Eucalyptus polybractea ( Blue Leaved Mallee ) is a type of mallee native to south-eastern Australia. Blue Leaved Mallee is grown around the world for the trees high eucalyptus oil content and for their ability to reduce carbon emissions. They also produce aromatic leaves and the bark offers a contrast of colours throughout the year. Trees are easy to grow from seed, are drought tolerant and attract bees into the garden during autumn.
Suitable for Cold, Temperate, Dry, Mediterranean and Sub-Tropical climates.
Blue Leaved Mallee is native to random sections of forest between West Wyalong, New South Wales and Stawell in Victoria. These regions endure long dry spells, hot summers and can drop to temperatures around -5°C / 23°F during the winter. The other common names are simply Blue Mallee or Oil Mallee.
In Australia, the Blue Mallee is widely grown as a tree used to offset carbon emissions. This is due to their ability to store high amounts of carbon in a short period when planted in drought affected areas.
Growth
Eucalyptus polybractea is a highly productive native tree that grows to heights up to 6 metres (20 feet). Blue Leaved Mallee enjoys poor soils that have little or no nutrients and is well draining. They are cold hardy, drought tolerant and their leaves produce a strong eucalypt aroma.
This species has rough, flaky bark on the lower part of the of the trunk and smooth grey-brown bark higher up. Their leaves are lance shaped while the white flowers bloom during Autumn in groups of 7-10.
Gardeners in climates that receive more than 500mm (20 inches) of annual rainfall should grow Blue Leave Mallee trees in containers until they are established.
FAMILY:
Myrtaceae
CLIMATE:
Cold, Temperate, Mediterranean, Sub Tropical.
TEMPERATURE RANGE:
-5 to 40°C / 23 to 104°F
SOIL TYPE:
Well draining, dry soil.
LOCATION:
Full Sun
HEIGHT:
Up to 6 metres (20 feet)
WIDTH:
Up to 4 metres (12 feet)
pH:
5.5-6.5
GROWTH TYPE:
Evergreen
WATER REQUIREMENTS:
Low
POLLINATION:
Bees.
MATURITY:
4-5 years
GERMINATION RATES:
83%
GERMINATION TIME:
3-4 weeks
SEEDS PER GRAM:
Approximately 300
MEDICINAL QUALITIES:
Yes, in the oils.
WEED POTENTIAL:
No
FACTS ABOUT EUCALYPTUS POLYBRACTEA (Blue Leaved Mallee)
Blue Leaved Mallee leaves contain very high levels of cineole which is used to produce Eucalyptus Oil.
This is the most commonly planted tree in Australia as part of carbon offset programs.
FACTS ABOUT EUCALYPTUS IN GENERAL
Every year Eucalyptus trees add a new layer of bark and the outmost layer dies and peels off.
Eucalyptus trees make up around 75% of Australia’s forests and have adapted to the seasonal bushfires with the ability to re-sprout directly after a fire.
During Captain Cook’s third voyage to Australia in 1777, David Nelson collected the first Eucalyptus specimen to reach Europe. Eucalyptus trees in Australia take up an area bigger than New South Wales and over seven times the size of England.
The majority of Eucalyptus species do well in a wide range of climates and most can withstand a light frost of −5 °C (23 °F).
