Eucalyptus Mount Bogong- Dwarf Alpine Snow Gum – 1 of our absolute Favourites

Description Eucalyptus Mount Bogong Eucalyptus p. niphophila ‘Mt Bogong’ or rather to give the tree its full and very weighty name (!) ?…Eucalyptus pauciflora subspecies niphophila ‘Mt Bogong’ – Dwarf Alpine Snow Gum but in the nursery it is affectionately just known as Bogong, is the best known of the six ‘pauciflora’ sub-species; deemed to be one of the most hardy of all Eucalypts and moderately slow growing. After taking a  few years to establish, diligently putting down its roots, this snow gum will grow a little faster. Mount Bogong makes for a superb ornamental tree, with the classic Snow Gum bark and foliage. As a smaller, slower species it will also be a good candidate for life in a raised planter, pot or container. Being highly ornamental with beautiful bark, it is a valuable addition to any winter garden plant grouping. Being tough and tolerant of difficult growing conditions it is useful as a large open evergreen screen (loose hedge) with attractive bark detail.   It can be planted out in farmland and used for wild life protection and game cover, where, for example, pine trees may be suffering from disease problems. Hop across to the ‘How to Use’ Tab to see how you can enjoy and deploy this spectacular and rare tree in your landscape Visit the ‘Planting and Soil’ Tab to learn about the preferred growing conditions for Eucalyptus ‘Mount Bogong’ Biometrics for Eucalyptus Mount Bogong Shoots ‘n Leaves: The young shoots are very attractive being glaucous (covered in wax) to protect them against the harsh weather conditions. Juvenile Foliage: Matt, French-blue to olive-green, ovate, 2.5–7.5 cm long, 2–3.5 cm wide. Adult Foliage: Typical long spear shaped to sickle shaped Eucalyptus leaf, about 5-10 cm long and 1.2 – 3 cm wide, in matt olive-green to a deep French-blue colour. Bark:  Outstanding!  One of the best features of Eucalyptus Mount Bogong.  Striking smooth bark in chalk white to clotted cream with applique of seal grey, foxy red, olive green and copper pink shades; gently peels in the summer to reveal stunning new white bark beneath. Flowers: Held in groups of 9-15 (can be less), white and smelling of honey, buds covered in white wax. The total group of flowers grows to about the size of a golf ball. Loved by honey bees. Leaf Aroma: Typical Eucalyptus aroma when crushed, not overly strong. Snow gums don’t need a great deal of Eucalyptol as a defence against pests as they live in a cold environment, where pests are not such a problem. Rate of Growth:  Slow at 1 meter or less per year. Height in maturity, if left unpruned: Predicted to be in the region of 5-8m. Can be tip pruned in spring and early summer to control shoot extension growth.  Given a mild climate and perfect soil conditions, this subspecies may grow taller, so it may be worth pruning every few years to control its overall height. Drier soils will restrict growth and reduce the likelihood of this tree becoming very tall. Unless you are growing for cut foliage, please refrain from voluntarily electing to prune your Eucalyptus Mount Bogong from August through to February; it can kill it. To receive monthly pruning and aftercare advice, sign up to our Gumnut Club – its free and you can unsubscribe at any time.  To subscribe – just call or ping us an email to [email protected] Click here for further advice on pruning can be found in our Guidance Notes Click here to visit our pruning video Hardiness:  once mature, Eucalyptus Mount Bogong is one of the hardiest  species of Eucalyptus with root-system tolerating down to ranges of -12°C to -18°C – increases with age. Hardiness in Eucalyptus is governed by provenance of seed (all our seed is sourced from frosty or cold locations) how it is grown (i.e. high nitrogen levels reduces cold tolerance), the age of the tree – the older your tree, the hardier it will be. Younger Eucs are more susceptible to frost damage. how long it has been planted in the ground. The deeper you can encourage the rooting by digging a deep planting pit at the time of installation, the quicker your tree will establish and you will increase its ability to survive cold winters. See our planting notes for more details. For more information on how to help increase the hardiness of your Eucalyptus – click here to visit our Guidance Notes