Red Box

Red Box (Eucalyptus polyanthemos) is the gum to plant when you want real shade inside a decade without watering it to get there. In a garden it makes a rounded tree of about 12m tall and 8m wide, hung with the silver grey, almost circular juvenile leaves that florists cut for foliage. Native to south eastern Australia, it handles poor soil, hard frost and long dry spells.

Why you'll love it

• Genuine shade, quickly. Fast growth and a crown roughly 8m across shade a lawn or driveway years sooner than a slow growing native.
• The foliage is the feature. Rounded blue grey juvenile leaves hold a silver tone that stands out against darker green neighbours.
• It asks for very little. Drought tolerant, frost hardy, heat tolerant and content in poor soil.
• Birds and pollinators use it. Cream and white blossom brings honeyeaters, native bees and butterflies through the garden.
• It handles cold country. Warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens all suit it.

Where it works best

Shade trees and open lawns. Allow a clear 8m radius from the trunk. Anything closer competes for water, and the canopy gets there sooner than owners expect.

Windbreaks and rural boundaries. Space trees 8m to 10m apart in a row. A staggered double row at the same spacing filters wind better than a single dense line, which simply pushes turbulence over the top.

Driveways and avenues. Matched trees at 10m centres read as an avenue at maturity without the crowns fighting. Set them back at least 6m from the driveway edge.

Growing Red Box in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, always. This is a tree for warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens, and it is properly frost hardy once away. It is not the pick for the humid tropics or the wet subtropical coast.

Soil. It tolerates poor, shallow and gravelly ground that would stall other trees, provided drainage is reasonable. No soil improvement is needed beyond breaking up a compacted hole.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers to drive roots down, then let it go. Established trees rarely need water outside extreme drought, and feeding is optional.

Pruning and placement. Formative pruning in the first three years sets a single leader and lifts the canopy. Beyond that, leave it alone. Keep it clear of pipes, paving, footings and septic systems.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow Red Box in four sizes: tubes, 140mm in packs of ten, 200mm in packs of six, and single 400mm plants. Tubes and 140mm packs are the sensible buy for a shelter belt, because young eucalypts establish faster and catch up to bigger stock within a few years. The 400mm plant gives visible height on day one.

Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Some leaf loss in transit is normal. Expect little visible change for a month, then rapid growth through the first warm season. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Choosing a canopy tree for shade
• Browse Australian native trees
• Trees that suit driveways and avenues
• Compare drought tolerant plants

Common questions

How big does it actually get in a garden?

Plan for about 12m tall and 8m wide. In its natural range it can pass 20m, so never plant it assuming it will stay small.

How close to the house can I plant it?

Keep it at least 10m from buildings, paving, pipes and septic lines. A tree this size has an extensive root system, and the canopy needs room without overhanging a roof.

Does it cope with frost?

Yes. It is frost hardy and suits cool temperate and inland districts that would damage many evergreens. Young plants still benefit from a guard through their first winter.