- Mature height
- 5m to 20m (approx.)
- Mature width
- 3m to 10m
Eucalyptus pauciflora, the Snow Gum, is an evergreen native known for twisting limbs and remarkable bark. The smooth trunk peels in ribbons to leave streaks of cream, grey, olive and rust that change through the year. Thick grey green leaves hang from a rounded spreading crown, and white flowers cover the tree in the warm months.
It grows in full sun to part shade in most soils, including cold heavy ground that defeats other eucalypts. Frost hardy in the fullest sense, it survives heavy repeated frost and snow, and tolerates drought once established. Growth is moderate at 0.5 to 1 metre a year. Alpine, tableland and cool temperate districts suit it best.
It works as a feature in gardens and courtyards, in avenue and street planting at 3 metres apart, in park and civic landscapes, and in revegetation on cold sites. The modest size and sculptural trunk make it one of the few gums genuinely suited to a domestic garden where the bark can be seen up close.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Snow Gum
What is a Snow Gum?
Snow Gum is Eucalyptus pauciflora, an Australian native from the high country of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. It is the tree you see growing above the snowline, with contorted limbs and smooth patterned bark in cream, grey and rust. It is smaller and more ornamental than most eucalypts, which is why gardeners plant it.
How big does Eucalyptus pauciflora grow?
It ranges from 4 to 15 metres tall and 3 to 10 metres wide, depending on how exposed the site is. In cold windy high country it stays low and gnarled at the smaller end of that range, while in sheltered garden conditions it grows into a taller tree with a broad irregular crown. Both forms are handsome.
Where does it grow best in Australia?
It is at its best in cool and cold districts: the Snowy Mountains, the New South Wales tablelands, the Victorian high country, the Adelaide Hills and most of Tasmania. It also grows well in Melbourne, Canberra and Hobart gardens. Hot humid subtropical climates do not suit it, and growth there is poor and short lived.
Does it tolerate frost and snow?
Yes, comprehensively. This is one of the hardiest eucalypts in the country, growing at altitudes where snow lies for weeks and frost is heavy and frequent. It survives that without damage, and the cold seems to improve the colour and character of the bark. Young plants establish reliably even in cold exposed positions.
When does it flower?
It flowers from late spring into summer, roughly November through January, with clusters of small fluffy white flowers scattered right through the canopy. Bees and nectar feeding birds work them heavily. Flowering is generous in good seasons and lighter in dry ones, and the small woody fruits that follow persist on the tree afterwards.
Does it need sun or shade?
Full sun gives the best form, the densest canopy and the strongest bark colour, and that is the position to aim for. It also grows in part shade, though the habit becomes more open and the trunk stretches. Give it an exposed windy spot if you have one, since wind is part of what produces the twisted branching.
How do I care for a Snow Gum?
Water through the first two summers, then leave it to rain in most cool districts. Mulch the root zone, keeping it clear of the trunk. Prune only to remove damaged wood or lift the canopy, since the natural branch shape is the reason for growing it. Avoid high phosphorus fertilisers, and feed lightly in spring if at all.