Among the most cold-tolerant of eucalypts. Since its relatively recent introduction, it has started to attract interest from timber growers in north-west Europe, while its foliage is popular in floristry. Introduced 1959.

Native to alpine areas of New South Wales and Victoria in Australia.

Monoecious. Insect-pollinated. Tiny seeds are gravity- and wind-dispersed.

Large (40m), fast-growing and fairly columnar, forming a lignotuber. Bark smooth, white to grey-yellow, shedding ribbons, sometimes with horizontal black scars, fibrous at the base. Juvenile leaves round or cordate, opposite, silver-glaucous with pink tips, sessile and stem-clasping. Adult leaves lanceolate, often sickle-shaped, dull dark grey-green, hanging, on a 1-3cm pink-tinged petiole. Flowers three per umbel, short-stalked. Fruit capsule barrel-shaped, glaucous, with a convex disc.

Hardy to -15°C. Plant in moist, well-drained soils, avoiding frost hollows, and provide shelter, ideally in full sun. Among the least palatable of eucalypts to browsing deer.

No notable associations where introduced.

Bush fires threaten wild populations.

Ornamental tree for large spaces. Timber or biomass production. Foliage for florists.