Eucalyptus cinerea

Eucalyptus cinerea, or ashy-leaved gum, is a species highly appreciated in floristry for the beauty of its juvenile foliage. Its round, bluish leaves blend beautifully with flowers in bouquets and arrangements. In the garden, this eucalyptus is interesting for its reasonable growth, relative hardiness, and tolerance to limestone. It quickly forms a small tree with a sometimes twisted habit, and picturesque bark that is decorative throughout the year. Its foliage is pleasantly aromatic and has a reputation for repelling mosquitoes, while its discreet flowering is attractive to bees. Growing in full sun, it adds a touch of exoticism to gardens in temperate climates. 

Eucalyptus cinerea is a small tree of the Myrtaceae family, like the Feijoa, the Callistemon, or the Myrtle, with distinctive flowering. This species is native to the southeast of Australia (New South Wales and Victoria), where it can reach heights of up to 15-16 m (49 ft 2 in-52 ft 6 in), with a broad and spreading stature.
In cultivation it forms a small tree of 10-12 m (32 ft 10 in-39 ft 5 in) in height and 6 to 8 m (19 ft 8 in to 26 ft 2 in) in width in about ten years, with a naturally spreading habit and some branches trailing on the ground. The trunk can also take on a twisted shape, giving it a slightly wild appearance. Its bark is more persistent than that of the majority of eucalyptus species, peeling very little. Thick, fibrous, rough and channelled, it is a dull grey, becoming orange and mahogany-coloured depending on the season.
As in many species, E. cinerea has two types of foliage, juvenile and adult, which can coexist on the same plant. When it first appears, the young foliage is extremely decorative and highly prized for floral arrangements. The nearly round leaves, about 3.5 cm (1.4 in) in diameter, are sessile (without petioles) and opposite, offering remarkable visual appeal. Their second asset lies in their colour: a very glaucous grey-green, almost blue. Finally, they have a pleasant menthol scent, which repels mosquitoes. The adult leaves are silver-grey, elongated (lanceolate) in shape, approximately 11 cm (4.3 in) long and 3 cm (1.2 in) wide, or sickle-shaped. They have a short petiole about 1 cm (0.4 in) in length.
The insignificant, slightly perfumed flowering, takes place in May-June in the form of graceful small cream-white pompoms. They are formed by dozens of elongated stamens surrounding the central pistil and visited by insects. Highly attractive to bees, they are especially appreciated for honey production in Australia. Small capsule-shaped fruits then form.
Eucalyptus cinerea prefers clay or sandy soils, acidic to neutral, and tolerates some limestone. It does not like excessively dry soils but requires well-draining soil to avoid waterlogging. Its hardiness is rather good for a Eucalyptus, it can withstand brief frosts of around -10 to -12 °C, the foliage will suffer afterwards and the plant will die around -15°C (5 °F).

Eucalyptus cinerea works well in predominantly white or silvery scene. It brings a touch of exoticism to the garden and allows for the creation of themed scenes in the company of other plants with evocative silhouettes from distant lands. The Callistemon rigidus or Bottlebrush with its red flower spikes will be perfect in its company in mild climates. Also consider the Grevillea juniperina, with its dark green spiky foliage enhanced by superb red flowers.
You can also take advantage of its glaucous colours by combining it with purple foliage (Sambucus Black Lace, Cotinus Royal Purple), or golden foliage (Catalpa bignonioides Aurea, Golden Honey Locust).