EUCALYPTUS camaldulensis var. obtusa - WA 100g

The Blunt-budded River Red Gum is one of the best-known of all eucalypts. Typically a medium-sized tree that is usually branching not far above the ground, the bark is smooth and white or greyish in colour except near the base of the trunk where it is often rough.
Leaves are "typical" of eucalypts. being lance-shaped up to 250 mm long and blue-grey. White flowers occur mainly in late spring and summer.

Occurs naturally mainly in the IBRA Regions of the Avon Wheatbelt, Carnarvon, Central Kimberley, Central Ranges, Dampierland, Gascoyne, Geraldton Sandplains, Gibson Desert, Great Sandy Desert, Great Victoria Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Murchison, Northern Kimberley, Ord Victoria Plain, Pilbara, Swan Coastal Plain, Tanami, Victoria Bonapartes and Yalgoo in Ewsten Australia, although it does occur, is also in the NT, Qld and SA.

Adapts to a wide range of soils but prefers light to heavy soil in an open sunny position with an adequate water supply, drought and salt-tolerant but frost tender.

Grow notes:

Eucalypts germinate readily from seed and are generally considered one of the easiest natives to grow from seed.

Depending on the species Eucalyptus seed comes in various sizes from very fine to several millimetres long. As a rule of thumb seed that is fine should be sown on the surface of a porous mix and not buried. Seeds 1 to 2 mm in diameter can be covered very lightly and seeds from 2 mm up can be sown to a depth of the seed width.

Although seed can be sown most of the year in many parts of Australia seed is generally best sown in spring or autumn in temperate climates, avoid the coldest and hottest months of the year. The optimum germination temperature for germination is around 18-22°C

1. Sow seed on the surface of a porous seed-raising mix
2. Sprinkle a very light covering of the seed-raising mix over the seed.
3. Water with a fine mist spray to avoid disturbance of the seed.
4. Place in a warm shaded or semi-shaded position to avoid dying out.
5. Keep warm & moist, and avoid drying out or waterlogging the growing mix.
6. Germination generally occurs in around 10-28 days in the right condition.

General note: Seeds of many natives are dormant and require specific conditions or pre-treatment for germination.
Do not be too hasty to discard seed that does not germinate, seeds will often lay dormant until the conditions are similar to their natural requirements for germination to occur. Containers put to one side will often surprise long after they are discarded.