Baby Blue Silver-leaved Mountain Gum

Baby Blue Silver-leaved Mountain Gum (Eucalyptus pulverulenta 'Baby Blue') is a compact silver-blue gum that stays around 3m high and 3m wide. Small, round leaves sit in pairs up each stem, and the branches spread sideways from the trunk in layers. Unlike many silver gums it keeps its juvenile foliage without being cut back, so it suits a suburban garden, and the stems are excellent for flower arranging.

Why you'll love it

• Silver-blue foliage all year. Firm, round leaves in pairs give a cool silver-blue colour, and juvenile and mature leaves look the same, so the colour holds as the tree ages.
• No coppicing needed. Many silver gums have to be cut hard back to keep their juvenile leaves. Baby Blue holds its leaves and young white bark without that treatment.
• A tidy suburban size. At about 3m by 3m it is far more compact than the parent tree, which is sometimes called straggly.
• Creamy winter and spring flowers. Tufts of cream flowers line the stems from winter into spring.
• Copes with cold. It grows happily at the National Arboretum in Canberra, and mature plants survive a light frost. Young plants need protection.

Where it works best

Small gardens and courtyards. The compact 3m size suits suburban blocks. Allow about 3m between plants so the layered branches can spread.

Feature planting. The sideways branching and white young bark make a good focal tree for a front garden.

Cold gardens. Where winters are cold, such as the tablelands and the southern states, it is a reliable silver tree. Stake it and shelter it until it is established.

Growing Baby Blue Silver-leaved Mountain Gum in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. It comes from a very small area around Bathurst in New South Wales, yet adapts well to garden conditions. Stake and protect young plants from strong wind and frost until they are established. Mature plants will survive a light frost.

Soil. It adapts to a wide range of garden soils, though good drainage gives the best results.

Water and feed. Mulch after planting and water regularly until established, usually around 12 weeks, and again through extended dry periods.

Pruning. Baby Blue is more compact than its parent, but a light prune improves the shape and encourages bushiness. Cut stems for arrangements at the same time.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Baby Blue Silver-leaved Mountain Gum as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It also comes in 140mm pots in packs of 10, 200mm pots in packs of 6 and 300mm pots, sold singly. Tubes are small and suit patient planting, the 140mm and 200mm pots give a bigger start, and the 300mm pot is the most developed plant. Plant out soon after arrival and stake the young tree.

Baby Blue Silver-leaved Mountain Gum tube stock is supplied by our grower, so it is not always on hand. A sold out tube simply means the grower has none at the moment, and the notify button on this page will email you the day it returns. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Gum trees and eucalypts
• Plants for cool climates
• More Australian native trees
• Choosing a feature tree for sunny spots

Common questions

How big does Baby Blue grow?

About 3m high and 3m wide. The branches spread sideways in layers, so allow room across as well as up.

Does it need to be coppiced?

No, and that is the main reason to choose it. Baby Blue keeps its round silver-blue leaves and young white bark without being cut hard back. A light prune helps the shape and encourages bushiness.

Is it frost hardy?

Mature plants survive a light frost, and the variety is grown at the National Arboretum in Canberra. Young plants need protection from frost and strong wind until established, so stake and shelter them in their first winters.