When the eucalyptus begins to bloom, its very special charm unfolds. Whether you cultivate the tree as a pot plant on the balcony, terrace or in the garden - the appearance of the cream-colored flowers creates a Mediterranean flair in the middle of Germany.
Why isn't my eucalyptus blooming and what do the flowers look like?
Eucalyptus flowers are hermaphroditic, radially symmetrical and form striking numbers of white, cream, red or yellow flowers in umbels. They are mainly pollinated by insects and birds. A eucalyptus may not bloom if it is home grown or is too young.
Optical features
- Shape: Umbels
- Strikingly many flowers on one umbel
- Hermaphrodite
- Rapidary symmetrical
- Long stamens
- Color(s): mostly white to cream, but also red or yellow
Note: Eucalyptus species with red or yellow flowers are not hardy.
Development of the flower
The eucalyptus flowers are pollinated by insects or birds. First, the bud, a capsule called the operculum, envelops the flower. The name eucalyptus is derived from this property. The name comes from Greek and means
- Beautiful (eu)
- Cap (calyptus)
This refers to the cap, which the operculum is visually reminiscent of. When the flower unfolds, this shell is ruptured. The flower later develops into a cone-shaped capsule fruit.
Why isn't my eucalyptus blooming?
If your eucalyptus isn't blooming, it's not because it's in the wrong location. There are two possible causes:
- It is a home-grown plant.
- The eucalyptus is still too young.
Propagation of a eucalyptus is very successful and easy, especially using the sowing method. The only disadvantage of this cost-effective approach is that the eucalyptus does not bloom in this case. You should also know that the eucalyptus rarely blooms after just one year. Often you even have to be patient for four to five years.
