Spotted Gum

Spotted Gum (Corymbia citriodora subsp. variegata) is the shade tree for a block with real room. In an open garden it reaches about 18m tall and 8m wide over ten to fifteen years, holding a high canopy above a smooth trunk that sheds to cream, grey and soft pink. Crushed leaves smell strongly of lemon.

Why you'll love it

• Shade without gloom. The canopy sits high and filters light, so lawn and understorey planting keep growing beneath it.
• Quick to make height. A fast growing eucalypt, which is what a bare block or a new acreage driveway needs.
• The trunk is the feature. Bark peels through the warm months to a mottled, almost polished column that suits uplighting.
• Tough once established. Drought tolerant, wind tolerant and content in poor soil, so it holds on unimproved ground.
• A native that feeds wildlife. Cream blossom draws honeyeaters, lorikeets and native bees to the top of the tree.

Where it works best

Shade for large gardens and paddocks. Give it at least 10m of clearance from buildings, paving and underground pipes.

Driveways and avenues. With an 8m mature spread, set trees 10m to 12m apart so the canopies meet overhead without the trunks crowding.

Windbreaks on open ground. A staggered double row at 10m spacing filters the prevailing wind across a rural block rather than blocking it.

Growing Spotted Gum in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, with room overhead. This suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. It takes light frost only, so the tablelands, cold inland districts and hard frosting southern gardens sit outside its range.

Soil. Poor soil is genuinely fine, and drainage matters more than fertility. On clay, plant on a raised mound. Mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers, then let it find its own water. Feed sparingly with a low phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring.

Pruning. Formative only. Remove competing leaders early to build one strong trunk, then lift the lower branches for clearance. Do not lop a mature eucalypt, because the regrowth attaches weakly.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in six sizes: 140mm in packs of ten, 200mm in packs of six, single 300mm and 400mm pots, and 45L and 100L specimens. Small sizes suit a shelter belt or paddock planting, because young eucalypts establish fast and often overtake a larger transplant within three years.

A few bent or bronzed leaves on arrival are transit marks, not damage. Expect a quiet first month, then strong extension through the first warm season. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, with a minimum order of $300 before delivery, and advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full corymbia range
• How to choose a canopy tree for shade
• Best trees for lining a driveway
• Compare other Australian native trees

Common questions

How far from the house should I plant it?

At least 10m, and further if the block allows. Roots range wider than the 8m canopy, and like most large eucalypts it drops bark and small branches, so keep it clear of paving, pipes and seating.

How fast does it grow?

Fast for a tree of this size. It makes several metres in the early years, then slows as it puts on trunk, reaching about 18m in ten to fifteen years.

Will it handle frost?

Light frost only, and young trees are the most vulnerable. It is not a tree for the tablelands, cold inland districts or hard frosting southern gardens.

Can I keep it smaller than 18m?

Not sensibly. Cutting a eucalypt back hard produces weakly attached regrowth, so match the tree to the space instead. On a standard suburban block, choose a smaller native tree.