Silver-leaved Mountain Gum Baby Blue

One of the best eucalypts for the flower arranger, Eucalyptus pulverulenta Baby Blue is a small, rather slow-growing, evergreen tree, usually multi-stemmed, with a spreading, slightly erratic growth-habit. The smooth, grey-green bark is patched in coppery-yellow, and the young shoots are almost violet with a white bloom. The small, almost heart-shaped, aromatic leaves are strung closely along the branches, and are a wonderful, silvery blue. Masses of white, rather fluffy flowers are carried between the leaves in early spring, and are very attractive to bees. Silver-leaved mountain gum Baby Blue repays hard pruning in spring to keep it compact and tidy; it responds well to coppicing, and is good as a hedge in mild, sheltered gardens. It can even be grown as a house-plant.