Eucalyptus youmanii aka Youman's Stringybark

Eucalyptus youmanii also goes by the name Youman's gum. This evergreen tree belongs to the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. It comes from eastern Australia. Its range runs from southeast Queensland into eastern New South Wales. Kew puts it in a subtropical climate zone. Wild trees grow on acid soils, some in damp sites. Records also show trees on red soils formed from basalt. They grow in sandy soils over clay and gritty clay soils. These sites lie at 2,789–4,921 feet [850–1,500 metres].

The tree grows upright, with a column-like shape and broad leaves. Its leaves show blue and green shades all year. The RHS lists heights above 39 feet [12 metres]. The tree can spread more than 26 feet [8 metres]. These figures mark size thresholds, not firm upper limits. The RHS gives 20–50 years as the time to reach maturity. Bear its full size in mind when choosing a site. Its bold shape suits sites where a tree's outline matters.

Small cream flowers bloom in spring and summer. They draw bees and birds to the garden. The RHS suggests this tree for gardens that support wildlife. It also suggests it for gardens that need little care. PFAF lists sunny woodland edges and sites with dappled shade. For growing this tree, though, the RHS calls for full sun. Choose a sheltered site with room for a large tree. Its leaves stay on the tree beyond the bloom season.

The main soil need is good drainage. The tree grows in clay, loam and sand. It accepts acid, neutral and alkaline soils. Soil can stay moist as long as excess water drains away. The RHS says to keep it drier in summer. Once settled in, trees cope with drought. Its UK hardiness rating is H5. This covers lows of about −15 to −10°C. Sow seeds in spring or summer at 13–18°C. You can prune to keep a show of juvenile leaves.

Pests may include eucalyptus gall wasp and eucalyptus sucker. Silver leaf and oedema can also harm the tree. The RHS says it resists verticillium wilt. PFAF gives it a low rating for food use. Yet it reports no confirmed edible use. The leaves contain rutin. This fact alone does not mean they are safe to eat. PFAF lists no known medicinal or other uses. It also records no weed potential.