Cider Gum Blue Ice Tapped by the aboriginal inhabitants of Tasmania to make a cider-like drink, Eucalyptus gunnii is one of the hardiest eucalypts. Eucalyptus gunnii Blue Ice is a tall, fast-growing, evergreen tree with a broad, fairly dense crown and attractively spreading branches. It can also be kept coppiced to make a large shrub. The light grey bark peels away to reveal reddish patches. The round to ovate, waxy, aromatic, grey-blue juvenile foliage clasps the stems, and is much bluer than the species; it’s excellent for flower-arranging. Eventually willow-like, matte, blue-grey-green adult foliage appears, but judicious pruning can keep the juvenile foliage coming. Yellowish buds open to small white flowers, attractive to pollinators. Once established, cider gum Blue Ice can cope with drought, but also with soils that lie wet in winter. It needs to be watered well in its first year until it puts down a good root-system.  Site: Tolerates exposureSoil: Well-drained, neutral to acid soil; tolerates poor soil and occasional waterloggingPosition: Full sunSeason of interest: All yearHardiness: Fully hardy Height: up to 82’ (25m) if left unpruned and ideal coppiced and kept as a large shrub.