Eucalyptus robusta
This is the short form description uploaded so you can learn about this amazing tree, whilst I work on the longer version! Do contact us if you would like more information in the mean time.
The Swamp Mahogany is a large ornamental tree that is well suited to swampy or waterlogged soils. Growing quickly to around 30 meters, but tolerant of pruning.
Beloved by koalas, we have supplied robusta to a UK zoo to grow fodder for their Australian animals!
Ideal for a fast-growing shade tree, or ornamental. Particularly well suited to very large gardens, parks, and arboretums where it can grow to its full potential.
Equally it could be fun to trial it as a houseplant, if you have the space or as a Summer Dot Plant in a large container, but in a container, it would need winter protection from frost.
The extremely rare, Eucalyptus robusta was introduced to the UK in 2021. It’s an interesting species that would be suitable for someone looking to be a eucalyptus pioneer.
At this time we are the only nursery selling this species in the UK, and it is very infrequently planted here. That being said, we suspect that it will do extremely well in the right location.
Botanical Name: Eucalyptus robusta MYRTACEÆ; Myrtle Family
Common Names: Swamp Mahogany, Swamp Messmate
Status: Evergreen tree.
Origin: Coastal New South Wales.
Shoots ‘n leaves: Young leaves are a gorgeous rich mahogany (as the name suggests) with burgundy, purple, shifting to a dull green, glossy for adult foliage. Both the juvenile and adult leaves are ovate to broadly lanceolate, and very long (6-19cm for juvenile leaves and 8.5-17 for adult).
Bark: Rough, fibrous, and spongy – not unlike a Douglas Fir at a glance. Reddish-brown to grey-brown.
Flowers: White or cream flowers, clustered in inflorescences of 7-13 flowers. Typically appearing between March and September.
Leaf aroma: Mild eucalyptus fragrance.
Rate of growth: Medium to fast, but until more are planted in the UK we won’t know for certain. Likely to grow faster on wet, sheltered sites.
Height in maturity, if left unpruned: Eventually around 30 meters, but it can be pruned to be smaller.
Hardiness: The general consensus is that robusta is hardy to UK Zone 9. What this means is that it can be planted across much of the south-west, particularly Devon and Cornwall. Elsewhere, it should do well anywhere on the south and west coasts of the British Isles, close enough to benefit from the warming effects of the sea. Urban heating might also allow it to grow fairly well in London, but this would need to be trialled.
As the name suggests, Eucalyptus robusta is quite happy on wet soils. Other sources suggest that it grows well on pretty much any soil type, this needs testing across the UK. Eucalyptus robusta should be quite happy near the coast. It is said to tolerate partial shade.
