Silver Dollar Tree is a small evergreen tree or shrub native to Australia. It can grow rapidly (6-8 feet in one season). The leaves are round, fragrant and an attractive silver color, hence the common name, silver dollar tree. The bark is reddish brown and peels on smaller stems and becomes gray and stringy on the trunk as the tree matures. In its native environment, it can reach 60 feet. It is not reliably cold-hardy, but often comes back during the growing season, even after a hard freeze. In cold climates these plants are commonly grown in containers as either shrubs or annuals. Container plants can be placed on patios or sunk into the ground, but must be brought indoors in fall before first frost for overwintering. This plant is moderately salt-tolerant. It is grown primarily for its foliage but rarely produces flowers. The foliage is fragrant and is frequently used in floral arrangements. Minor skin irritation can occur when handling bark or leaves. Plant oil is extremely toxic, especially if large quantities are ingested. Quick ID Hints : Opposite, round, sessile, blue-green leaves Leaves/stems emit eucalyptus odor when bruised The Eucalyptus genus has 2 leaf morphologies- adult and juvenile; in zone 7b, specimens usually do not survive to the adult stage, so the leaves that we see are the orbicular, sessile, opposite juvenile leaves; bruised bark and leaves give off a characteristic eucalyptus odor; dried leafy branches sometimes are used in floral arrangements; in Australia and New Zealand, eucalyptus species are referred to as 'gums'. Drought tolerant when established; intolerant of mild winters and early/late freezes; prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Insects, Diseases, and Other Pest Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. More information on Eucalyptus .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 52 ft. 6 in. | Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Horizontal
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Blue; Gray/Silver; Green; White
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Orbicular
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Fragrant; Good Cut; Good Dried
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Young leaves resemble large coins, hence the common name of “silver dollar tree”. Juvenile leaves opposite, simple, orbicular, entire, glaucous, sessile, blue-green or ash-colored. Adult leaves alternate, simple, broadly lanceolate, acuminate, thick, glaucous, petiolate, blue-green, 3-4.5".
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; White
Flower form
Umbel
Flower shape
Bell
Flower detail
Small white clusters of blooms, each flower having many stamens. An umbel, axillary. Flowers (3) creamy-white to yellow, small.
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Capsule contains many seeds
Bark color
Light Gray
Bark detail
Bark peels on small stems, but becomes stringy on the trunk. Bark of younger branches is red-brown to gray, smooth, on older branches is rough, fibrous, red-brown.