Bluey Cold Hardy Eucalyptus Tree

Eucalyptus pulverulenta

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 8a-11 Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Shrub or Small Tree (May be semi-deciduous in colder climates)

Height at Maturity: 10-15′ with no pruning

Width at Maturity: 6-10’+

Spacing: 5′ for hedges; 15’+ for space between trees

Growth Habit / Form: Upright, Rounded

Growth Rate: Fast, up to 24 inches per year

Flower Color: White

Flowering Period: Summer

Foliage Color: Blue, more Silver with age

Fragrant Foliage: Yes

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Part Shade (Appreciates some afternoon shade in hot and humid climates)

Water Needs: Average, Low when established

Soil Type: Clay (Amended), Loam, Sand, Silt, Fertile Soils (rare for Eucalyptus)

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist to Dry Well Drained

Soil pH: 6.5 to 7.5 (Neutral to Slightly Alkaline)

Maintenance / Care: Very Low when left in it’s natural form

Attracts: Visual Attention, Bees

Resistances: Deer, Disease, Heat, Insect, Drought

Description

Named for its vibrant blue foliage that is the choice for use in dried floral arrangements, the ‘Bluey’ Cold Hardy Eucalyptus is a smaller growing variety that has has demonstrated excellent cold hardiness in our Georgia USDA Zone 8a gardens, and hardiness improves with age. The fragrant, elliptic to oval shaped blue leaves, which turn more silver with age, are packed along the branches. The trunk and branches are silver-grey with olive, gold, and russet hues. A profuse bloomer with small white flowers. A standout small specimen tree or large shrub to 15 feet tall, Bluey fits in smaller garden spaces where larger growing Eucalyptus species won’t fit. Left to grow natural, Bluey will add up to 24 inches in height. Responds well to pruning so can be kept to a smaller size for use in pots, planters and other containers that can be situated as a conversation piece on patios, decks and around other outdoor living spaces..

Note: In hot and humid climates, the Bluey Eucalyptus will appreciate some afternoon shade or filtered sun. In less humid climates full sun is fine.

Cold Hardiness: In our trials thus far in McDonough, GA (Zone 8A), 2 year old Eucalyptus trees had minimal leaf damage and looked great following winters where temps reached 13 degrees.

Landscape Uses

Growing 15 feet all and 6 to 10 feet wide, ‘Bluey’ is a fast growing Eucalyptus shrub or small tree ideal for use as a specimen planted in the ground or in pots around patios, decks and other outdoor living spaces. Also excellent as an evergreen hedge or privacy screen. Bluey will appreciate some afternoon shade in hot and humid climates. A fine addition to cutting gardens, fragrance gardens, and the Xeriscape (low water needs).

Suggested Spacing: 5 feet apart feet apart for hedge; 15 feet apart feet or more for space between trees

Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8a, where this Eucalyptus tree variety is not reliably winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.

Growing Preferences

The Bluey Eucalyptus is easy to grow in most any soil, including fertile one (rare for Eucalyptus), and prefers full sun or part shade. Responds very well to pruning so can be grown in pots that can be situated on patios and near other outdoor living spaces. Choose a container that’s at least 8 inches or more in diameter than the root ball.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant, prune, fertilize and water a Eucalyptus tree.

How To Plant & Care For A Eucalyptus Tree

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