Eucalyptus ligustrina

Eucalyptus ligustrina is attractive all year round, with rough and fibrous bark, lanceolate green leaves and fragrant white flowers, attractive to bees. Depending on the pruning carried out, it forms a bush of 2 to 3 m (6 ft 7 in to 9 ft 10 in) high, a small branching tree on several branches of 6 to 8 m (19 ft 8 in to 26 ft 2 in) or a large tree with a single trunk of 10 to 15 m (32 ft 10 in to 49 ft 2 in). Because its growth can be contained pruning, it can be installed in a small garden, grown in a pot, integrated into a patio, or given a prime location alone or in groups in a larger space. Generally hardy down -8°C (17.6 °F), it can survive down to -10°C (14 °F) once well established. It accommodates sandy, stony and well-draining soil, with neutral or acidic pH, or even slightly alkaline (limestone). Tolerant to dry conditions once established, it will need watering to settle in.

Eucalyptus ligustrina is an endemic species of southwestern Australia. It is present in New South Wales, from the Gibraltar Range National Park in the north to the Deua National Park in the south. However, the main area is located in the mountainous region of the Blues Mountains west of Sydney. It thrives in dry sclerophyllous forest or heathland, on poor soils derived from sandstone or acidic granite. Belonging to the Myrtaceae family, it is locally called "privet-leaved eucalyptus", referring to the similarity of the leaves with the genus Ligustrum (Privet). With quite rapid growth, about 1 metre (3 feet 4 inches) per year, this eucalyptus forms a beautiful well-branched tree, of medium size, reaching 6 to 8 m (19 ft 8 in to 26 ft 2 in) in height, 4 to 5 m (13 ft 1 in to 16 ft 5 in) in spread, if it is regularly pruned and formed on several trunks. Unpruned, on a single trunk, it can reach 10 to 20 m (32 ft 10 in to 65 ft 7 in). Its frame is made up of several stems starting from a lignotuber* located just below the surface of the soil. The young shoots display numerous pink and reddish branches, bearing medium green juvenile foliage, densely implanted, composed of small leaves, with a crimped edge, approximately 1 cm (0.4 in) long, on short petioles. Then as it develops the leaves take an ovate to lanceolate to crescent shape 5 to 10 cm (2 to 3.9 in) long by 1 to 2 cm (0.4 to 0.8 in) wide, shiny and dark green. The leaves are leathery and slightly aromatic, releasing a menthol fragrance when crushed, rich in eucalyptol. As it ages, the thick bark of the trunk becomes rough and fibrous, a pretty greyish brown. The flowering occurs mainly in spring and early summer, but occasionally at other times. The inflorescence, borne by a short petiole, is composed of 7 to 15 floral buds, green-yellow, cylindrical from 3 to 5 mm (0.1 to 0.2 in), delicately scented and attractive to bees. After flowering, the fruits, called "gumnut", appear in the form of a woody capsule, hemispherical or spherical, stuck to the branch. Beautiful whitish-grey, they remain attached to the stem for a long time.

This eucalyptus has a *lignotuber, constituted by a swelling rich in starch which forms on the roots just below the surface of the soil. This organ allows it to grow again from the stump in case of severe frost, fire or cutting to the ground. 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.

Eucalyptus ligustrina finds a place in the garden, planted alone, in a clear space, to appreciate the beauty of its barks and the elegance of its foliage. This plant resists summer drought, with little or no irrigation, in well-drained soil, even slightly limestone. It accommodates hot and dry summers well and wind and spray. 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 …