Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Silver Dollar Gum
Silver Dollar Gum is a fast-growing eucalyptus named for its round, silver-blue young leaves, which florists cut for arrangements. It grows about 30 to 50 feet tall and becomes rounded with age, with bark that peels in cream and gray flakes. Small cream flowers appear in winter and feed bees. It is grown as a drought-tough shade, screen or specimen tree.
Best for: a fast, drought-tough shade or screen tree for large yards, round silver-blue leaves for cutting, and winter flowers for bees.
It grows fast to about 30 to 50 feet tall and 20 to 45 feet wide. It is used as a shade tree or a tall screen where there is room for it.
Young growth carries round, blue-gray leaves the size of coins, and they are popular for cutting. Mature leaves grow longer and turn gray-green.
Small cream flowers open in winter, and bees visit them. They are a quiet accent rather than a showy bloom.
It needs soil that drains well, since in heavy, well-watered soil the leaves turn yellow. It drops bark and seed capsules, so keep it away from pools. Results in Phoenix vary by site.
For the first two weeks, water a new tree every 1 to 2 days in summer, or every 3 to 4 days in cooler months. Ease to about weekly in summer by the second month, and keep up deep soaks for its first 3 years. Once rooted, give it infrequent deep soaks in summer and about monthly water in winter.
Well-drained soil is a must. In heavy soil that is watered often, the leaves turn yellow, so water less and check drainage.
Train and stake it while it is young so it grows a strong structure. Remove stakes once it can stand on its own, and never take more than a quarter of the canopy in a year.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does silver dollar gum get?
It grows fast to about 30 to 50 feet tall and 20 to 45 feet wide. Plant it where it has room to spread.
Why is it called silver dollar gum?
The young leaves are round and silver-blue, about the size of a coin. Florists cut them for arrangements.
How much water does it need?
Once rooted it needs little water. Give it infrequent deep soaks in summer, and do not keep the soil wet.
Why are the leaves turning yellow?
Yellow leaves are common in heavy soil that is watered often. Water less often, and plant it where water drains.
How cold hardy is it?
It is rated to about 14 to 18°F, so it is hardy through a normal Valley winter without frost cover.
Is silver dollar gum messy?
Yes, it drops peeling bark and woody seed capsules. Plant it away from pools and patios you want to keep clean.
Does it need pruning?
Train and stake it while young so it grows a strong shape. Never take more than a quarter of the canopy in a year.
Does it bloom?
Yes. Small cream flowers open in winter, and bees visit them, so leave them be.
Is silver dollar gum toxic to pets?
Yes. Eucalyptus leaves contain oils that are toxic to dogs, cats and horses and can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea and weakness. Keep pets from chewing on fallen leaves.
Silver Dollar Gum for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Silver Dollar Gum is a fast eucalyptus with round, silver-blue young leaves and peeling bark. Below: size, water, soil, cold, pruning and what to expect from it in the Valley.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Silver dollar gum in Phoenix
Silver dollar gum is a fast, drought-tough eucalyptus with round silver-blue leaves. It needs well-drained soil, and results vary by site in Phoenix.
Silver dollar eucalyptus size
It grows about 30 to 50 feet tall and 20 to 45 feet wide, rounded with age.
Watering silver dollar gum
Give it infrequent deep soaks in summer. Heavy soil that stays wet yellows the leaves.
Silver dollar gum leaves for cutting
The round, blue-gray young leaves are popular for flower arrangements.
Silver dollar gum cold hardiness
It is rated to about 14 to 18°F.
Silver dollar gum as a screen
It works as a tall, fast screen or shade tree in a large yard.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.