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Old 28-09-2006, 10:28 AM posted to uk.rec.gardening
DavePoole Torquay DavePoole  Torquay is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 64
Default Eucalyptus ficifolia seeds

This has been shifted out of Eucalyptus and is now Corymbia ficifolia.
Those pods contain quite a few seeds and provided they are sufficiently
ripe, will yield enough seed for a forest or two. Subjecting them to a
lot of heat for a very short period should persuade them to open.
Rather like many Eucalypts, the seed only tends to be released after a
fire, so throwing the pods into the fire for a few minutes or burning
them on the gas hob should do the trick. You could take a hammer to
them, but a lot of these things germinate far more readily if they have
been subject to heat and smoke.

This is a marginally hardy tree (only in the south west) that can
withstand temperatures to about minus 3C before any damage is incurred.
It does reasonably well in large pots, where its size will be
restrained. Flowering takes place after about 5 - 6 years, but there's
no guarantee for the colour - it could be white, pink or scarlet. Even
when out of flower, the leaves are very handsome, so once it has
reached a decent size it will look good regardless of flowers.