Eucalyptus gunnii Specimen Tree

Meet the Cider Gum – Ireland’s favourite eucalyptus and the perfect tree for adding that distinctive silvery-blue magic to your garden. This gorgeous evergreen brings year-round colour and that wonderful aromatic scent that makes every garden feel like a Mediterranean escape, even on a drizzly Dublin morning.

Native to Tasmania, Eucalyptus gunnii has made itself completely at home in UK and Irish gardens, thriving in our changeable climate with remarkable resilience. What makes this eucalyptus so special is its stunning juvenile foliage – those perfectly round, silvery-blue leaves that florists adore and gardeners can’t resist touching. As the tree matures, the leaves become more elongated and sage-green, but regular pruning keeps those beautiful round leaves coming.

This is one of the hardiest eucalyptus varieties, laughing off Irish winters and bouncing back from even severe frosts. Left to its own devices, it’ll grow into a magnificent specimen tree reaching 15-20 metres, but here’s the beauty of eucalyptus – it responds brilliantly to pruning. You can keep it as a manageable shrub, create a multi-stemmed feature, or even coppice it annually for a constant supply of that gorgeous juvenile foliage.

Plant your Cider Gum in well-drained soil and give it plenty of space and sunshine. It’s not fussy about soil type – from sandy coastal gardens to heavier clay, it adapts beautifully. The key is drainage; like most eucalyptus, it hates sitting in waterlogged soil. Once established, it’s remarkably drought-tolerant, making it perfect for those sunny, dry spots where other trees struggle. Now drought-tolerant doesn’t mean neglected so definitely in the first year and in dry periods it will still need a water.

In garden design, Eucalyptus gunnii is pure gold. It creates stunning contrast against dark evergreens, looks magnificent with ornamental grasses, and provides the perfect backdrop for our Mediterranean Garden Stories collection. Try it with lavender, rosemary, and olive trees for that authentic southern European feel, or pair it with native Irish plants for a more naturalistic approach.

For the best foliage display, we recommend annual or biennial coppicing – cutting the tree back hard in late winter. This encourages masses of that beautiful juvenile growth and keeps the tree at a manageable size. The cut stems are perfect for flower arrangements and last for weeks in water, giving you a constant supply of that gorgeous silvery foliage and delicious scent for your home.