Family: Myrtaceae

Origin, Description & Uses:
Eucalyptus caesia, commonly known as silver princess, is a small ornamental tree native to Western Australia. It is highly valued for its striking appearance, featuring smooth, silvery-white bark that peels in ribbons, graceful weeping branches, and round bluish-gray leaves. The tree produces large, showy pink to red flowers with prominent stamens, followed by decorative woody seed capsules. Due to its unique color and form, silver princess is widely planted in landscapes, botanical gardens, and as a specimen tree, especially in dry or Mediterranean-style gardens. It is also appreciated for its drought tolerance once established.

Risks & Threats:
Silver princess is considered a low-risk species and is not known to be invasive. It typically does not spread aggressively and has limited natural regeneration outside of cultivated settings. While it may produce seeds, these generally do not lead to widespread establishment. As with many eucalyptus species, it may pose minor concerns such as leaf litter or potential fire risk in very dry environments, but these are manageable with proper care. Overall, Eucalyptus caesia is regarded as a safe and attractive choice for ornamental planting when used appropriately.

High Risk Traits:

• Congeneric weeds (several Eucalyptus are major weeds)
  
• Allelopathic
  
• Unpalatable to grazers
  
• Fire-prone
  
• Wide soil tolerance
  
• Readily produces viable seed
  
• Self-compatible
  
• Resprouts after disturbance (lignotuber)
  
• Widely cultivated (intentional spread)
  
• Wind-dispersed seeds
  
• Prolific seed production
  
• Tolerates mutilation and fire

Low Risk Traits:

• Not naturalized
  
• No spines or thorns
  
• Non-toxic
  
• No major pests or pathogens
  
• Open growth (no dense thickets)
  
• Slow to mature (5+ years)
  
• No persistent seed bank
  
• Few dispersal mechanisms (no water, bird, or animal dispersal)