Eucalyptus globulus

RHS Plant Profile

southern blue gum

RHS

Other common names

blue gum, fever gum, fever tree, Tasmanian blue gum

Conservatory Greenhouse Trees

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A fast-growing evergreen tree to 30m or more, with white to cream, yellow or grey bark that sheds in ribbons to reveal light green and brown inner bark. It has highly aromatic foliage, the juvenile leaves ovate and blue-white; adult leaves sickle-shaped. White flowers are borne on mature trees in spring or summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

4-8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 4-8 metres
Max Height: Higher than 12 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: West–facing or South–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H3

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Foliage

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Myrtaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Eucalyptus are evergreen trees or large shrubs, often fast-growing, some with attractive bark, most with aromatic foliage, and clusters of small, white, yellow or red flowers
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: NSW, Victoria, Tasmania

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, neutral to slightly acid soil that does not dry out, in full sun; shelter from cold drying winds

Propagation

Propagate by seed at 13-18°C in spring and summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning group 1, or for the best display of juvenile foliage use Pruning group 7.

Pests

May be susceptible to eucalyptus gall wasp and eucalyptus sucker

Diseases

May be susceptible to silver leaf, oedema and honey fungus