Eucalyptus is a pretty tough plant, but it only stays hardy up to a certain point. If you’re wondering which varieties can handle the chill and how to keep your plants happy when the mercury drops, you’ve come to the right place! Here’s the lowdown on getting your eucalyptus through the winter safely.
How to Tell if Your Eucalyptus Can Handle the Frost
As you probably know, Eucalyptus is native to warmer spots like Australia. However, some varieties are surprisingly good at handling freezing temperatures. *Eucalyptus gunnii* (often called Cider Gum) is considered moderately hardy and is usually your best bet if you want a low-maintenance plant that can survive a typical winter in our neck of the woods.
That said, even the hardy *Eucalyptus gunnii* has its limits—usually around -4°F (-20°C). Once your thermometer starts dipping toward 5°F (-15°C), it’s time to take action. A pro tip if you aren’t sure which variety you have: check the flower color! Generally, plants with white or cream-colored flowers are the ones that can tolerate freezing temperatures. If yours fits that description, you’re in luck!
Plants with these flower colors usually can’t handle frost:
- Yellow
- Red
How to Winterize Your Eucalyptus
First things first: give your plant a good winter trim in the fall. Make sure to treat any larger cuts on branches or thick stems with a wound sealer to protect them. Pruning helps the plant stay compact so it has less surface area exposed to the biting cold. Just don’t wait too late in the season to do this; the plant needs a little time to recover and “settle in” before the real deep freeze hits.
If temperatures are forecasted to drop below -4°F, you definitely need to step in. For plants growing directly in the ground, you can protect the roots by piling up a mound of leaves or mulch around the base of the trunk. A little bit of chicken wire can help keep your mulch mountain from blowing away. This layer acts like a cozy thermal blanket for the root system. Fun fact: plants in the ground are actually better protected than those in pots, as the earth provides much better natural insulation than a container.
If you have a potted eucalyptus, start by wrapping the pot in horticultural fleece. Wrap it all the way up so the container is completely insulated. You can then loosely drape a burlap sack or frost cover over the crown of the plant. If you decide to bring your pots inside to escape the freeze, make sure to put them in a bright spot. If they don’t get enough light, they might start dropping their leaves. As long as they get plenty of sunshine, you can enjoy that beautiful green foliage all winter long!
