Eucalyptus saxatilis

Eucalyptus saxatilis, or Rock Eucalyptus, is a species native to a small area of southern Australia. With limited growth, it generally forms a bush of a few metres high, sometimes a small tree. It has an airy habit, with several thin trunks starting from the ground and supporting moderately dense branches. Its bark is particularly decorative and takes on different hues depending on the plant, in light cream or grey tones, or coppery beige to salmon pink, and occasionally green. Its evergreen blue-grey to blue-green foliage is also ornamental all year round. It produces rather insignificant flowers in the form of small white pompoms. A rare species, interesting for small gardens, and quite hardy.

This plant belongs to the large Myrtaceae family, which includes about 130 genera with many common characteristics. Mostly originating from tropical or warm temperate climates, they are rich in essential oils and often have very ornamental flowers, some being decorative mainly because of their very colourful and protruding stamens. The Eucalyptus saxatilis, like the vast majority of the 800 species of this genus, is native to Australia. It is confined to a very limited area in the state of Victoria, in the far south of Australia, facing Tasmania, and to a few places in the neighbouring state of New South Wales. This Eucalyptus grows in fairly rocky environments, in a temperate zone, dominated by mild to hot summers, and fairly cold winters. These characteristics make it quite easy to acclimate, especially due to its good hardiness, estimated at around -12°C, or a little less, for a well-established plant.
Eucalyptus saxatilis is part of the "mallee" group (it is nicknamed Suggan Buggan Malle, or Mount Wheeler Malle). This term designates plants with a bushy habit, less than 10 m (32 ft 10 in) high, within a genus that includes giants reaching 100 m (328 ft 1 in) in height (like E. regnans). This Eucalyptus forms a bush of about 5 m (16 ft 5 in) high by 3 m (9 ft 10 in) wide, often looking a bit ungainly in nature. Occasionally, it can also take on the appearance of a tree with multiple trunks of small diameter, with very decorative bark. Depending on the plant, this can be pale grey or cream-white, with a slightly powdery texture, or coppery tones, even salmon pink, or greener shades. This plant has a significant regeneration capacity thanks to its lignotuber. This is an underground swelling rich in starch, capable of producing numerous shoots if the above-ground part of the plant is destroyed (typically by a fire). The regrowth is denser than the original plant after this. This characteristic, possessed by several Eucalyptus, is particularly interesting from an ornamental point of view, as it allows severe pruning, which limits the development of the plant, and makes it branch well, which is particularly valuable when the bark is aesthetic.
The evergreen foliage is very attractive with its bluish-grey or blue-green hue with juvenile foliage, consisting of small orbicular to elliptical leaves, 3.5 cm (1.4 in) long by 2.7 cm (1.1 in) wide, or even less and beautiful glaucous green, these sessile leaves are opposite, giving a very decorative aspect to the branches. The adult foliage is very different in appearance, with elongated, lanceolate to crescent-shaped leaves, much larger, up to 20 cm (7.9 in) long by 2 cm (0.8 in) wide. They are also petiolate and arranged alternately on the branches. They contain essential oil glands and are aromatic when crushed.
The insignificant flowering usually takes place in late summer, but this can vary depending on the climate and the plants. The floral buds are grouped by 3 in umbels making small white pompoms about 1 cm (0.4 in) in diameter, followed by equally insignificant fruits.
This Eucalyptus withstands summer heat and winter cold. Above all, it needs very well-drained soil, not tolerating excess water. Otherwise, it is not demanding about the nature of the soil, which can be neutral, acid and even moderately chalky. While it prefers moist soils, it can withstand dry periods once well established. Like its relatives, it should be planted in a sunny exposure.

Eucalyptus saxatilis is a rare species that deserves attention due to its ornamental qualities and adaptation capacities. It is a plant with low growth, which can find a place in gardens, even small ones in most regions. Decorative mainly for its beautiful bark and foliage, this exotic-looking bush will match many other plants to create an exotic scene in the garden. You can play with the contrast of foliage, planting it next to purple plants, like Cercis canadensis Merlot, a Canadian Judas tree that produces a superb pink flowering on the branches and trunk, before the cordate red leaves appear, then purple in season. Albizia julibrissin Summer Chocolate, with its very cut-out foliage, in purple and chocolate tones, and its tropical-looking pink pompom flowering, will also be an excellent companion. And to add a touch of gold, think of Choisya ternata Sundance, with its beautiful cut-out foliage, yellow in spring, then turning to tender green.