Eucalyptus cinerea

Australian range and habitat of Eucalyptus cinerea

Eucalyptus cinerea is native to southeastern Australia, from New South Wales into Victoria.

It grows in open woodland, including grassy and dry woodland, on clay and clay-loam soils from flatter ground and streamside areas to rolling country.

Garden and pot care for Eucalyptus cinerea

• Sun: Give full sun to keep the young growth dense and silver.
• Keeping round silver leaves: Shape the plant while it is young. A hard cut in late winter to early spring encourages a new crop of round leaves.
• Water: Potted plants can dry quickly in warm weather, so check them often and water deeply when the top of the mix feels dry. Keep newly planted trees watered during dry spells while they settle in.
• Soil: Well-drained neutral to acidic soil suits garden trees. For pots, use a soil-based mix with added grit or pumice.
• Hardiness: Established plants are hardy to around −15 to −10°C in a sheltered site. Protect young trees and container roots during severe frost and cold drying wind.
• Feeding: Container plants can receive a balanced feed during the growing season. Garden trees in good soil usually need little extra feeding.
• Container size: Move to a larger stable pot once the root mass has used most of the current container. Keep the drainage hole clear.

Eucalyptus cinerea warning signs

• Leaves curl, crisp or shed during warm windy weather: Heat and drying wind can dry a potted root ball quickly. Water deeply and check the pot more often during exposed weather.
• Young shoots become long and the silver colour weakens: Low sun or overly rich feeding can produce soft greener growth. Move the plant to a sunnier outdoor position and keep feeding moderate.
• Leaves yellow while a pot remains very wet: Dense wet mix can stress the roots. Replace heavy potting mix and make sure water leaves the container freely.
• Raised lumps or distorted patches develop on leaves: Eucalyptus gall wasp or eucalyptus sucker can cause these changes. Check the affected growth closely and identify the pest before choosing a treatment.

Eucalyptus cinerea is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs that may chew it.
• Its aromatic oils can irritate the mouth and digestive tract and may affect the rest of the body.
• Swallowing plant material may cause drooling, vomiting, stomach pain, weakness or unusual behaviour. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional if symptoms develop.

What does Eucalyptus cinerea mean, and who first published it?

Eucalyptus comes from Greek words meaning “well covered”, a reference to the operculum over each unopened flower bud. The Latin epithet cinerea means ash-grey or ash-coloured.

Charles Louis L'Héritier de Brutelle established the genus Eucalyptus in 1789 in Sertum Anglicum, page 18.

George Bentham first described Eucalyptus cinerea in 1867 in Flora Australiensis, volume 3, page 239; Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich von Mueller had proposed the name.