Now for some facts from this tremblingly beautiful miss plant world contestant:

“My name is Eucalyptus ficifolia, but recently my scientific name was changed by you human beings to Corymbia ficifolia. I’m a very rare small tree in the wild, and of an extremely limited distribution, East of Mount Frankland & Walpole in the far South Western corner of Australia. To be honest I’m beautiful – and widely grown by you humans as an ornamental cultivated specimen in gardens and as a street tree throughout the warmer regions of my green world. My flowers are simply stunning, varying from a blasting orange to rich red and my fruiting gum nuts are sumptuously massive. Although there are over 1,000 indigenous species of Eucalyptus Trees on my continent of Australia – I’m by far the most attractive!!”

Bloggers, Tom the Plant Man returning now! I told you that this plant talks – rather a floral show off I think! Corymbia ficifolia is frost tender however and mature specimens are extremely rarely seen growing outside in the UK, beyond the West Country. But this gum will flower in a large pot, giving winter protection under cover in a frost-free, well lit place. The Lullingstone specimen is in the ground in a polytunnel. Germination from seed is easy and within four years it’s possible to experience the master class overpoweringly swelteringly seducing flowers.

Bloggers, this is the greatest floral addition to Lullingstone’s swelling National Collection of Eucalyptus. A Eucalyptus collection that will be on display in the Plant Heritage Marquee at the world’s largest annual flower show – Hampton Court, in 2011. Readers, Ecstatic times ahead.

Ps: Chiltern Seeds: 01229 581137 or www.chilternseeds.co.uk – supply Corymbia ficifolia seed.