If you love the look and smell of eucalyptus but need something that stays manageable, this compact form ticks all the right boxes. It grows into a neat, bushy small tree with masses of rounded, silvery blue juvenile leaves that are richly aromatic and beautifully intense, especially when regularly pruned.

As it matures, the foliage shifts to a softer sage green with elegant, sickle-shaped leaves, though annual hard pruning in early spring keeps that standout juvenile growth coming. Eucalyptus gunnii ‘France Bleu’ is slow-growing for a eucalyptus, topping out at around 2m (6ft), which makes it a great fit for smaller gardens, courtyards, or large containers.

In autumn, delicate white flowers appear, adding seasonal interest and drawing in bees and other pollinators. Tough, highly prunable, and full of character, this well-behaved dwarf cultivated variety offers all the drama of eucalyptus foliage without the worry of excessive size, making it an easy, stylish choice for modern gardens.