Eucalyptus parvula

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Small-leaved gum (Eucalyptus parvula)

Eucalyptus parvula, commonly known as small-leaved gum, is a small tree native to south-eastern New South Wales. It typically grows to 10–15 metres tall with a compact, rounded crown and branches close to the ground. It forms a lignotuber, a woody base that helps it regrow after damage. The bark is mostly smooth and grey, peeling in long ribbons, with some rough bark at the base.

Leaves and fruit: Young plants have glossy, opposite leaves 16–40 mm long and 9–13 mm wide. Adult leaves are dull green on both sides, lance-shaped, 40–70 mm long and 6–10 mm wide, on short stalks. In mature trees, many juvenile and intermediate leaves remain in the crown. Flower buds come in groups of seven, are sessile, and produce white flowers from January to March. The fruit is a small woody cup-shaped capsule, about 3–4 mm long and 3–5 mm wide.

Habitat: It grows in grassy woodlands in cold, damp places on the Southern Tablelands east of Cooma, from Badja to Dragon Swamp near Cathcart.

Conservation and name: Eucalyptus parvula is listed as Vulnerable under the Australian Government EPBC Act and endangered under New South Wales law, mainly due to grazing by livestock. The name parvula means “very small.” The species was first described in 1909 as Eucalyptus parvifolia, but the name was changed to E. parvula in 1991.

Gardening: This compact tree is suitable for small gardens, tolerates cold, damp conditions, and is relatively resistant to pests and diseases. In the UK it has won the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.