Eucalyptus polyanthemos (Silver Dollar Gum) - This is a fast growing, erect evergreen tree grows to 40 to 60 feet tall by 30 to 45 feet wide with a very slender open structure. The fibrous barked trunk is a gray color with upper stems smooth and a lighter colored gray to almost white. The gray green oval to egg shaped juvenile leaves are attached to the white stems by long leaf petioles which make the leaves dangle. Adult leaves are usually more elongated and narrow. Cream colored flower clusters appear in spring and summer.
Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil and irrigate occasionally to not at all once established. It is hardy to 14°F. An attractive and useful small tree that can be used in narrow spots or parking lots and rounded juvenile leaves are used in flower arrangements.
Eucalyptus polyanthemos has several subspecies but the common form grown in California (subspecies polyanthemos) comes from southeastern Australia where it grows on slopes and tablelands The name for the genus comes from the Greek words 'eu' meaning "well" and 'kalypto' meaning 'to cover' as with a lid and an allusion to the united calyx-lobes and petals that is called an operculum that forms a lid or cap that is shed when the flowers open. The specific epithet is from the ancient Greek words 'poly' meaning "many" and 'anthemon' meaning "flower'. It was introduced into California in 1871 by Stephen Nolan at his Belle View Nursery in Oakland, California and here it is commonly called Silver Dollar Gum in the US but in Australia is most often referred to as Red Box. We grew this attractive tree from 1980 until 2005.
The information about Eucalyptus polyanthemos displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |