Flooded Gum

Flooded Gum (Eucalyptus grandis) is one of the fastest large trees native to eastern Australia, settling at around 20m tall and 10m wide on a garden site. The trunk is the drawcard: smooth, pale and almost white, running straight up to a high open crown. It is also unusually tolerant of wet ground, a genuine option for the damp corner of a paddock.

Why you'll love it

• It gets there quickly. Few Australian natives put on height as fast, so a bare block reads as an established landscape within years rather than decades.
• It takes wet feet. Seasonally waterlogged ground, creek flats and drainage lines suit it, which rules out most alternatives of this size.
• A pale, striking trunk. The bark sheds to a smooth white or blue grey column, an effect worth having whether you plant one or a row.
• Serious bird habitat. White blossom feeds honeyeaters and lorikeets, and older trees form the hollows that nesting birds depend on.

Where it works best

Shade and shelter on acreage. This is a large open site tree. Give it 15m of clearance in every direction, well away from buildings, driveways, paving and underground services.

Windbreaks and avenues. Plant 8m to 10m apart in a row for a shelter belt or a long driveway. The high crown means you get shelter and scale rather than screening at eye level.

Growing Flooded Gum in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun and plenty of room. It belongs to tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, and takes light frost only, so cold inland districts, the tablelands and hard frosting southern gardens are out of range. Humidity and coastal wind suit it well.

Soil. Deep, moist soil produces the fastest growth, and it copes with heavy ground and periodic waterlogging better than almost any tree its size. It is less happy on shallow, dry, sandy sites where growth slows and the crown thins.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers, then leave it to find its own water. No feeding is needed, and pushing a fast tree harder with nitrogen only produces brittle wood.

Pruning. Select one leader in the first two or three years and remove competing stems, because a single strong trunk matters on a tree this tall. Like all big eucalypts it drops bark and limbs, so it needs periodic arborist inspection near anything valuable.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in 400mm pots and 100L. The 400mm size is the sensible buy for most plantings, since a fast tree closes the gap on a larger one within two or three seasons and is far easier to plant and stake. The 100L is worth it only where you want immediate height from day one.

Trees are staked and travel upright. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, delivered Australia wide with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Expect a quiet first few months, then rapid extension through the second and third summers. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The best canopy trees to create shade
• Compare Australian native trees
• Fast growing shade trees
• Plants suited to windbreaks and shelter belts

Common questions

Is it too big for a suburban backyard?

Almost certainly. At about 20m tall with a 10m crown and a vigorous root system, it needs acreage or a large open site. For a standard block, choose a smaller native tree instead.

How close to the house can I plant it?

No closer than 15m, and further is better. The roots are strong enough to lift paving and find pipes, and mature trees shed bark and limbs.

Will it grow in a boggy spot?

Yes, within reason. It tolerates seasonal waterlogging and damp flats far better than most large trees, though permanently standing water will still kill it.

Does it handle frost?

Light frost only. Young trees are the most vulnerable, and a hard frost will burn new growth even once established, so it is not a choice for cold inland or southern gardens.