Eucalyptus cinerea
Common Names: argyle apple, silver dollar tree, silver dollar
eucalyptus
Family: Myrtaceae (myrtle Family)
tree Shrub Drought Tolerant Can be Grown in Containers Has Medicinal
Uses Has evergreen foliage Has Unusual or Interesting Foliage Useful
for fresh and/or dried arrangements Fragrant
Description
Argyle apple, or silver dollar tree as it is better know in The
States, is a fast growing evergreen (make that "ever silvery blue")
Australian eucalyptus with a rounded crown and rough fibrous reddish
brown bark. It can get up to 50 ft (15 m) tall with a spread of
30-40 ft (10-12 m), but is more commonly 20-30 ft (6-9 m) tall and
15-20 ft (4.5-6 m) wide, and usually in cultivation quite a bit
smaller. Argyle apple produces juvenile leaves that are opposite,
broadly heart shaped or round, silvery bluish green, and about 2 in
(5 cm) across. These are usually followed by adult leaves that are
pendulant, alternate, thick and leathery, and lance shaped, 3-4 in
(7.5-10 cm) long. Some juvenile leaves almost always persist on
adult trees. The common names, silver dollar tree and silver dollar
eucalyptus describe trees with mainly juvenile leaves. Foliage has
the smell of menthol. Small, horticulturally insignificant, white
flowers are borne in clusters of three in summer, usually only on
large, adult trees.
Location
Eucalyptus cinerea is native to southeastern Australia. It has
become a popular landscape tree throughout much of the world, and is
grown commercially for the “silver dollar” leaves widely used in the
floral trade.
Culture
Light: Grow in full to part sun.
Moisture: Like many other eucalypts, argyle apple is fairly drought
tolerant. It does best in slightly acidic soils, rich in organic
matter.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 8-11. Argyle apple grows very fast from seed
and can be grown in temperate climates outdoors as an annual shrub,
reaching 6-8 ft (2-2.5 m) in height by the end of summer.
Propagation: Like other eucalypts, argyle apple is easily propagated
from seed. Propagation from cuttings is difficult.
silver dollar tree flowers
Silver dollar tree produces flowers in groups of three. The center
flower is in bloom (the entire structure is about the size of match
head) while its two buds on either side wait their turns.
silver dollar tree
The leaves on this branch are itermediate between the round juvenal
leaves and the elongated leaves produced by mature trees.
Usage
Argyle apple tolerates heat, high humidity, wind, some salt spray
and moderate drought. Silver dollar tree is a popular landscape tree
in frost free or nearly frost free areas. It can be pruned to
maintain a bushy shape or trained to a standard tree shape. Argyle
apple can be grown in a container and maintained as a shrub where it
is set out in summer and brought indoors in winter.
The long lasting foliage stems with their thick, silver dollar
leaves are attractive in fresh or dried arrangements, and frequently
used by florists. Herbalists have long used extracts from eucalyptus
to treat a variety of maladies.
Features
There are more than 500 species of Eucalyptus native to Australia
and elsewhere in the southern Pacific. Many are useful and important
trees and shrubs that have been adopted and cultivated throughout
the world for lumber, essential oils, nectar for honeybees, erosion
control, and ornamental uses.
WARNING
This and other eucalypts are poisonous if ingested. |
