Growing Eucalyptus From Seed

Growing Eucalyptus from Seed

There are two types of Eucalyptus to be considered when growing from seed, those that require stratification and those that do not.  The species that require a period of stratification should be put with some damp substrate (peat, vermiculite or sand) in a polythene bag and placed in the fridge for the designated period (see overleaf).

Sowing is a fairly simple matter, the seeds require a light, porous growing mix, that will not compact and get waterlogged.  To this end, I recommend a peat based mixed, to which extra vermiculite or perlite has been added.  Sow the seeds on the surface and cover lightly with sand (or fine vermiculite).  Although they can be covered with more sowing mix, this is not recommended as it encourages damping-off (something Eucalypts are prone to).  Place the pot inside a polythene bag (I use the Ziploc type) and put somewhere where a temperature of 20 – 30 Deg C can be maintained. For those species listed overleaf, a lower germination temperature of 15 – 20 Deg C is required.

Germination begins quite rapidly in ideal conditions and the subsequent seedlings grow on very quickly.  As soon as they germinate the seedlings should be placed in a very bright growing position, the brighter the better.  Once they reach the 2^nd leaf stage (cotyledons, 1^st pair, 2^nd pair just showing), pot them up singly.  Eucalypts resent root disturbance, so be very careful not to break the fragile roots at this point.

Growing on try to pot on only when necessary and try to take the entire root ball into the next pot.   If planting out, most species need 12 – 18 weeks of growth before they will be ready to go out.  Larger specimens transplant less readily, so these timing should be borne in mind when sowing the seed, unless you have some form of shelter for your seedlings, such as a frame or an unheated greenhouse.

Eucalypt Species
 

E. alpina
E. aggregata
E. apiculata
E. approximans
E. coccifera
E. crenulata
E. cypellocarpa
E. dalrympleana
E. delegatensis
E. denticulata
E. fastigiata
E. fraxinoides
E. glaucescens
E. globulus
E. gregsoniana
E. johnstonii
E. kybeanensis
E. lacrimans
E. laevopinea
E. lingustrina
E. macarthurii
E. melliodora
E. mitchelliana
E. moorei
E. nitens
E. nitida
E. obliqua
E. olsenii
E. ovata
E. paliformis
E. pauciflora and subspecies
E. perriniana
E. pulverulenta
E. radiata
E. regnans
E. rodwayi
E. rubida
E. rupicola
E. saxitilis
E. spectatrix
E. stellulata
E. stentosoma
E. strzeleckii
E. subcrenulata
E. tenuiramis
E. vernicosa
E. willisii
E. yarraensis
E. youmanii

Stratification?
Period if known

6 weeks
4 weeks (not crucial)
recommended
recommended
6 weeks
4 weeks
recommended
4 weeks (not crucial)
8 weeks, or all winter
recommended
recommended
3 weeks
6 weeks
3 weeks (not crucial)
4 weeks
4 weeks
4 weeks
6 weeks?
recommended
recommended
4 weeks (not crucial)
3 weeks (not crucial)
5 weeks
recommended (5 weeks)
4 weeks
6 weeks
4 weeks
4 weeks
6 weeks?
4 weeks (not crucial)
6 weeks
4 weeks
4 weeks (not crucial)
possibly recommended
4 weeks
4 weeks (not crucial)
4 weeks (not crucial)
recommended
recommended (6 weeks)
recommended
5 weeks
recommended
recommended
4 weeks
4 weeks?
6 weeks
recommended
possibly recommended
recommended