 30 m in height and 15 m in width, with a massive trunk that was once used as timber. Its lance-shaped leaves are a shiny glaucous green and its white flowering produces a lot of nectar appreciated by bees.
Eucalyptus x gomphocephala 'Kaduri KKL' was spotted in the Shuvalim forest in Israel and propagated by cuttings by the Gilat nursery, as the plant does not produce seeds. Attached to the KKL-JNF structure, the Gilat nursery's main mission is to produce trees for reforestation in the southern part of the country. This Eucalyptus is a natural hybrid whose second parent has not been identified and which attracted attention because of its dwarf habit. This compact form measures from 1.50 m to 2 m in height with an equivalent width. It is a very dense bush with particularly thin branches that grow in all directions, forming an almost perfect half-sphere. The reddish young shoots are adorned with small leaves twice as long as they are wide, with a triangular shape and a rounded base, carried by petioles of about 2 cm. These juvenile leaves gradually grow and widen, while their colour turns into a beautiful and decorative blue-green. They take on an equilateral triangle shape, with the largest ones reaching approximately 10 cm in length and 6 cm in width.

Eucalyptus gomphocephala 'Kaduri' is attractive for its ornamental foliage all year round and its beautiful blue colour, as well as for its regular ball-shaped habit. It will fit well in a contemporary garden, either in isolation or to form a low hedge. You can also integrate it into a bed with other plants from mild climates. Cassia floribunda, a small shrub with an exotic appearance, with its compound green foliage and its endless summer flowering of yellow pea flowers, will be a perfect companion. Acca sellowiana 'Mammoth', or Brazilian Guava, better known as Feijoa, will delight you with its white flowers from which a bunch of red stamens emerge. To complete your scene, add an Erythrina x bidwillii, a superb fast-growing shrub whose leaves bear some resemblance to those of your dwarf Eucalyptus, and which fascinates throughout the summer with its long clusters of flamboyant coral-red flowers.