Eucalyptus gunnii [glaucous form]

Best-known hardy eucalyptus, upright, variable habit to 80', blue leaves, trunk yields drinkable cider. This species from Tasmania's central plateau has long been one of the most popular hardy eucalypts. Certainly it has been one of the most available hardy species, as Seattle's largest specimens are now approaching 80' tall, but some forms offered by retailers turn out to be less than fully hardy through the coldest Northwest winters. This selection, which comes to me from long established trees on Saltspring Island, BC courtesy of “Banana Joe” Clemente, can be expected to have superior hardiness. Also, the very glaucous blue leaves of this form make it more attractive than some forms that tend to look gloomy against the grey winter sky. Some references continue to lead readers to incorrectly believe E. gunnii is one of just two or three eucalypts that is at all hardy in the United States outside of California and Florida, but that is a story for another day. In the meantime, E. gunnii will still be there like an old friend, when all your fancy Cannas and bananas have frozen dead, enduring temperatures down to the range of 0-5 °F.