Snow gum Eucalyptus pauciflora

Of the 750 Eucalyptus species very few are as hardy as the snow gum. Native to the Snowy Mountains in Australia, this evergreen can survive temperatures as low as -20° centigrade and has attractive white flowers in summer.

Say the word 'eucalyptus' and many people will instantly think of koalas and the smell of the tree's oil. However, Eucalyptus is not a single species but an entire genus with almost 750 species.

Aside from a few exceptions from Papua New Guinea and Indonesia and one from the Philippines, Eucalyptus is native exclusively to Australia. The oil extracted from its leaves has numerous medicinal uses but can be toxic in large quantities. Koalas and some possums are tolerant to its effects, which is just as well as the koala feeds on virtually nothing but eucalypt leaves.

The snow gum or Eucalyptus pauciflora is no ordinary eucalyptus, as its native habitat reveals. Found primarily on ground above 1300m, it is particularly prevalent in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales and in the colder, more easterly areas of Victoria, as well as on Tasmania.

Its ability to prosper in snow and ice makes it one of the hardiest Eucalyptus species and has been known to survive at temperatures of -20° centigrade. Instead of shedding its leaves in winter, this evergreen allows the weight of the snow to bend its branches, and in so doing, dislodges the snow.

It is a hugely adaptable tree and as well as being able to cope with the freezing conditions of the Australian Alps, it can also survive in shallow rocky soils in exposed dry areas. It tends to grow slowly but can reach a height of 18m (60ft).