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Why has my Eucalyptus died , (and more)!!
- Visiting several gardens recently in the course of my work , I've been asked this question a number of times . Following the carnage caused by the two recent 'Beasts' , a number of the above have succumbed , whilst on the same road others have got through apparently unscathed .
- The answer lies with where the original seed of these trees was collected ; obviously seed originating from Eucalyptus gunnii growing at high altitude has adapted or evolved to withstand cold more easily than its more lower altitude counterparts . When asking :-"Is this plant hardy?" , the USDA hardiness index does not apply to cultivation in Western Europe , where the fickle and variable climate can cause havoc to plants from more stable continental conditions . I once had a dismal attempt at growing Larix russica , or Siberian Larch . Destined to fail , it made an interesting experiment if nothing else ; mild weather in January would induce growth , only to be wrecked by treacherous Spring frosts year after year . Eventually it died , stunted and deformed ; yet this is a species capable of tolerating down to -40C in Siberia .
- Not to say that positioning and aspect doesn't play a role in their survival .
- As we all know , every garden has its own microclimates ; one particular plant will grow there , and in another place will undoubtedly fail . A particularly windy or cold position will lead to the demise of an otherwise easy to grow species which will grow happily in a sheltered position . This applies in nature also , where plants of the same species have evolved several ecotypes , from low altitude meadows to almost alpine conditions , purely to ensure their survival . Climatic extremes will probably kill hundreds of plants , but the toughest will survive . Speaking of 'extremes' , I have an Oroya laxiareolata ( a high altitude cactus from the Andes) ; its geometrically perfect golden-spined globes surviving at an altitude in nature of around 3800m above sea-level , exposed to an intensity of sunlight barely imaginable in our more benign lower conditions , yet this plant responds well to cultivation if treated correctly . I have a specimen of Blossfeldia , an olive-green skinned cactus which inhabits rock-crevices near mountain streams in S. America ; a mature plant only measures around 4cm diameter and bears delicate primrose-yellow flowers ; this happily co-exists with the above under careful cultivation . I cannot help but be mildly amused when people attempt to grow cacti on windowsills . They 'survive' , owing purely to their resilience , but seldom thrive . A correctly grown plant should at least double its size and bodymass in a season .
- Species from very limited locations , or 'relic-populations' , are without doubt threatened with extinction in their native habitats . Metasequoias were only 'recently' rediscovered in the 1940s , known apparently only from fossils ; now widely cultivated in temperate climes , its future is probably safe . The giant redwoods of the Pacific NW coast were probably doomed before their value to landscaping was appreciated by garden designers .
- Going back to paragraph 2 , and plant adaptation , I have a Black Spruce (Picea mariana) from the NW USA ;this grows for about 6-weeks of the year from late May until the end of June . No amount of water , 'molly-coddling' or feeding alters its pre-ordained growth cycle . Completely adapted to a high-latitude short growth spurt.
- To 'sum it up ' ; grow as many species as you possibly can , attempt to learn of the plants origins and the conditions they experience in their habitats , and try as gardeners have done for generations to simulate these conditions to continue making British gardens possibly the envy of thw world . Good luck !! (Apologies for 'ranting').
- Oh well , time for bed ; work tomorrow !
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Agree entirely ; more often than not the G/C staff themselves have no idea of the plants needs and weaknesses !