Eucalyptus pulverulenta

Eucalyptus pulverulenta, also known as the Mountain Silver Gum, native to New South Wales, is much rarer in cultivation than its cultivar 'Baby Blue', although it surpasses it in terms of robustness and hardiness. It is a mallee-type eucalyptus, which can be grown as a small tree with a single trunk or a large bush formed by multiple stems from its stump. Its spring flowering in creamy white pompoms sandwiched between its leaves is evident on young subjects and its bark, a whitish-grey colour with brown rings, is not without appeal. This gum tree combines many qualities: it is not too bulky, quite cold-resistant, highly ornamental, and more tolerant of soil than most Eucalyptus.

Eucalyptus pulverulenta belongs to the Myrtaceae family. This botanical species is naturally present in scattered populations in central and southern New South Wales, Australia. It is found in wooded meadows, on slopes, plateaus, and mountain stations. With a modest stature for the genus, this gum tree is distinguished by its disordered habit, which is more or less round to pyramidal, its smooth bark, and its crown almost exclusively composed of juvenile leaves. Depending on whether it grows as a tree or a clump, and depending on the growing conditions, this eucalyptus can reach heights between 3 and 8 metres. Its growth is quite rapid.

The foliage of this powdery eucalyptus is evergreen in winter and aromatic when crushed. The small juvenile leaves, with a green-blue-silvery colour, and rounded shape, completely sheath the stems. They are arranged in an opposite and dense manner on the branches. The adult leaves are lanceolate, pointed, and of the same blue-silvery colour. Leaves, young stems, and inflorescences are all covered with a white powder that gives a great luminosity to the entire vegetation, especially in spring. It is this white bloom that earned the species its name "pulverulenta". Flowering occurs between May and June in our climates, on plants aged 3 or 4 years. They are actually spherical inflorescences, gathering a multitude of petal-less flowers, composed solely of creamy white stamens tightly packed like pompoms. They bloom between the leaves, grouped in threes along the branches and are followed by the formation of large green cone-shaped fruits, also covered with powder, which turn brown when ripe. The bark, which presents a ringed pattern from a young age, peels off in large strips over the years. It is grey-white speckled with brown. Eucalyptus pulverulenta, like all mallees from Australia, tolerates pruning very well, even close to the ground: the plant has a well-developed lignotuber (swollen reserve organ, with numerous dormant buds) at the collar. This organ allows it to vigorously regrow after frost, fire, or severe pruning. It is possible to train this eucalyptus to a single trunk, keeping only the most beautiful stem that emerges from the stump.

Eucalyptus pulverulenta also tolerates both oceanic and semi-arid climates, its cold resistance is limited to short, late-night frosts, around -10/-12°C (14/10.4°F) (or even -14°C (6.8°F) according to some sources), if planted in well-draining soil. Eucalyptus trees are often considered heavy water consumers, even in winter, contributing to soil drying. Generally, mallee-type species with lignotubers withstand dry summers once well-rooted. The frost resistance of eucalyptus trees depends on their age (young specimens are more susceptible to frost), soil moisture, and consequently the water content of their tissues, the more or less abrupt arrival of cold weather, and their ability to recover, among other factors.

The Mountain Silver Gum works well in scenes dominated by white or silver. It brings a fantastically bright touch of light to the garden when planted as a hedge or as a solitary specimen. It can be associated with Callistemons, Leptospermums, mimosas, evergreen ceanothuses... Easy to maintain, it does not require pruning, but it can be cut back very short to remain compact and bushy. Lastly, it is a nectar-rich plant, elegant and luminous at all stages of its growth, both as a young and adult plant, whose branches are magnificent in bouquets. The ideal climate for this small tree is at the seaside (at least 100 metres (328 feet) from the shore), where cold spells are short-lived and rarely severe.