Eucalyptus parviflora

Eucalyptus parviflora (syn. parvula), also known as Small-leaved Gum, is a hardy species, tolerant of a wide range of soils and drought-resistant. It will also adapt to cool and humid summers. If space is limited in your garden and you dream of having a Eucalyptus, then adopt this small evergreen tree with a slightly twisted habit and trailing branches. It is robust, low-maintenance, and attractive all year round: its young branches are reddish, its beautiful grey bark peels off in long ribbons, revealing a brand new bark with varying colours and its persistent sickle-shaped leaves are a beautiful olive green. At the end of summer, autumn, or even winter It blooms in cream-white pompon-shaped flowers, in warm climates.

The Small-leaved Gum is a small tree from the myrtle family, native to the plateaus of New South Wales and Victoria in Australia. This ornamental and easy-to-grow species shows rapid growth and a rather spreading habit. Relatively modest in size for the genus, this gum tree develops a twisted trunk, with low branches that form a dense, bushy, and sometimes trailing crown. It will reach a height of 8 to 12m (26 ft 2 in to 39 ft 5 in) and a spread of 7m (23 ft) at maturity, but can be kept more compact through appropriate pruning.

The reddish young branches of this eucalyptus bear aromatic evergreen foliage. The juvenile leaves are glaucous green, opposite, ovate, and slightly pointed. The adult leaves are narrow, 5cm (2 in) long and 0.5cm (0.2 in) wide, olive green, alternate, and lanceolate in shape, like sickles. Flowering occurs between late August and November-December on plants that are a few years old. These are actually petal-less, round flowers, composed of numerous cream-white stamens tightly packed like 1cm (0.4 in) diameter pompons. They open between the leaves, grouped in threes along the branches, and are followed by the formation of large green cone-shaped fruits that turn brown when ripe. The old grey bark peels off every year, maintaining a decorative appearance for a long period. Unlike other species, Eucalyptus parviflora tolerates heavy, poorly drained, poor, and chalky soils, and snowy winters.

The Small-leaved Gum thrives in both semi-mountainous and semi-arid climates in summer, and its cold resistance goes down to -18/-20°C (-4 °F) (-0.4/-4 °F). Eucalyptus trees are generally heavy water consumers, even in winter, contributing to soil drying, however, their resistance to summer drought is proven in Mediterranean climates. Due to its beautiful habit, Eucalyptus parviflora makes a beautiful evergreen screen at the back of flower beds or at the boundaries of the garden, including by the seaside. It brings a touch of exoticism to the garden, just like some hardy oleanders (Luteum Plenum, 'Provence', 'Atlas'). But it is as a standalone tree that this small tree will be most appreciated, due to its twisted habit, remarkable bark, and elegant foliage.