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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Myrtaceae (Myrtles) |
| Origin: Australia (Australasia) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Yellow |
| Bloomtime: Summer |
| Height: 6-10 feet |
| Width: 6-12 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Deer Tolerant: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Eucalyptus albida (White-leaved Mallee) - A shrubby Eucalyptus that grows to 10 feet tall with a smooth often powdery white or green-grey bark and ovate 1 to 2 in long waxy white juvenile leaves held tight to the stem in opposite pairs. Mature dark glossy green lance shaped leaves are 2 to 4 inches, are alternately arranged and have petioles. Mature plants have creamy white flowers in summer that are attractive to birds and bees. Plant in full sun in a well drained soil and irrigate occasionally to infrequently. It is drought tolerant and hardy to frost resistant - some say tolerating temperatures down as low as 10 °F. Both juvenile and mature leaves are often present, which is an attractive combination but most often this plant is coppiced to continue production of the juvenile leaves for their attractive white color in the garden and for floral use. This plant is common in the southern Wheatbelt region of south Western Australia from near Moora to near Hamersley River. The name for the genus comes from the Greek words 'eu' meaning "well" and 'kalypto' meaning 'to cover' as with a lid and an allusion to the united calyx-lobes and petals that is called an operculum that forms a lid or cap that is shed when the flowers open. The specific epithet means "whitish" in reference to the juvenile leaves. It has also been called Rustle Gum by florists. In Stan Kelly's two volume Eucalyptus his painting shows the beautiful mix of mature and juvenile foliage and in the text (written by G.M Chippendale and R.D. Johnston) is notes that "Juvenile leaves of most species of Eucalyptus are very distinctive, but none more so than E. albida." We thank Jo O'Connell at Australian Native Plant Nursery for introducing us to this attractive plant.
Information displayed on this page about Eucalyptus albida is based on the research conducted about it in our library and from reliable online resources. We also note those observations we have made of this plant as it grows in the nursery's garden and in other gardens, as well how crops have performed in our nursery field. We will incorporate comments we receive from others, and welcome to hear from anyone who may have additional information, particularly if they share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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