Snow gum Eucalyptus pauciflora
Snow gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Myrtaceae family, native to South-eastern Australia and Tasmania, up to the tree line of the Australian Alps. It grows 5–15 m (16–49 ft) tall and 5–10 m (16–33 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -18 °C (0 °F). Space plants about 8 m (26 ft) apart.
Plan Snow gum in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Snow gum at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Myrtaceae |
| Mature height | 5–15 m (16–49 ft) |
| Mature spread | 5–10 m (16–33 ft) |
| Spacing | 8 m (26 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 5–7 |
| Cold hardiness | About -18 °C (0 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 6) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 34 °C (93 °F) |
| Flowering | about 261–417 weeks after planting, for 4–7 weeks |
| Wind tolerance | High |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | South-eastern Australia and Tasmania, up to the tree line of the Australian Alps |
| Common in gardens of | 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇳🇿 New Zealand, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇩🇪 Germany |
Is Snow gum toxic?
- People: mildly toxic
- Cats: mildly toxic
- Dogs: mildly toxic
- Parts: leaves, essential oil
Eucalyptus oil is poisonous if swallowed (drooling, vomiting, drowsiness); keep the oil away from children and pets.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Snow gum
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
Keep apart or take care
- caution With Guava: Myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) infects guava, feijoa, Surinam cherry and many other Myrtaceae; it spreads by airborne spores between them. Evidence B
Questions about Snow gum
- How far apart should I plant Snow gum?
- About 8 m (26 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 5–10 m (16–33 ft).
- Does Snow gum need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Snow gum need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Snow gum?
- It tolerates about -18 °C (0 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 6.
- When does Snow gum flower?
- About 261–417 weeks after planting, for 4–7 weeks.
- Is Snow gum poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is mildly toxic; for dogs mildly toxic; for people mildly toxic. Eucalyptus oil is poisonous if swallowed (drooling, vomiting, drowsiness); keep the oil away from children and pets.
- What grows well with Snow gum?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Snow gum. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- PlantNET: the NSW Flora Online, National Herbarium of New South Wales, Botanic Gardens of Sydney
- RHS Find a Plant (plant profiles and growing guides), Royal Horticultural Society
Notes and assumptions
- A crooked, often multi-stemmed gum of the high country with smooth white bark streaked with cream, grey and red, and glaucous leaves. One of the hardiest eucalypts (the alpine subsp. niphophila especially), so it is one of the few grown in British and northern European gardens.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Lemon myrtle Backhousia citriodora
- Guava Psidium guajava
- Feijoa Acca sellowiana
- Surinam cherry (pitanga) Eugenia uniflora
- Cider gum (eucalyptus) Eucalyptus gunnii
- Lilly pilly Syzygium smithii
- Crimson bottlebrush Melaleuca citrina
- Mānuka (tea tree) Leptospermum scoparium