Dry White River Peppermint

Dry White River Peppermint (Eucalyptus elata 'Dry White') is a fast growing native shade tree with a soft weeping habit, settling at around 15m tall and 8m wide in a garden. The fine willowy foliage smells of peppermint when crushed, and clouds of white flowers bring in birds and bees. It is a tree for acreage, paddocks and large blocks rather than a suburban courtyard.

Why you'll love it

• Shade quickly. Fast growing for a eucalypt, so a young tree starts casting real shade within a few seasons rather than a decade.
• A weeping canopy, not a stiff one. The fine drooping foliage moves in the wind and softens a boundary, which most large gums do not do.
• Genuinely hardy. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, wind tolerant and able to cope with wet feet, so it handles both a dry summer and a waterlogged winter gully.
• Wildlife works it hard. White blossom feeds nectar birds, native bees and butterflies through the flowering season.

Where it works best

Shade tree on acreage. Give it 8m of clear width and plant single specimens 10m apart so each canopy develops its full weeping shape. Stock and lawn both benefit from the dappled shade it throws.

Windbreaks and shelter belts. Plant 6m to 8m apart in a staggered double row. That spacing filters wind across a paddock rather than creating the turbulence a solid wall of trees causes.

Driveways and screening. On a long rural drive, space trees 8m to 10m apart for a canopy that eventually meets overhead. It screens a neighbouring shed or distant view well, though it lifts with age and will not hide anything at fence height.

Growing River Peppermint in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun and open ground. It suits subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens, and being frost hardy it is comfortable in the tablelands and southern states. The one non-negotiable is space: keep it at least 10m from pipes, paving, septic lines and foundations, because eucalypt roots of this size are aggressive.

Soil. Not fussy. It grows on clay, loam and sandy soil, and tolerates ground that stays wet through winter better than most gums, which is why it is often seen along creek flats.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first two summers, then only in extended dry spells. Feeding is rarely needed, and a low phosphorus native fertiliser once in spring is more than enough on poor ground.

Pruning. Formative pruning in the first two years sets a single strong leader and removes tight forks. After that, prune only for clearance or to remove damaged limbs, ideally before storm season.

What to expect when it arrives

This one is grown in tube stock, currently on backorder rather than in stock. Tube stock is young, a single stem well under knee height, and it is the standard way large eucalypts are planted: small plants root deeper and overtake advanced stock within a few years.

Expect a quiet month after planting while the roots move out, then rapid extension through the first warm season. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Choosing shade trees for farm paddocks
• Browse the Australian native tree range
• Compare plants for windbreaks and shelter belts
• Other fast growing shade trees

Common questions

How big does it really get?

In a garden expect around 15m tall and 8m wide. In its natural habitat along south-eastern creek lines it reaches 25m, so give it more room than you think it needs.

How close can I plant it to the house?

Not close. Allow at least 10m from buildings, driveways, pipes and septic systems, because the root system is large and opportunistic. This is the main reason it belongs on an acreage rather than a standard block.

Will it grow in a wet spot?

Yes, better than most eucalypts. It tolerates soil that stays saturated through winter, so a low gully or creek flat suits it, provided the ground is not permanently underwater.