Family: Myrtaceae
Scientific name: Eucalyptus regnans
Common name: Giant Ash
Origin: Victoria and Tasmania (Australia)

The giant ash is the highest angiosperm plant in the world and the second (S. sempervirens) tallest tree in the world. The highest tree is still alive, in the south of Tasmania, and is called the Centurion, with a height of 99.6 meters. In the past (1871/1872), the highest tree ever of this species would have been measured: the Ferguson tree, with a height of 132.6 meters. Whether this is true is not entirely clear. A measurement of 114.3 meters of the Thorpdale tree is right in any case, and that’s only one meter lower than the tallest tree in the world today: a Sequoia sempervirens of 115.6 m. 

The tree can grow more than a meter per year and can survive for hundreds of years. Because of fires, many tall trees were lost, leaving only a few high trees of the species left in nature. Young plants are sensitive to frost, but older plants should be able to resist more cold. 10 degrees Celsius below zero in a sunny sheltered spot is certainly possible.

Sowing description: Sow the seeds on the surface of sowing mix and then put them in the fridge for 3 weeks. Let them germinate at 20 degC on a bright spot. Keep the soil constantly moist, also during the cold period. 

Sowing time: Whole year
Difficulty: Intermediate
Minimum temperature: -10 graden Celsius

Photo 1: Marbiz via Panoramio
Photo 2: T. Taylor