Two Silver leafed Eucalypts in Plant of the Week

Real World Gardener-Horticulture, Gardening, Learning to Grow

PLANT OF THE WEEK All About Australian Native Plants with Silver Leaves. Plants with grey or silver leaves are adapted to a drier environment because the colour of the leaf better reflects the sun than green leaves regardless of the size of the leaf. This in turn means the plant uses less water for its functions. There's usually more to the story as is the case with eucalypt trees having a thick waxy coating that makes the leaves look silver or grey in the first place. This waxy coating is added protection from the sun's rays. Eucalyptus perriniana Mature leaves are often different from juvenile leaves not only in shape and size but orientation. Mature eucalypt leaves hang vertically to reduce exposure to high levels of radiation and water loss. Silver leaves don’t just have to be about small shrubs and ground covers, there’s some beaut examples of silver leafed gums. pt1 A Couple of Eucalypts with Silver Leaves.

• Two great silver leafed gums were our picks:Eucalyptus perriniana and Eucalyptus cinerea

Silver leaves can be so attractive in the garden, in the vase or just in the landscape.
The add texture and structure to a garden. But they also can brighten a dark spot in a garden where dark green would just disappear in the gloom.

Eucalyptus cinerea

Other fabulous silver leafed eucalypts

• You could also try Eucalyptus pulverulenta, known as the Silver-leaved Mountain Gum.
• There’s a dwarf form of this one called Baby Blue which only grows to 3m.
• The Silver-leaved Mountain Gum is an unusual Eucalypt (especially for eastern Australia) because it hangs onto juvenile foliage into maturity. Plants rarely produce adult leaves.

Listen to the podcast to find out more I'm talking with Adrian O’Malley, native plant expert and officianado