EUCALYPTUS kingsmillii 1000g

An attractive tree with an erect slender stem branching with rough bark at the base and smooth grey bark above. Produces stunning crimson ridged and horned flower buds that occur in clusters of 3 before opening to reveal creamy coloured flowers that appear in spring.

Greyish-green curved lanceolate leaves are 13 cm long.

Endemic to the central inland of Western Australia in the regions of the Central Ranges, Gascoyne, Gibson Desert, Great Sandy Desert, Great Victoria Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Murchison, Pilbara, Tanami, and extending into northwest South Australia.

Prefers sandy-free draining soil in an open sunny position. Drought and frost-resistant.

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 if required to hold the seed in place. Do not bury the seed deeply.
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 were discarded.