- Mature height
- 8m to 15m (approx.) (specific hybrid, general range)
- Mature width
- 8m to 10m
Eucalyptus 'Silver Shadow' is a compact evergreen gum grown for foliage rather than flowers. The rounded juvenile leaves are a soft powdery silver blue and hold on well into maturity, giving the canopy a pale hazy quality. The habit is upright with a moderately spreading crown, and small white flowers appear among the leaves.
Plant it in full sun in well drained soil. It is drought tolerant once established and handles light to moderate frost, which suits temperate districts across southern Australia, the tablelands and dry inland gardens. Growth is quick at about 1 to 1.5 metres a year. Maintenance amounts to little more than an occasional trim.
The silver tone works as a foil against dark green planting or brickwork, so it is often used as a single feature, in loose groups, or as a windbreak on rural blocks. Space trees 3 to 4 metres apart for full canopies or 3 metres for an avenue. Cut stems are also a mainstay of florists.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Eucalyptus Silver Shadow
What is Eucalyptus Silver Shadow?
Silver Shadow is a selected ornamental eucalypt grown for its silver blue foliage. Unlike most gums it keeps the rounded juvenile leaf shape well into maturity, so the tree holds that soft powdery colour year round instead of turning to long green adult leaves. It stays a manageable size and is widely used as a garden feature.
How big does Silver Shadow grow?
It reaches 7 to 10 metres tall with a spread of 4 to 6 metres, making it a medium tree rather than a large one. That is small enough for a suburban block with room around it, and it can be kept lower by pruning. The crown is upright with moderate spread rather than broad and heavy.
How fast does it grow?
Around 1 to 1.5 metres a year in the early seasons with reasonable water, slowing as the tree approaches full height. That gives useful screening and foliage colour within three or four years of planting. Growth is fastest in warm weather, and staking is worth doing for the first two years in windy positions.
Is it drought tolerant?
Yes. Once the root system is down it handles extended dry periods and does not need supplementary watering in most temperate districts. Its one real requirement is drainage, since it dislikes waterlogged soil far more than dry soil. Water it deeply and regularly through the first two summers, then it can be left alone.
Is it frost tolerant?
Established trees handle light to moderate frost without damage, so it grows well through the southern tablelands, central Victoria, the Adelaide Hills and inland temperate areas. Very young trees are the vulnerable stage and benefit from a guard through their first winter. Frost does not affect the foliage colour, which stays silver through cold weather.
Can the foliage be cut for the vase?
It is one of the main reasons people plant it. The silver blue stems cut well, last a long time in water and are a staple of florists and event work. Cutting also keeps the tree producing fresh juvenile growth, which is the bluest foliage on the plant, so regular harvesting improves rather than harms it.
How do I care for Eucalyptus Silver Shadow?
Water deeply through the first two summers and mulch to the drip line, keeping mulch off the trunk. Prune in late winter or early spring to lift the canopy or hold the size, and cut back into leafy growth to encourage new juvenile foliage. Feed lightly in spring with a native fertiliser low in phosphorus.