EUCALYPTUS
The stately GumTree dominates the Australian landscape and is generally considered the basis of a native garden.
Many Eucalypts have deciduous bark, which reveals a shiny often-colourful trunk. Bloodwoods however have persistent fibrous bark with irregular cracks over the whole trunk. The flowers are borne in clusters; vary in colour from white to cream, and from pink to crimson. Honey eating birds flock to them. A few of them are an important source of food for Koalas and many other native fauna need them for nesting.
In the garden care should be taken not to plant them to close to the house and powerlines. Eucalyptus shed much bark and leaves which forms an important carpet of mulch. Recent grafting technics have enabled some of the lovely Western Australian species to be offered for Queensland gardens.
PLANT NAME | PLANT DESCRIPTION | PLANT IMAGE |
Eucalyptus bancroftii | TUMBLE-DOWN RED GUM Medium tree with a dense, spreading crown and a short, often twisted trunk. It has attractive smoot grey bark which is shed to reveal bright orange new bark. It produces fluffy white flowers in summer. Hardy in most sunny well drained situations. Height to 15m Spread to 10m | |
Eucalyptus cinerea | ARGYLE APPLE A tree for well drained soils.The leaves are a mealy white rounded shape useful for cut foliage. It retains a bushy habit if pruned hard. The height may be retained at approx 2m. Height 8m Width 3m SMALL TREE | |
Eucalytptus citriadora | LEMON-SCENTED GUM Tall, fast growing tree with a smooth grey trunk. It has narrow lanceshape leaves which have a delicious lemon fragrance. The oil distilled from the leaves is used to make perfumes and menthol. The hard, toch, easily worked timber is used in construction and for tool handles. Adapts to most wel drained situations. KOALA FOOD TREE Height 15-30m Spread 10-20m | |
Eucalyptus curtisii | PLUNKETT MALLEE Small tree prefering average to dry soils. Many clusters of creamy/white flowers in spring. Good specimen tree for gardens. Has a pendulous habit and a smooth grey barked trunk. Height 6m Width 2m SMALL TREE | |
Eucalyptus grandis | ROSE GUM Fast growing, tall tree with a straight, stout trunk and smooth whitish bark. It bears white flowers in autumn. An ornamental shade or shelter tree for large gardens or farms. It grows best in moist soil. Height 30-50m Spread 10-20m | |
Eucalyptus gummifera | RED BLOODWOOD Medium to large tree with lanceolate, dark green leaves is found in coastal areas from S.E.-Qld to east Victoria. Cream to White bird attracting flowers from Decmber into April. This gum is a good source of honey and pollen and for durable timber. Fast growing in most well drained soils. Height 20-30m Spread 10-20m | |
Eucalyptus intermedia | PINK BLOODWOOD Medium to tall tree - much lower at the seaside - with rough brown bark and a dense crown of glossy green leaves. Showy, Large clusters of White flowers attract Nectar feeding birds and are important for Honey Production. Requires well drained soil. Height 10-25m Spread 5-15m | |
Eucalyptus leucoxylon red | YELLOW GUM Attractive small to medium tree with a moderately dense to spreading crown. It has smooth cream to bluish grey bark - rough and dark at the base. It blooms profusely in winter with clusters of fluffy white to pink or red flowers. Requires a sunny well drained situation. Height 8-12m Spread 5-8m | |
Eucalyptus maculata | SPOTTED GUM Tall tree with a widely spreading shady crown of dark green leaves. Smooth cream to grey-blue spotted bark. Hardy, fast growing, suitable for stock shelter or acreage planting. Average to well drained soil. Koala food tree. Bird attracting. Fragrant White flowers. Height 20-30m Spread 10 to 20m | |
Eucalyptus nicholii | WILLOW PEPPERMINT Medium tree with a spreading canopy of narrow, drooping leaves and a stout trunk covered with fibrous, furrowed bark. A most ornamental tree in cooler climates. But it is not hardy subtropical coastal districts. Height to 12m Spread to 10m | |
Eucalyptus phoenicia | SCARLET GUM Slender, often multi-stemmed tree for dryer areas. Large heads of orange flowers in late autumn to winter. The fibrous orange bark is also a feature of this tree. Does best in sunny dry positions. Height 4 to 6m Spread to 3 | |
Eucalyptus ptychocarpa | SWAMP BLOODWOOD Often amulti-stemmed tree for average to moist soils. Large heads of red, pink or sometimes white flowers in clusters in spring and summer. Because they are seed grown the flowercolour is unreliable. Height 8m Width 3m TALL TREE | |
Eucalyptus 'Summer Beauty' (Grafted) | A bushy tree for average soil in full sun. Spectacular trusses of large, pink flowers with gold tipped stamens and yellow centres in summer. Red new foliage. Has been grafted onto a reliable root stock. Height 6m Width 3m TALL TREE | |
Eucalyptus 'Summer Glory' (Grafted) | A hybrid gum tree of selected flowering Eucalyptus from W.A. and N.T. which is grafted onto hardy rootstock. Bunches of mauve flowers occur in summer. Height 6m Width 3m TALL TREE | |
Eucalyptus 'Summer Red' (Grafted) | A hybrid gum tree which is grafted onto hardy rootstock. Bunches of cerise coloured flowers occur in summer. Judicious pruning after flowering will help in bring out new flushes of red leaves. Height approx 4m TALL TREE | |
Eucalyptus tesselaris | MORETON BAY ASH A tall tree with a weeping habit. The bark on the lower part of the trunk is tesselated and smooth above. Useful for sea-side planting and inland. Grows to 20m tall TALL TREE |