Mallee Box

[Matt S]

The other week we had our dig in the Onkaparinga national park, and when the dig was over I headed over to where the olives gave way to the native bush. I spent an hour wandering through the Eucalyptus and yakka and I was particularly taken with the Mallee Box (Eucalyptus porosa). Heaps of interesting forms including clump and rafts, amazing deadwood and rough bark all along the branches.

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Has anyone had any experience in growing these? They're a common species in Southern Australia. I've collected some seed so I'm keen to give them a go.

Also, there were some Sticky Hop Bush (Dodonaea viscosa) with crazy trunks on them:

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Matt.

[Phil Rabl]

Great photos Matt. Last year I did a summary of AusBonsai posts on eucalypts (viewtopic.php?f=78&t=28106). Among other things, I attempted to name every species that people report trying. E. porosa is not on the list I extracted from posts (although it's perfectly possible that I missed one or two). Not much direct assistance, but hopefully there is something in the summary that helps.

[Matt S]

Thanks Phil.

Your excellent summary was the first place I looked! If I get some seedlings or tubestock I'll probably treat them the same as my E camaldulensis - lots of water and fertiliser, root work in November, hard pinching when it's time for ramification. Capturing those crazy shapes will be the most challenging!

Matt.