Cab Sav Hardy Eucalyptus Tree

Eucalyptus rubida ‘Cab Sav’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6a-11 Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Tree (May be semi-deciduous in colder climates)

Height at Maturity: 40-50′ or more

Width at Maturity: 30’+

Spacing: 20-25′ for solid screen; 60 feet or more for space between trees

Growth Habit / Form: Broad, Upright

Growth Rate: Fast

Flower Color: White

Flowering Period: Summer

Foliage Color: Soft Silver-Blue

Fragrant Foliage: Yes, strong typical Eucalyptus aroma

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Part Shade

Water Needs: Average, Low when established

Soil Type: Clay (Amended), Loam, Sand, Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained

Soil pH: 5.5 to 6.5 (Moderate to Slightly Acid)

Maintenance / Care: Very Low when left in it’s natural form

Attracts: Visual Attention, Songbirds, Bees

Resistances: Deer – more info, Disease, Heat, Insect, Drought

Description

Nick-named ‘Cab Sav’ for the complexity and smoothness, Eucalyptus rubida “Cab Sav” is an attractive large ornamental evergreen tree that is widely distributed throughout Australia’s high country. It has smooth white peeling bark, often with some pinkish or salmon patches, especially in cool moist climates. Its small clusters of white flowers are highly sought after by honey bees. Abundant, juvenile foliage is a distinctive soft blue, spade shaped, fragrant and excellent in any floral or dried flower arrangement. It’s bark is smooth throughout and white to burgundy to red-brown.

In McDonough, Georgia, a 10 month old tree had minimal leaf damage after a brutal winter (2013/2014) where temps reached 6 degrees. In Atlanta, Georgia a 10 month old tree froze to the ground in 5 degrees but has recovered nicely growing 5-7′ in that same year.

Landscape & Garden Uses

‘Cab Sav’ is fast growing and both consistent and beautiful, at maturity reaching well over 50 feet in height, making it the tallest grower of all cold hardy Eucalyptus trees and a fine specimen shade tree. Can also be grown in large containers and prunes well for size control.

Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a, where this Eucalyptus variety is not reliably winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.

Growing Preferences

‘Cab Sav’ grows well in all soil types, is disease resistant, long-lived, tolerant of dry climates, is highly rated for its cold hardiness, prefers full to mostly sun, and stands up to strong winds. With all these attributes, it’s no wonder this variety is so popular. ‘Cab Sav responds well to pruning for size control.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant, prune, fertilize and water a Eucalyptus tree.

How To Plant & Care For A Eucalyptus Tree

Plant Long & Prosper!

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Couldn’t be happier, as two little ones didn’t make it through shipping. The larger size really seems to have helped get it all the way to New Mexico in excellent shape. It arrived very quickly, but being fall, I decided it will stay in a container through this first winter in a greenhouse. May have been wise, as we had an early frost down to 23F! ————————- WBG Reply: Hi Thomas – Thanks so much for your review of the Cab Sav Eucalyptus and we hope you enjoy this magnificent tree for years to come. Also, congratulations on winning the $50 Weekly Gift Card Giveaway this past week (11/19/2018)! Let us know if there’s ever anything else we can help you with. We’re at your service. – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens

Anticipated the delivery….and unpacked the plants…they are great!

Very nice tree. I have 6 other kinds of Eucs growing in my landscape. This one looks different than all the others so I’m excited to have added it to the collection. Didn’t know there were “cold hardy” varieties. If this one does good I’ll be back to buy other varieties in this collection. Thanks!

Very Nice . Came fast and very secure in the box