ish the fragrance. In fact, several species of eucalyptus are harvested for their essential oils, used in perfumery and potpourris. The lemon eucalyptus, E citriodora, is particularly special in this regard. It has lovely mid- to light-green foliage that’s softly fuzzy to the touch, and a powerful and incredibly delightful citrus fragrance. Even the wood of this species has a pleasant smell. When tossed into the campfire or fireplace, prunings emit a wonderful aroma.
The leaves of the apple eucalyptus, E bridgesiana, emit a scent quite similar to that of fresh, ripe apples. (Use the gray juvenile foliage in floral arrangements.) The honey eucalyptus (E melliodora), as the name suggests, provides a honey scent, and it is an important bee plant in Australia. The peppermint eucalyptus, E radiata, provides an oil with a strong peppermint fragrance and flavor. Of all the mint eucalyptus species, this beautiful, sweeping variety has perhaps the strongest peppermint scent.
Rich in color and pungent aroma, several species of eucalyptus also make excellent material for floral decorations, either fresh or dried. Silver dollar eucalyptus, E cinerea, also known as the argyle apple eucalyptus, has juvenile foliage of circular, silver-gray leaves
with a bluish tinge. The silver dollar gum, E polyanthemos, has similar juvenile foliage, though its leaf color is more gray-green, often with a strong bluish tinge. The round-leaved snow gum, E perriniana, is perhaps the best species for rounded, juvenile cut foliage. Silver-blue in color, its stems appear to grow through the center of each fuzzy, rounded leaf. The cider gum, E gunnii, has striking, silver-blue young foliage which also boasts a silver-dollar shape. Its bark, a light reddish-brown, peels irregularly to reveal creamy white tones underneath.
Whether or not you happen to have a eucalyptus grove right in your neighborhood depends, in part, on the climate in which you live. But you can certainly bring the
fragrance to your garden—or even indoors in the colder months. Your fresh-cut eucalyptus foliage will last a considerable amount of time in a vase, infusing the air with its trademark aroma.
