Dwarf Bushy Sugar Gum

Dwarf Bushy Sugar Gum (Eucalyptus cladocalyx 'Nana') is the sugar gum for gardens that cannot take a 25m tree. It settles at about 7m tall and 4m wide, multi stemmed and bushy from low down rather than running up to a bare trunk, which is what makes it usable as a screen. Cream and white blossom brings honeyeaters, and once established it asks for almost nothing.

Why you'll love it

• A gum at a manageable size. The species reaches 25m. This dwarf form holds to roughly 7m by 4m, so it fits a real back yard.
• Bushy from low down. It branches into multiple stems near the base, so it screens at fence height instead of only overhead.
• Built for hard sites. Drought tolerant, wind tolerant, salt tolerant and happy in poor soil, which covers most difficult blocks.
• Fast, then low maintenance. Quick to establish, and after the first two summers it largely looks after itself.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 3m apart for a dense screen. At that spacing the crowns knit together within a few seasons while each tree keeps enough room to stay bushy at the base.

Windbreaks. The same 3m spacing works for a shelter row along a boundary or driveway. Its wind tolerance means it filters gusts rather than losing limbs to them.

Coastal gardens and feature planting. Salt tolerance suits exposed blocks, and a single plant with room around it makes a handsome multi stemmed specimen.

Growing dwarf bushy sugar gum in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. It suits warm temperate, Mediterranean, cool temperate and arid to semi-arid gardens, covering most of southern Australia and the dry inland. Frost hardy once established, so tablelands and cold inland districts are fine. Humid tropical gardens are not its climate.

Soil. Any reasonably drained soil, including sand, gravel and poor shallow ground. It dislikes soil that stays wet, so raise the planting position on heavy clay. Mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the stems.

Water and feed. Water deeply once a week through the first two summers, then step back. It is genuinely drought tolerant afterwards. A low phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring is optional rather than necessary.

Pruning. Almost none required. If you want a tighter screen, tip prune the leading shoots in the first two years to encourage more stems. Lift the lower branches only if you need to walk beneath it.

What to expect when it arrives

Two sizes are grown. The 250mm pot comes in packs of three and is the sensible choice for a screening row, since young gums establish quickly and catch larger stock within a couple of seasons. The 90L is an advanced tree with height on day one, better suited to a single feature.

Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect a quiet few weeks after planting, then rapid growth through the first warm season. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Screening plants in the 4m to 8m range
• Compare windbreak and shelter plants
• Choosing plants for windy sites
• Browse the Australian native tree range

Common questions

How far apart do I plant it for a screen?

Three metres apart in a single row. Closer planting does not close the screen faster and pushes each tree upward, which costs you the low bushy growth that makes this form useful.

Will it really stay at 7m?

This selection is a genuine dwarf form and settles around 7m by 4m, well short of the 25m species. Site conditions shift the figure, so a deep, well watered soil will grow a larger tree than dry gravel.

Does it handle frost?

Yes. It is frost hardy once established, which suits cool temperate and inland gardens. Protect a young plant through its first winter if hard frosts are usual where you are.