this post was submitted on 01 Sep 2023
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The humble spotted gum is a world class urban tree. Here's why... (theconversation.com)
submitted 2 years ago by Treevan@aussie.zone to c/treehuggers@slrpnk.net
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cross-posted from: https://aussie.zone/post/1641341

You may well have seen a spotted gum growing happily on an urban street.

Their wonderfully straight, light coloured and spotted trunks are impressive whether trees are planted singly, in avenues or in boulevards.

Old trees can get over 60m. During profuse flowering, anthers shed from a single tree can cover the ground, paths, homes, roads and vehicles in a white snow-like frosting.

In nature, the spotted gum and close relatives, the lemon scented gum and large leafed spotted gum grow along the east coast of Australia, from far eastern Victoria to southern Queensland.

It has the potential to be one of the great urban tree species, not just in Australia but internationally.

Horticulturalists have been working to make the tree even better suited to urban use.

Some varieties were uncommon or didn't exist 50 years ago, which means old urban trees might be more likely to shed limbs or have less attractive forms.

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[–] Treevan@aussie.zone 3 points 2 years ago

That's true but the person that wrote this article definitely knows about that.

What is happening in Australia is that Councils are becoming very risk-averse and planting small trees only, usually within the range of 5-8m high (16-26ft). While he writes about a lot of things, I guess he is trying to make it easy on the general public and Councils to decide that maybe some big trees aren't all bad and scary. Spotteds are quite iconic so if people are made familiar and comfortable maybe they may get used more in urban settings.