Eucalyptus gregsoniana
Also known as E. pauciflora 'Nana' and the Wolgan Snow Gum.
A truly small Eucalyptus species that will not outgrow its mature size of around 6-7m (18 feet). Short term it will form a small tree of around 12 feet - an excellent choice for the smaller garden with normal to free-draining soils. Call us on 0751 5261511 for assistance in choosing your Eucalyptus
Why we like this variety:-
- A truly small Eucalyptus species that will not outgrow its mature size of around 6-7m (18 feet). Short term it will form a small tree of around 12 feet and will not exceed 18ft with a light airey canopy
- If grown as a multi-stem it can be kept even smaller than 18 feet
- Good ornamental smooth silvery creamy bark
- Very well behaved and manageable specimen for small gardens and courtyards
Botanical Name: Eucalyptus gregsoniana (syn. E. pauciflora ssp 'Nana') Family: Myrtaceae
Common Name: Wolgan Snow Gum, Mallee Snow Gum
Status: Evergreen Tree
Origin: The Blue Mountains, Budawang Range and South of Braidwood in south-eastern New South Wales
Named gregsoniana after Eucalyptus enthusiasts, the Gregsons, a father and son from Mount Wilson, NSW.
Our Seed Source: Alpine region of New South Wales
Nursery Notes 2020: Spring
12 litre standards with heads forming - selection of heights available now and again Summer 2020
3 litre young stock ready again now
E. gregsoniana is one of the Eucalyptus that does not thrive in a smaller 1 litre pot, so minimum size available is 3 litre.
Most of our E gregsoniana are grown as single stem standards. Do enquire if you would like a multi-stemmed mallee - we'll see if we can select one for you out of the current stock
Description, habit, uses and attributes:
A small tree or multi-branched, slender-stemmed mallee, which is unique and unusual for a snow gum. It has a light, open airy habit and is ideal for a sheltered garden or coastal region. This species can be trained to maintain a single trunk, even though it is a mallee (multistemmed).
Training your standard tree: maintain a short bamboo cane to support the lower 1.2-1.5m of trunk whilst it is forming a head. Important - the cane must always be shorter than the top of the tree and use a triangular cane cap to protect the trunk. Use a short ground stake (600mm tall above ground) to prevent root rock during establishment; don't bang it through the root ball! Secure the tree to the stake using soft hessian ribbon tree tie; not a rubber tree belt, which will saw your tree in half.
Inspect your tree every March 18th (National Eucalyptus Day) and decide how much pruning you need to do. Trim back the head sometime between 18th March and 1st April - dry, non-snowy/frosty weather permitting. Keep it balanced and remove up to 4 to 6 inches (100-150mm) all over. During 1st week of June, reduce all new spring growth by up to 50% to encourage bushiness. With the passage of time, clean out any brittle old branches in the middle of the head to keep it open and airey.
Growing in a container: we often get asked how to grow E gregsoniana in a pot. It can be done, but you need to continue to grow it in an Air-pot container (see our guidance notes) and this needs to be placed in a very heavy ornamental pot to prevent your standard from being blown over in a high wind. Pot on gradually; dont be tempted to over pot in the first year. A 3 litre can be put into a 12 litre pot and from there into a 45 litre pot. A 5 litre young standard can be potted on into a 20 litre pot and from there into a 45 litre container or larger as required. Pot on between March and June, when watering becomes difficult, lots of roots are coming out of the air-pot bottom and the tree does not appear to be happy. Feed Spring and Summer with Chempak Number 4, high potassium fertiliser to keep the wood sturdy.
E. gregsoniana has a lignotuber at the base of the trunk. This 'body', full of dormant vegetative buds, is the tree's aid to survival, assisting regeneration after a crisis event, such as a fire, a hard winter or excessive grazing (by an animal with a strong constitution and no taste buds!). The lignotuber is activated by the removal or death of the top part of the plant, whereupon it produces a mass of vigorous new shoots, which grow up to form the new tree.
Part of the pauciflora group of Eucalypts, E. gregsoniana is often classified as E. pauciflora ssp. Nana
The native habitat of E. gregsoniana is high altitude locations, where it can be seen growing in alpine mallee groups amongst other shrubs; along ridges, on hills and flat land with free-draining soil.BIOMETRICS:
Shoots 'n' Leaves: New buds are a bright emerald green. Young stems are burgundy wine red, sometimes with shades of tangerine.
Juvenile foliage: long slender olive green leaves
Adult foliage: Glossy slender willow-like leaves of dark olive green, hang in attractive bunches from slender weeping crimson branchlets. Each leaf is approximately 70-100 mm long and 10-25 mm wide, with prominent parallel venation.
Bark: Mature bark is silvery pewter grey, sometimes with sable or flecks of gold; peels beautifully in ribbons, to reveal smooth creamy white bark.
Flowers: White fluffy and very profuse, attractive pollinating insects, butterflies and bees. Flower clusters are sperical, a little larger than a golf ball carried in large numbers - flowers May/June - very impressive
Leaf Aroma: Typical Eucalyptus aroma
Rate of Growth: Slow growing at 1m per year, responds well to having its head pruned.
Height in maturity, if left unpruned: Short term around 12 feet. It will not exceed 18-20 feet when mature
Hardiness: Not generally as hardy as other snow gums, but should be generally good down to -8°C, possibly down to -12°C, when mature. One of the varieties that is best in the more southerly counties of England (draw a line across the country east from Gloucester), West coast of England and Scotland or if you are a Garden Pioneer - a sheltered garden anywhere else - give it a go.
It may be worth providing a newly planted young tree with a horticultural fleece tent for the very coldest times in a very cold winter.
Planting Position and Soil Preference: Frost and wind hardy, E. gregsoniana prefers dry, sunny locations. Tolerates most free draining garden soils. Does not like winter wet and very boggy ground. Sunny open aspect, no shade from overhanging or neighbouring trees or buildings. Benefits from some shelter and not getting battered by strong winds in an exposed location.