The Miena Cider Gum – Tasmania’s Endangered Frost Forest Icon

Nestled in Tasmania’s rugged Central Highlands, the Miena Cider Gum (Eucalyptus gunnii subsp. divaricata) is a tree unlike any other. Endemic to just a few small pockets near the town of Miena, this rare eucalypt is not only beautiful—it holds cultural, historical, and ecological significance.

A Tree with a Sweet Secret

The tree gets its name from the unique, sugary sap it produces. In cooler months, the sap sometimes seeps from cracks in the bark and begins to ferment naturally, creating a sweet, mildly alcoholic drink once enjoyed by Tasmania’s Aboriginal people and early European settlers. This earned it the nickname "cider gum." The sap’s sweetness is also a magnet for wildlife—possums, insects, and even livestock are known to gnaw at the bark just for a taste.

Born for the Cold

Unlike many Australian trees, the Miena Cider Gum thrives in frost-prone hollows, growing in high-altitude valleys where the air gets icy cold. Its silver-blue leaves and striking, upright form make it a standout in the misty landscape. But this very adaptation—reliance on cold conditions—now puts it at risk.

A Species in Peril

Today, the Miena Cider Gum is listed as Endangered under both Tasmanian and Australian law. There are only five small, fragmented populations left, spanning just 40 to 50 hectares in total. Mature trees are dying off, and natural regeneration is alarmingly low.