Silver Princess gum

Sun

Full sun; choose a warm position sheltered from strong winds.

Water

Water regularly while establishing; once established, water deeply during extended drought rather than little and often.

Soil

Very well-drained sandy, gravelly or loamy soil; tolerates low fertility but struggles in heavy, waterlogged ground.

Height

20-30 ft (6-9 m)

Spread

10-20 ft (3-6 m)

Flowers

Large pink to red flowers with yellow-tipped stamens, mainly in winter and spring; timing varies with climate.

Foliage

Evergreen, blue-green to grey-green leaves; young leaves are broader than the long, narrow adult leaves. Young stems, buds and woody seed capsules develop a conspicuous white, waxy coating.

Growth

Moderate to fast in warm, well-drained conditions.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Hard

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   8 ft (2.3 m)

3. After 2 years

   9 ft (2.7 m)

4. After 3 years

   10 ft (3 m)

5. After 5 years

   12 ft (3.7 m)

About 16 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Native to

Australia

Growth rate

Fast

• Plant while young in its permanent position; avoid moving established trees or disturbing their roots.
• Water deeply through the first one or two growing seasons, allowing the soil to drain between waterings.
• Keep a broad mulch ring around the root zone, leaving the trunk base clear.
• Avoid rich feeding; if growth indicates a need, use a low-phosphorus fertiliser suitable for Australian native plants.
• Use a short, flexible stake only if needed for establishment, and remove it once the roots hold the tree securely.

Pruning. Prune lightly after flowering to remove dead, damaged or crossing branches and develop a sound framework while the tree is young. Avoid topping or hard cutting into old wood: this species does not reliably regenerate after severe pruning.

Spring

Plant after damaging frosts have passed in marginal climates, and water the root ball thoroughly.

After flowering

Lightly prune damaged or crossing growth; retain the natural weeping outline.

Summer

Check newly planted trees regularly and water deeply when the root zone begins to dry.

Autumn

Plant in mild, dry-winter climates while the soil is warm; check that winter rain can drain away freely.

Late autumn

Refresh mulch without piling it against the trunk, and check young trees' ties.

Winter

Protect young trees from forecast frost with horticultural fleece, and avoid pruning before freezing weather.

• Use as a specimen in a sunny gravel garden where the silver branches and hanging flowers can be seen clearly.
• Plant above low-growing Australian native shrubs, leaving room for the branches to arch naturally.
• Pair with drought-tolerant grasses and silver foliage for a loose, dry-climate planting.
• Position beside, rather than directly over, a terrace so flowers, bark and seed capsules do not fall onto seating.

Garden styles it suits: Australian native, Mediterranean, Dry gravel garden, Desert / xeriscape, Architectural minimal and Wildlife garden.

Plant it with: Kangaroo paw, Coastal rosemary, Emu bush, Lomandra, Native wallflower and Lavender.

Wildlife: Nectar-rich flowers attract bees and nectar-feeding birds, including honeyeaters in Australia. Birds may also use the canopy for shelter.

• Root rot and decline in wet soil: plant in freely draining ground, divert runoff and avoid frequent irrigation.
• Frost damage to young stems and leaves: choose a sheltered microclimate and protect young trees; wait until spring growth reveals the extent of damage before pruning.
• Wind damage or splitting of heavily laden branches: provide shelter and establish a balanced framework with light formative pruning.
• Scale insects or psyllids: inspect affected shoots, encourage natural predators and avoid excessive feeding; seek a locally approved treatment if infestation is severe.

Eucalyptus leaves and their essential oils are toxic if eaten by cats, dogs and horses, and can poison people, especially children. Concentrated eucalyptus oil is particularly dangerous if swallowed; keep foliage and oil away from pets and children.

• Standard-form gungurru (Eucalyptus caesia subsp. caesia)

  Generally smaller and less strongly weeping than the large, pendulous form associated with 'Silver Princess'; flowers and fruit are also smaller.

• Coral gum (Eucalyptus torquata)

  Has conspicuously ribbed, corrugated bud bases and usually a more upright crown rather than long, silver-coated, weeping branches.

• Rose mallee (Eucalyptus rhodantha)

  Usually forms a low, spreading mallee with broad, opposite, silvery leaves retained into maturity, rather than narrow adult leaves on a weeping small tree.

The species name caesia means bluish-grey, referring to its waxy coating, while 'Silver Princess' describes the silvery, gracefully drooping growth.

Propagation. Usually raised from seed. Plants sold as 'Silver Princess' are commonly associated with Eucalyptus caesia subsp. magna, and seed-grown plants can vary in habit and flower colour; seedlings are not guaranteed to match a named parent.

Accepted botanical name

Eucalyptus caesia

Native range

Western Australia.

Measured

Average height 415 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.