Leaves & needles
Juvenile leaves are rounded and blue-grey; adult leaves become longer, narrower and grey-green.
IntroducedEvergreenTypical height 15–25 m or more
Cider gum
Eucalyptus gunnii
A fast-growing eucalyptus with peeling bark and two distinctly different leaf forms.
THROUGH THE YEAR
Cider gum through the seasons
Light, open evergreen canopy; young shoots may carry rounded blue leaves.
Stays green-blue; peeling bark adds cream and brown patches.
Evergreen canopy remains; frost may mark tender young growth.
Typical open-grown form. This tree keeps foliage in winter, shedding older leaves or needles gradually. Pruned, sheltered and young trees can look different.
LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER
How to identify cider gum
Bark
Smooth cream, grey and brown patches emerge as older bark peels.
Twigs
Young shoots may be waxy blue-grey; juvenile leaves occur in opposite pairs.
Buds
Leaf buds are small in leaf axils; flower buds form capped green structures, usually in threes.
Flowers & pollen
Small creamy-white flowers with numerous stamens, usually in groups of three; flowering can be irregular in UK gardens.
Fruit, seeds & cones
Small woody cup-shaped capsules persist on shoots after flowering.
Images show typical features and are not to scale. Confirm several features using the reference sources below.
CARE WITH PURPOSE
Caring for cider gum
Help it thrive
Choose a sunny site with room for rapid growth. Establish smaller plants carefully and monitor watering, ties and anchorage.
Pruning advice
Preserve the leader when growing a specimen tree. A planned coppice regime can retain juvenile foliage; arrange professional advice before changing an established tree’s form.
When can it be pruned?
February–March for formative pruning or an agreed coppice regime
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Highlighted months are an indicative window for the work described, not a reason to prune every year. An unshaded month is not an absolute ban.
Timing must suit the tree's health, weather, wildlife and legal protection. Avoid severe frost, drought and vulnerable new leaf growth. Mature trees, major branches and suspected defects need professional assessment.
Tree health: what to watch for
A small nursery plant can become a very large tree; size management needs a long-term plan.
Identification & care references
Guide researched November 2026. Identification remains provisional until several features agree. UK native means native in some part of the UK, not necessarily your area.
Before work in England, check tree preservation orders, conservation-area restrictions and wildlife protection. Official tree protection guidance ↗