Heart-leaved Mallee
Eucalyptus websteriana · Myrtaceae
📷 Geoff Derrin · CC BY-SA 3.0
⚠️ Feuilles riches en eucalyptol : leur ingestion peut provoquer salivation, vomissements, diarrhée, abattement ou faiblesse chez chiens et chats. L’huile essentielle concentrée est plus risquée.
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around heart-leaved mallee and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Eucalyptus websteriana
- Family
- Myrtaceae
- Form
- Tree
- Adult height
- Approximately 4 m
- Foliage
- Evergreen, aromatic
- Flowering
- Summer to autumn
- Hardiness
- Moderate (warm temperate climate)
- Origin
- Australia
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Impeccable drainage and full sun: plant it on a mound or in a pot if your region is humid. Water only in the first year.
The common mistake
Regular watering in heavy soil promotes crown rot.
The pro's trick
Pinch the top early in the growing season to encourage lower branching.
Care
Exposure
This eucalyptus requires full sun exposure to develop well and maintain a balanced shape. Avoid areas of prolonged shade that slow its growth. A location sunny all day long is ideal for generous flowering and dense foliage.
Watering
Webster's eucalyptus tolerates drought well once established and needs little water. Water regularly during the first two years to encourage rooting. After that, limit watering during rainy periods and avoid keeping the soil waterlogged, which could cause root rot.
Soil
Choose well-draining, light soil that is rather poor in organic matter, as this eucalyptus naturally adapts to arid terrain. Avoid compact or excessively chalky soils. Adding sand or gravel facilitates drainage if your soil is too heavy.
Pruning and structure
Pruning is generally not necessary on a healthy, vigorously established specimen. You can remove dead or crossing branches to open up the crown. Prune in late winter or early spring to avoid weakening the tree before flowering.
Fertilizer
Webster's eucalyptus is undemanding in terms of fertilizer and can do without once established. A moderate application of balanced fertilizer in spring is sufficient if the soil is very poor. Avoid excess nitrogen fertilization, which promotes soft growth at the expense of hardiness.
Pests and diseases
This eucalyptus is generally little susceptible to diseases if drainage conditions are optimal. In humid climates, watch for root rot or fungal growth on foliage. Excessive watering remains the main risk; limit it and promote air circulation around the tree.
Did you know?
Australian eucalyptus trees have fascinated European botanists since the 18th century with their fragrant leaves and spectacular growth. Eucalyptus websteriana, far less well-known than its giant cousins, is named after a collector botanist and represents an interesting alternative for Mediterranean or semi-arid gardens in Europe, where it brings exotic appeal and robustness.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Blue gumEucalyptus globulus
- MyrtleMyrtus communis
- MānukaLeptospermum scoparium
- Strawberry guavaPsidium cattleianum
- Snow gumEucalyptus pauciflora
- Woolly TeatreeLeptospermum lanigerum
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.