- Carithers Flowers Main Website- Wikipedia: Baby Blue Eucalyptus

Baby Blue Eucalyptus

Native to Australia & Tasmania

Baby blue eucalyptus comes from the "Myrtacae" plant family. The Greeks called it "Kalyptos," which in Greek refers to the word "Covered". Baby Blue is thought to have gotten it's name because of the unique shape of its bud coverings. It is also called sliver leaved mountain gum or Tasmanian blue gum. Baby blue eucalyptus has its origins overseas, in the land down under (Australia) as well as from Tasmania. The plant in its hybrid form is also considered native to New Guinea, the Philippines and Java. In the United States, you will find it grown mostly in California.

The plant is considered a broadleaf evergreen tree. Scientists classify it in the dicotyledon family. It's an odd plant in that its leaves are not parallel veined. A Eucalyptus leaf is round and ranges in diameter, up to 1 full inch in width. Foliage utilized by floral designers is almost always from the juvenile plants. Many growers routinely prune their Eucalyptus trees in an effort to maintain this juvenile state as long as possible. This pruning function is critical in the control of future production and quality.

Growing Recommendations - Baby Blue Eucalyptus

Floral Designers at Carithers Flowers absolutely love this plant. They love it for its attractive foliage, pungent aroma and its wonderful contribution to the overall floral design. With long stems, it looks wonderful when presented in a vase. You can count on Eucalyptus retaining its aromatic qualities for at least three weeks and perhaps even longer. Just remember that eucalyptus' has an incredibly robust aroma. It's scent easily dominates a room and usually cancels out other fragrances in the air. You will find that Eucalyptus dries beautifully. You can easily dry it using the tradition air dry method. Simply tie your stems together and suspend them, preferably inverted, in a well-ventilated, dry place. Use gloves when handling the stems to prevent sticky hands, as frequent handling may cause dermatitis. Also, to extend the life of the cut foliage, remove all bottom leaves that would be submerged in water in a vase or bucket because contact with the water will cause bacteria to form. Recut the stems under water, and display in a cool spot. Then check the water levels daily and change the water every few days, adding fresh flower food if available.

Photos of Baby Blue Eucalpytus

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