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Vintage Red performing well

Vintage Red™ Eucalyptus cladocalyx ‘EUC78’PBR

By Nathan Dutschke

Vintage Red is a once in a lifetime plant, it is the first ever red foliaged Eucalyptus to be released anywhere in the world. Finding a red foliaged evergreen tree is extremely hard but to find one that is not only beautiful but is an Australian native suited to Australian conditions is a very rare find.
 
The unique foliage colour can change from bright red to black to purple and grey depending on the direction of the sunlight and the age of the foliage. Vintage Red will grow to approximately 8-12m tall x 4-6m wide depending on the local environmental conditions. The manner in which Vintage Red is growing and behaving in the landscape it is more like the nana form of the species which will keep it to a smaller growing height than first expected, which is a great thing.

Vintage Red is ideal for large home gardens, parks, roadsides, acreage lots and farms throughout VIC, SA and WA. For use in smaller gardens and close to houses Vintage Red can still be used provided it is pruned back by 1/3 every 12 months once it reaches 2-4m tall, and is kept low by pruning it for the rest of its life. This way it’s like having a big shrub. If you do have a larger home garden or there is room for the tree to grow, by pruning in this way you can produce denser more compact foliage and a tree that grows to your own desired height requirements. If pruning is not required, Vintage Red will then grow into a gorgeous looking single trunk specimen or feature tree.

Vintage Red is fantastic for use as a foliage feature tree, specimen tree or a shade tree. As you can see from this mass planting of Vintage Red at Lakes Boulevarde, South Morang VIC the contrasting foliage of the Vintage Red is quite amazing. Driving along this road the first thing you notice is the dramatic colour and uniqueness the trees provide. It is easy to imagine the beautiful feature and impression they will continue to make as they develop and mature over the next several years. We will keep you updated.

These plants have been in ground for approximately 18 months. It is showing the plants growing and performing very well in a mediterranean climate, it is also doing well in SA and WA. This site is very dry through the summer months and quite exposed to wind also. Sugar Gum has been used as a successful tree for many decades and with the smaller, bushier growing height of Vintage Red and its tolerance to hot dry summers it is an ideal native tree for many applications with spectacular colour.

Many people have asked if Vintage Red reverts to green foliage and the answer is, no it does not. For 5 years in testing Vintage Red is 100% stable and has never reverted to green foliage. As Vintage Red matures after 2-3 years it has produced an intermediate adult leaf and this leaf also holds its trademark colour.

Please view the attached photos and if you have any other specific questions please contact Ozbreed on 02 4577 2977 or info@ozbreed.com.au