Gippsland Mallee Gum

Gippsland Mallee Gum (Eucalyptus kitsoniana) is a small southern gum that grows to about 7m tall and 5m wide, often with several stems from the base in the mallee habit. It comes from the wet coastal country of southern Victoria, which explains its most useful trait: it tolerates soggy winter soil that kills most eucalypts. Cream and white flowers bring in honeyeaters and bees.

Why you'll love it

• It copes with wet feet. Very few gums tolerate waterlogging. This one grows naturally in swampy coastal ground, so a low, damp corner is not a problem.
• A gum that stays small. At around 7m it fits a suburban block, unlike the 20m species people regret planting.
• Native bird and insect habitat. The cream flowers are rich in nectar and draw honeyeaters, lorikeets and native bees.
• Built for exposure. Frost hardy, wind tolerant and salt tolerant, so it works on an open coastal block or a windswept rural boundary.

Where it works best

Windbreaks and tall screens. Plant 4m apart for a windbreak or tall screen. A double staggered row at that spacing filters wind rather than stopping it dead, which is what an exposed paddock or boundary needs.

Wet and low lying ground. Its real value is the boggy area of a garden that stays saturated through winter, where the usual screening trees rot at the roots.

Coastal gardens and feature planting. Salt laden wind does not trouble it, and a single multi stemmed specimen has real character in a native garden.

Growing Gippsland Mallee Gum in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. It is a cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean tree, suiting Victoria, South Australia, southern New South Wales and the tablelands. It is genuinely frost hardy, and not a tree for tropical or subtropical gardens.

Soil. Unusually adaptable. It accepts heavy clay and seasonally waterlogged ground as well as ordinary garden soil, though it will not sit in permanent standing water. No mounding is needed on most sites.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer to establish the root system, then leave it to itself. Feeding is rarely necessary; if growth is poor, use a low phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring.

Pruning and siting. Little pruning is needed beyond removing damaged limbs and shaping the trunks early if you want a single leader. The roots are vigorous, so allow at least 5m of clearance from paving, drains, slabs and services.

What to expect when it arrives

It is supplied in one size, a 400mm pot, which gives an established young tree with a formed trunk rather than a seedling. That is a practical size, since eucalypts planted small typically overtake larger transplanted stock within a few years.

Stake it loosely for the first year against wind rock, but not rigidly, because a trunk that flexes builds strength. Expect steady growth once the roots move into surrounding soil, usually from the second season. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to handle a waterlogged garden
• Browse the Australian native tree range.
• Compare other plants for windbreaks.
• See more bird attracting plants.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant a windbreak?

Four metres apart. Two staggered rows at that spacing give a permeable barrier that slows wind, which protects a garden better than a solid wall of foliage that creates turbulence behind it.

Can I plant it near the house or driveway?

Keep it well back. The root system is vigorous, so allow at least 5m from paving, drains, retaining walls and slabs, and more if the soil is reactive clay.

Will it really grow in a wet spot?

Yes, within reason. It grows naturally in swampy southern Victorian country and tolerates ground that saturates each winter. It will not survive permanent standing water year round.