Eucalyptus Moon Lagoon

Eucalyptus 'Moon Lagoon' is a bush native to Australia, well suited to small spaces. Graceful and extremely decorative, it evolves throughout the seasons. For the most beautiful effect in spring, the young shoots produce young leaves with pink hues, above a blue-green foliage, carried by reddish branches. With low growth and tolerating pruning well, it is easy to renew this spectacle every year by cutting back the branches at the end of winter. Without this regular pruning, from spring to summer, orange-red flower buds appear that will open to numerous small bouquets of flowers in the shape of whitish pompons, very fragrant and attractive to bees. For bonsai lovers, this little eucalyptus is well-predisposed.

Eucalyptus Moon Lagoon is a natural hybrid originating from Western Australia, resulting from the cross-breeding between Eucalyptus kruseana and Eucalyptus latens. Belonging to the Myrtaceae family, it is commonly named Fine-leafed Mallee. In its natural habitat, it grows on sandy-clay soils, composed of yellow sand or laterite, under a temperate climate, with hot and dry summers, of a Mediterranean type. It is called "mallee" in Australia, due to its stature formed by several stems starting from the soil, reaching a height of less than 10 metres (32 feet 10 inches). With relatively slow growth, when mature it forms a bushy clump 2 to 3 m (7 ft to 10 ft) high and about 3 m (10 ft) wide. It generally rises on several stems starting from a lignotuber* located just below the surface of the soil. When young, it has reddish branches, carrying juvenile foliage, composed of elliptical, rounded leaves 3 to 5 cm (1.2 to 2 in) long by 2 to 4 cm (0.8 to 1.6 in) wide, without petioles, silver blue, bordered with a pale violet edge. Then, as it develops, the leaves take on a lanceolate shape, narrow, pointed at the end, 4 to 6 cm (1.6 to 2.4 in) long by 0.5 to 1.5 cm (0.2 to 0.6 in) wide, shiny on both sides, a pretty water green. The leaves are tough and slightly aromatic, releasing a menthol scent when crushed, rich in eucalyptol. The flowering occurs in spring, between April and June, under our climates, on unpruned plants aged a few years. The inflorescence, arranged in the axil of the leaves, is composed of small white flowers gathered in a tight bouquet, delicately scented and very attractive to bees.

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 start again 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 Fine-leafed Mallee is comfortable in the sun in well-drained soil. Tolerant to summer drought, it requires little care once established. With little or no irrigation, this eucalyptus copes well with hot and dry summers, wind and sea spray. Tolerating pruning well, it is easy to shape it into a dense and compact ball. Colourful all year round, it brings animation to a shrub bed in association with Grevillea, Callistemon (Bottle Brush), Westringia fruticosa (Australian Rosemary), Leptsospermum, Restio tetraphyllus, Cordylines, … Its evergreen foliage allows for use as a hedge or visual screen.