Eucalyptus olivacea ‘Summer Scentsation'

Summer Scentsation (Eucalyptus olivacea 'Summer Scentsation') is a small mallee style gum from southern Western Australia, growing to about 6m tall and 4m wide. It was selected for its perfume: cream to white blossom opens through summer and scents the air around it, drawing bees, butterflies and honeyeaters. For a dry temperate or Mediterranean garden that needs a native tree at a manageable size, this is a strong choice.

Why you'll love it

• Blossom you can smell. Few eucalypts are grown for fragrance, and this one carries scent across a courtyard through the summer flowering.
• A gum that stays small. At around 6m it fits a suburban block, unlike the forest species people regret planting.
• Hard to kill on tough sites. Frost hardy, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, salt tolerant and content in poor soil.
• Habitat value. Flowering brings bees and butterflies through the warm months and nectar feeding birds follow them in.

Where it works best

Informal screening. Plant 3m apart in a single row for a loose screen that filters a view and moves in wind rather than forming a hard wall.

Coastal gardens. Salt tolerance and wind firmness suit exposed coastal blocks in temperate and Mediterranean districts.

Feature planting and windbreaks. A single tree carries a garden on its own, and a staggered double row at 3m spacing filters hot dry wind across a boundary.

Growing Summer Scentsation in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, always. It belongs in warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid to semi arid gardens, and it is frost hardy. It dislikes hot wet summers, so humid subtropical and tropical east coast gardens are the wrong home for it and a local rainforest species will do better there.

Soil. Drainage is everything. Sandy, gravelly and poor soils suit it; heavy clay that stays wet in winter does not, so plant on a raised mound if that is what you have. Mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Water deeply once a week through the first two summers, then leave it to rainfall. Feeding is optional and best kept light, since rich soil and heavy fertiliser produce soft growth that snaps in wind.

Pruning. Very little is required. Shorten long shoots on young trees to build a sturdy frame, and remove any crossing or damaged branches in late winter before the growing season starts.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in 400mm, which is an established young tree with a formed trunk and a light head of growth. Eucalypts establish best when planted small and left to get their roots down, so resist the urge to overwater or overfeed in the first year. Expect slow visible progress for a few months, then quick extension once the roots are away, with flowering usually following in the second or third summer. Plants are delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, with a minimum order of $300 before delivery and our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• A guide to fragrant plants for the garden
• Browse Australian native trees
• Plants for coastal and exposed gardens
• Shop bee and butterfly plants

Common questions

How big does it get?

About 6m tall and 4m wide, which is small for a eucalypt. It stays multi stemmed and shrubby in habit rather than developing a single tall trunk.

Will it grow on the humid east coast?

It struggles with hot wet summers, so subtropical and tropical coastal gardens are not suited. Drier inland and southern gardens are where it performs.

How far apart for a screen?

3m apart in a single row. That gives each tree room to fill out while the crowns still overlap enough to break a sightline.

Is it safe near a house?

At this size it is far more manageable than a forest gum, though like any eucalypt it can shed small branches in storms. Plant it clear of the roofline and keep the crown open rather than crowded.