Flowering Gums

In Don's opinion, 'Summer Beauty' and 'Summer Red' are the best flowering gum trees ever released. These plants were specially bred for the home garden. They are hybrids between the West Australian red-flowering gum Eucalyptus ficifolia and the swamp bloodwood E. ptychocarpa.

Plant details

Common name: Flowering gum trees

Botanic name: Eucalyptus 'Summer Red' and Eucalyptus 'Summer Beauty'

Description: Hardy hybrid gums which produce masses of flowers in summer, and will probably grow in time to about 8 metres (20-30'). 'Summer Beauty' is a musk stick pink, and 'Summer Red' is cerise red. The foliage is an attractive bronze colour.

Best climate: The trees should do well in most areas of Australia, and are also worth a try in cooler zones such as Hobart and the mountains. They are drought and frost tolerant once established.

Best look:

ideal small gum tree for the home garden can be pruned and kept to shrub size if required suitable for large pots

Good points:

good form and size predictable flower colours bird and bee attracting they grow in a wide variety of habitats and soils

Care:

Protect young plants from frost. Prune after flowering if required to maintain form and bushiness. Fertilise with a low phosphorus plant food such as Osmocote for natives.

Getting started:

We filmed 'Summer Red' and 'Summer Beauty' at the NSW State Forests Nursery, Pennant Hills, NSW. Phone: (02) 9871 3222.

Check with your local native nursery. If they don't have the plants in stock they will be able to order them in for you. Grafted plants in 200mm (8") pots cost around $30. You can also purchase plants by mail order (the price quoted does not include postage) from Fairhill Native Plants, Yandina, QLD. Phone: (07) 5446 7088.

Copyright CTC Productions 2000