Eucalyptus gunnii – Cider Gum – 1 of 8 members of the glorious gunnii group

Description Eucalyptus gunnii – Cider Gum – 1 of 8 members of the glorious gunnii group If you have arrived at this page because you find the names E gunnii or Cider Gum familiar, please read the important advice on the tab Important Information – a vital read A cautionary note!    We frequently get asked about awkward mature “Eucalyptus that have grown too tall in my garden and its developed a nasty lean” So what’s the problem with Eucalyptus gunnii?  Read our Eucalyptus gunnii Fact File under the adjacent tab Important Information: Eucalyptus gunnii:   An extremely hardy and versatile species, which very quickly grows exceptionally tall and also on a spiral (like a Chestnut tree).  However, if well managed from the outset, Eucalyptus gunnii can make an excellent garden specimen when pruned as a shrub-on-a-stick or a bushy shrub. It makes for excellent cut foliage and is great in a patio pot. Click here to learn more about successfully growing Eucalyptus in containers The appearance of bark and foliage is variable across the species, but it can generally be relied upon to grow rapidly into a medium to large evergreen tree with a short massive bole and spreading crown. It responds really well to pruning as a shrub, and is an excellent choice for DIY cut foliage or a commercial foliage grower and for ‘browse’ (jargon for food for parrots, budgies, stick insects etc). Click here to read our Guidance Notes on pruning Click here to see our Pruning Video on YouTube Shoots ‘n Leaves: Young shoots are glaucous – coated in a white wax, which protects against environmental scorch – sun, salt, cold winds Juvenile leaves are round and of a most striking waxy grey-green and blue-green colour. Like most Eucalypts, as the plant matures the juvenile foliage is lost in favour of the elongated adult leaves, so keep it pruned if you want to grow those lovely round leaves for floristry, or maintain it as a more manageable tree or bushy garden shrub. Adult foliage elegant, more elongated in rich grey-green and blue-green Bark: Smooth bark in grey, cream, green or sometimes pinky brown, flaking off in large pieces to reveal new bark in shades of yellow/green or creamy grey. Flowers: Fluffy white flowers are produced in January/February in the UK; great for winter foraging honey bees Leaf Aroma: Strong fruity, typical Eucalyptus aroma. The oil is often extracted for aromatherapy and medicinal use. Rate of Growth: Fast at around 1.5-2.0 metres per year. Height in maturity, if left unpruned: upwards of 25 m, with the tallest heights achieved only at a great age. Can be kept much smaller by pruning. Hardiness: Very hardy, root-system tolerating down to  -14 to -16°C on a regular basis and down to -18 °C for brief periods.  Hardiness improves with age; young trees are more susceptible to frost damage than their adult counterparts. Hardiness in Eucalyptus is governed by provenance of seed (all our seed is sourced from frosty or cold locations) how it is grown (i.e. high nitrogen levels reduces cold tolerance). Eucalypts need to be grown without stress – see our blog post on the subject. the age of the tree – the older your tree, the hardier it will be. Younger Eucs are more susceptible to frost damage. how long it has been planted in the ground. The deeper you can encourage the rooting by digging a deep planting pit at the time of installation, the quicker your tree will establish and you will increase its ability to survive cold winters. See our planting notes for more details. Click here to read more about hardiness in Eucalyptus  and how you can help your Eucalyptus to be as hardy as possible