Eucalyptus Gunni Help

[belladonna]

Does anyone know if this is a usual habit for eucalyptus. The tree is about 12+years old and around 20 - 25 ft tall.This is the first time it's shed bark.

[MrSeedy]

Many types of Eucalyptus do shed lots of bark as a matter of "course" as they become more mature trees, and sometimes that's an added "interest" to the trees appearance, for some folks. I remember seeing many different types shedding their bark in California, where they grow so well!!! One need only worry if it looks like the "shedding" is all the way to the woody center and the cambium layer under the oldest layers of bark is being shed as well!!!

[belladonna]

Thanks Mr Seedy.I agree it does make the tree look a bit more interesting,and it is only on the main trunk of the tree so I asume this is ok.Also this year was the first time it has "flowered" kind of like the fluffy head of a dandelion,but smaller.

[MrSeedy]

I really love the flowers on the big varieties of Eucalyptus, and they only add to the beauty. Can't remember if they're fragrant however?? Anyway , I guess some bats like them for their nextar as well as insects I'd guess. There are quite number of trees know for the decorative value of their "exfoliating" bark, and shag bark hickory, Acer griseum (paper bark maple), and a number of others come to mind! I must say though with some of our very large silver maples , the shedding of bark only makes for a big mess ,when mowing etc. and adds nothing to the overall appearance of the trunks. Oh and I forgot our most famous native birch, the paper bark or white birch, but those unfortunately are hard to maintain, with birch borers doing large amounts of damage to them here. It's hard to keep healthy specimens of them growing for many years and they tend to be short lived compared to some less bug prone trees.