Scientific name: Eucalyptus pauciflora
Family: MYRTACEAE
Common names: “Snow gum”
Plant Type: Evergreen tree
Conditions:
Zone: 8-10
Light: Full sun
Exposure: Sheltered from strong winds
Soil: Fertile slightly acidic
Moisture: Drought is best
Aesthetic:
Plant Size: 25′ H & W , fast growing
Leaf and Stem shape: Dusky aromatic lance shaped mature leaves, rounded and stemless when juvenile, smooth grey and white bark sheds annually
Flower: Fluffy cream umbels of stamens in the summer
Pruning: Thinning cuts are best as heading back leads to weak brittle sprouts, will grow back from a full coppice
Maintenance: Low, do not fertilize, don’t transplant, pot-bound trees should be avoided as the tree will never recover, plant trees when 6-8″ tall max
Landscape use: Specimen tree, architectural
Propagate: By seed
Pests & Disease: None in Victoria
Comments: Forms a mycorrhizal association with “false truffle” fungus, oils from the tree are commonly used to clear nasal congestion, the leaves can be used to make a relaxing aromatic bath, native to Australia
Cultivars: E. p. subsp. niphophyla & E. p. subsp. debeuzevillei ~AGM winners – the hardiest in cold climates