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| Category: Tree |
| Family: Myricaceae (Bayberries) |
| Origin: Australia (Australasia) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Cream |
| Bloomtime: Spring/Summer |
| Fragrant Flowers: Yes |
| Height: 20-30 feet |
| Width: 15-20 feet |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 15-20° F |
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Eucalyptus crenulata (Silver Gum) - A small tree to about 25 feet with rough bark on the trunk turning to a smooth gray brown color on the branches which hold a dense head of small glaucous blue-green triangular shaped juvenile leaves that have crenulate (finely scalloped) margins and are opposite and sessile, so held tightly to the stems as if skewered. Older leaves are hidden within the canopy and are on slightly larger, a little greener and with short petioles. This is one of the few Eucalyptus species that retains its distinctive juvenile foliage throughout its life. The attractive white glaucus flower buds are held in tight umbels on a short peduncle and open to display honey-scented white flowers in late spring and summer. Plant in full sun to light shade - it is noted as one of the more shade tolerant of Eucalyptus. Though from a riparian habit in a moister climate, this plant has proven to grow well in a dry location in the central coast of California. It has been reported to be hardy to at least 15 °F. Tolerates regular hard pruning which can maintain shape and promote flushes of the attractive juvenile leaves. An attractive small tree with foliage that provides a good contrast with other greener plants and is useful in cut flower arrangements. Silver Gum is rare in the wild where it is listed as an endangered species at risk of extinction and only found in the Acheron River valley and at Yering near Yarra Glen and in Victoria, Australia where it grows in swampy or poorly draining soils. It is also called the Victorian Silver Gum, Buxton gum and Buxton Silver Gum. The Buxton Silver Gum Nature Conservation Reserve near the small town of Buxton in Victoria has the largest remaining wild stand of this species. It has been planted as an ornamental throughout the world but is relatively uncommon in the US. The only known plant in California is planted on the campus of the University of California Santa Barbara, where the seed for our crop was collected. The specific epithet comes from the Latin word 'crenula' the diminutive of 'crena' meaning notched in reference to the minutely scalloped leaf edges. Our thanks go out to Cameron Hannah-Bick, Biology Greenhouse Manager at UCSB for providing the seedling plants for our crop.
The information about Eucalyptus crenulata displayed on this page is based on research conducted in our nursery library and from online sources we consider reliable. We will also relate those observations made of this plant as it grows in our nursery gardens and in other gardens that we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has additional information, particularly when they share cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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