Boasting aromatic—and incredibly long lasting—leaves, attractive colors, and a vast assortment of varieties, it is hardly surprising that Eucalyptus is considered a top foliage filler among flower enthusiasts worldwide. This Australian native, commonly referred to as "gum," features more than 660 species of flowering trees and shrubs under its genus, those of which are cultivated by growers across the globe. And while many may know of the plant as a delicacy for koalas, there is certainly more than meets the eye when it comes to these highly fragrant beauties.
Keep reading to meet a few of our favorite fresh cut Eucalyptus types; their unique forms and silvery-blue to gray-green hues offer an exceptional backdrop to provide structure and highlight focal blooms in year-round design projects.
SILVER DOLLAR / ARGYLE APPLE / FLORIST GUM. A staple for wedding florals and other special events, cultivars under the Eucalyptus cinerea species are beloved by designers for their fragrance, distinctively round foliage, ash-gray to green hues, and long vase life. Lending well to both fresh and dried compositions, the stems from these evergreen trees make excellent fillers for adding volume, texture and vertical interest.
'BABY BLUE' / 'TRUE BLUE' / SPIRAL. Equally as popular as silver dollar types, cultivars under the Eucalyptus pulverulenta species feature round, blue-green leaves stacked along lengthy, multi-branched stems; these are often thicker than other Eucalyptus varieties. Its highly scented foliage is also typically covered in a white waxy powder, which explains the origin of the plant’s epithet: in Latin, "pulverulenta" translates to powdery.
SEEDED. Adding playful texture and dimension to bouquets and centerpieces, seeded Eucalyptus (often referred to as Eucalyptus populus) is recognized by its grayish-green, oval to lance-shaped leaves and voluminous clusters of "berry-like" pods. However, these "berries" aren't berries (or seeds) at all; in fact, these are the plant's flower buds, which still have the caps (or operculum) over the ends.
CIDER GUM. With a higher volume of small, elongated leaves compared to other species, Eucalyptus gunnii is a robust filler, favored for use in large-scale arrangements and displays. Its evergreen trees produce blue-green, coin-shaped foliage and are known to be one of the fastest-growing and hardiest Eucalyptus types.
SMALL-LEAVED GUM. Eucalyptus parvifolia (or parvula), also known as small leaf or small-leaved gum, lives true to its namesake. One of the most compact of the Eucalyptus species, its epithet comes from the Latin word "parvula" (meaning little)—which likely originates from the small, lance-shaped leaves that decorate the evergreen tree's slender stems.
NARROW-LEAVED BLACK PEPPERMINT / WILLOW PEPPERMINT. Unlike most of its cousins, varieties classified under the Eucalyptus nicholii species grow elongated, wispy and willow-like leaves (hence its common names). Its pale, blue to gray-green foliage hangs gracefully from extended branches and often emits a rich peppermint fragrance when bruised.
TASMANIAN BLUE GUM / BLUE GUM. Eucalyptus globulus is among one of the most widely planted Eucalyptus species in the world. Its trees produce aromatic and leathery, blue-green leaves and solitary white flowers (with many stamens) that arise on flattened stalks. Beyond its use as a cut filler, its foliage has also been an important source of essential oils since the 1850s.
