Species: Myrtaceae, myrtle family

Description: Evergreen trees, some small and shrub-like, others tall. Leathery aromatic foliage.

Varieties: E. cinerea, silver dollar eucalyptus. Seedlings grow fast first year, reaching 3 feet, maturing into 25-40 feet tall trees with fibrous, reddish stems filled with 1-2 inch rounded leaves; colors green, blue and silver; feel sticky and have an aroma. Hardy to Zone 9. Marginally hardy in Hampton Roads if given protection; typically dies back to roots and returns.

E. citriodora, lemon-scented gum. Strong lemon scent when crushed.

E. globulus, blue gum eucalyptus. Slender, lance-shaped 6-inch leaves have leathery texture and strong aroma. Makes fragrant houseplant. Oil from leaves used as an antiseptic and in cough drops.

Culture: Full sun with some protection. Tolerates all soils.

Uses: Harvest anytime fall or winter. To preserve, put stalks in two inches of solution of 2 parts glycerine to one part hot water and some green food coloring, stripping lower leaves, says Wendy Wells of Capt. Morgan's Herb Farm Mathews. Let stand in solution for 10 days, refilling as stalks take up mixture. Hang to dry. Can be air dried but will be brittle; use in holiday potpourris. Or, cut fresh and fill rooms with fragrance. Makes wonderful house plants, says Wendy. Indoors, use minimum fertilizer; needs wet-dry watering cycles.