Eucalyptus paliformis

Eucalyptus paliformis is native to a very restricted geographic area in south-eastern Australia. This rare species displays distinctive characteristics. Its growth rate is fairly moderate, over time forming a small to medium-sized tree about ten metres in height, with a rather narrow habit. The trunk has very decorative smooth bark, colour varying between pale grey and olive green. Its evergreen foliage is also very attractive, composed of glossy green leaves more reminiscent of a willow than an eucalyptus. The white inflorescences in umbels form small white pom-poms. Standing out in the genus for its drought resistance, it is not very hardy and well-suited to Mediterranean climates.

Eucalypts belong to the large Myrtaceae family, well represented in tropical areas and warm temperate climates. There are more than 800 species, ranging from shrubs a few metres high to giant trees approaching 100 m! Almost all are native to Australia, as is the case with this species. It is very rare, only growing wild in a very restricted area in the south-east of the state of New South Wales. Nicknamed the Wadbilliga Eucalyptus because of this unique location, it grows in a semi-arid climate, where annual rainfall does not exceed 360 mm, but without a real dry season.
It forms a tree 10 to 12 m in height, with a more or less conical and narrow habit, often bare at the base. Although this species lacks a lignotuber (an underground formation rich in starch that allows many eucalypts to regrow from the stump after a fire by producing multiple buds) and does not belong to the mallee group (shrubby species branched from the base), individuals will sometimes spontaneously adopt a shrubby habit. If this is the case, for ornamental use, you can keep the strongest shoot and prune all others at ground level to form a single trunk. With slow growth in its first years, while establishing a root system, this tree then grows a little faster until it reaches adult size.
The Wadbilliga Eucalyptus is very attractive for its superb, very smooth bark, which peels to reveal a beautiful yellow colour. As it ages, it can take on whitish tints, but more often pale grey or olive green; in any case, very decorative. The branches typically grow at 45° on the trunk. They are covered with branchlets, which are dark red before gradually lightening. They bear green juvenile foliage, darker on the upper side and glossy. These leaves are lanceolate and pointed at the tip, and are borne on short petioles. Measuring 6.5 to 11 cm long and 1.5 to 2 cm wide, they could easily be mistaken for willow leaves. The adult foliage has very similar leaves, lanceolate to sickle-shaped, of comparable dimensions, entire or very slightly serrated. Rich in glands containing essential oils, the foliage releases a pleasant scent when bruised. 
Between May and July in Australia, which corresponds to our winter in the northern hemisphere, a white pom-pom-like flowering appears, consisting of small flowers grouped in umbels of 7 in the leaf axils. These nectar-rich flowers are not very spectacular but are much appreciated by pollinating insects, including bees. 
This tree has the fairly unusual characteristic among eucalypts of being adapted to dry conditions, whereas many species need moisture. It thrives in poor soils and acclimatises easily in Mediterranean climates. Hardy down to -8°C in very well-drained soil, it is perfect for enhancing southern gardens.

Well-suited to small gardens, due to its relatively slow growth for an eucalyptus (maximum 90 cm/year) and its moderate size, this eucalyptus has original foliage and superb bark. You can combine it with other decorative barks, like Arbutus andrachne, a large shrub or small tree also magnificent in all seasons, thanks to its white flowers, its globose fruits that turn from yellow to bright red, its pleasant green evergreen foliage and, of course, its orange bark. The mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus), also a tough customer with a wild appearance, will be a good companion too, with its glossy green compound foliage and very aesthetic clusters of red fruits. And to create a foliar contrast effect and fill the base of your trees, plant Myrtus communis 'Variegata', a Myrtle with fine green, aromatic foliage variegated with white.