The Western Australian Flowering Gum

Eucalypts still constitute a very large proportion of the Australian vegetation, despite widespread large-scale clearing. It has been estimated that about 90% of remnant and regrowth forests are Eucalyptus dominant.

The number of species and varieties which botanists recognise varies but there are over 450 more or less distinct forms, and they are found literally in every corner of our continent.

The characteristics used to distinguish these species include the form of the tree, its bark, foliage, flowers, fruit and seeds. This can be difficult as many are closely related so where they are growing must be another marker.

Western Australian eucalypts (Eucalyptus ficifolia) are generally more colourful than those elsewhere, and for this reason, many have been adapted by different horticultural means to be planted far from their natural habitat.

Hybridisation and grafting onto sturdy rootstock are the most usual, and most Western Australian Flowering Gums in our region will be on rootstock selected for its ability to thrive in heavy soils with high summer rainfall and humidity.

This is totally different from their natural range in dry sandy soils with winter rainfall and hot, dry summers.

Interestingly, Eucalypts are almost impossible to propagate from cuttings so cultivars are few.

The International Rules of Botanical Nomenclature attempt to standardise common names but, with such an enormous number, apart from the reclassification of some previously known as ‘gums’ as Corymbia, it is an ongoing process.

Eucalyptus ficifolia can produce red, pink or even white flowers within the same classification, but they all exhibit the same smallish, stubby form. Rarely growing higher than four to five metres, they can make spectacular street trees and the gumnuts are large and distinctive.

I grew up in Perth and gumnut fights were part of childhood in nearby suburban bush, where boys and girls engaged in regular peltings, protecting cubby houses from the enemy. They really hurt when they connected!

When selecting a planting site, Eucalyptus ficifolia must have the best possible drainage and full sun for the best flowering. They set large sprays of buds in November each year that will gradually open until late February or March. Native bees and butterflies swarm from dawn to dusk and attract nectar-feeding birds that return each year, including many that we never usually see. They can take several years to flower and require no feeding because they naturally do best in poor soils.

As a small to medium-sized tree, they can be planted more widely as they give a wonderful display and make spectacular street trees.

Carole Gamble