Eucalyptus

Flower care guide

Eucalyptus

Grey-green rounded leaves on a flexible stem, and a clean camphor scent that carries across a room. The foliage we reach for more than any other.

In season

Year round.

Also known as

Silver dollar eucalyptus, seeded eucalyptus, gum

Caring for your eucalyptus

The stems are woody. Cut at a sharp angle and split the bottom inch.

Strip any leaves below the waterline. Change the water every four or five days; eucalyptus turns water brown and aromatic fairly quickly.

It is exceptionally long-lasting fresh, and when it does start to dry it simply becomes dried eucalyptus, holding its shape and most of its colour and scent. Take it out of the water at that point and it will keep.

A bunch hung in a bathroom releases its scent in the steam of a hot shower and goes on doing so for a good while.

Eucalyptus oil is toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, so keep stems out of reach of pets.

Eucalyptus leaves keep their scent well after drying, which is why bunches end up hanging in showers all over the city.