Eucalyptus gunnii – Cider Gum with Beautiful Silver-Blue Foliage
Eucalyptus gunnii, commonly known as the Cider Gum, is one of the most popular and hardy eucalyptus trees for UK gardens. Renowned for its striking silver-blue juvenile foliage, fresh aromatic scent, and rapid growth, it creates an impressive focal point while adding year-round colour and architectural interest.
The rounded juvenile leaves are a beautiful blue-grey colour and release a refreshing eucalyptus fragrance when brushed or cut. If regularly pruned, the tree retains this attractive juvenile foliage indefinitely, making it especially popular for floral arrangements and foliage displays.
As the tree matures, the bark develops an attractive smooth surface that peels away in ribbons to reveal cream, grey, and pale brown tones beneath, adding valuable winter interest. Left to grow naturally, Eucalyptus gunnii forms an elegant open canopy with more elongated adult leaves while maintaining its graceful appearance.
Its vigorous growth makes it an excellent choice for specimen planting, windbreaks, and evergreen screening. It also responds exceptionally well to coppicing or pollarding, allowing gardeners to control its size while encouraging fresh silver-blue foliage each year.
Thriving in full sun, it prefers fertile, well-drained soil and becomes highly drought tolerant once established. Hardy and resilient, it performs well in most parts of the UK with minimal maintenance.
Elegant, fragrant, and fast growing, Eucalyptus gunnii is one of the finest evergreen trees for creating instant impact and year-round structure.
Seasonal Beauty & Growth
Spring
Fresh silver-blue foliage emerges with vigorous new growth.
Summer
Dense aromatic foliage provides year-round colour and light shade.
Autumn
The evergreen canopy continues to provide structure and movement.
Winter
Smooth peeling bark and silver-blue foliage create striking seasonal interest.
Why Grow Eucalyptus gunnii?
✔ Beautiful aromatic silver-blue foliage
✔ Evergreen year-round interest
✔ Fast-growing specimen tree
✔ Attractive peeling bark with age
✔ Excellent for screening or coppicing
✔ Perfect foliage for flower arranging
Perfect For
- Specimen tree planting
- Contemporary gardens
- Evergreen screening
- Large gardens
- Floral foliage production
- Wildlife-friendly landscapes
Planting & Care Guide
Position: Full sun.
Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil.
Hardiness: Fully hardy throughout most of the UK.
Watering: Water regularly during establishment; drought tolerant once mature.
Pruning: Coppice or pollard in early spring to maintain juvenile foliage and control size, or allow to develop naturally as a specimen tree.
Ultimate Size: Approximately 10–20m tall and 6–10m wide if left unpruned.
Looks Great With
- Betula utilis var. jacquemontii
- Phormium tenax
- Stipa tenuissima
- Lavandula angustifolia
- Perovskia ‘Blue Spire’
- Pittosporum tenuifolium
Eucalyptus gunnii is an outstanding evergreen tree that combines fragrant silver-blue foliage, rapid growth, and elegant architectural form, making it one of the most versatile and rewarding specimen trees for UK gardens.
