Red Flowering Gum

Red Flowering Gum (Corymbia ficifolia) is the classic Australian native garden tree that bursts into clusters of fiery red, bird-attracting flowers each summer. It grows up to 10m tall, so it needs room, but it thrives in sandy, low-nutrient soil and copes with windswept coastal sites. The big gumnuts that follow are sought after for arrangements.

Why you'll love it

• Fiery summer flowers. Clusters of red flowers cover the crown each summer, and in warmer climates the tree may flower at other times too.
• Birds come to it. The blossoms attract birds, so the tree is a hub for a wildlife garden.
• Big, chunky gumnuts. The woody gumnuts that follow the flowers are popular for flower arranging and craft.
• Suits poor soil. In the wild it grows in sandy, low-nutrient soils, so it does not need rich ground.
• Tough once settled. It tolerates light frost and dry conditions once established, and it is happy even in windswept coastal gardens.

Where it works best

Specimen or feature tree. Give it open space in full sun, around 6m clear on each side, so the crown can spread and the summer flowers can show.

Screening. Plant 5m apart for a large-scale screen. This is a tree for acreage, big blocks and boundaries rather than tight beds.

Smaller gardens. It can be kept smaller by pruning it hard, but it will always want space. In a windswept coastal garden it may grow smaller than in a sheltered spot.

Growing Red Flowering Gum in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. It comes from a small area of south-west Western Australia but has made its home across the country. It prefers dry summers and low humidity, though it grows fine around the Sunshine Coast, and it dislikes the humidity of tropical far north Queensland.

Soil. Well drained soil. Avoid clay and rich loam, since this tree is adapted to sandy, low-nutrient ground.

Water and feed. Apply mulch and keep the water regular until it is established, usually around 12 weeks. Fertilise with a native fertiliser in early spring.

Pruning. Tip prune while young to encourage a dense, rounded shape. Stake the tree and protect it from strong wind and frost until it is established.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Red Flowering Gum as tube stock, 140mm pots in packs of 10, 200mm pots in packs of 6 and 300mm pots, sold singly. Tube stock is a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly and suits a row of screening trees. The 140mm and 200mm pots arrive with a taller start, and the 300mm pot gives the biggest head start for a single feature tree. Stake the plant at planting.

Our tubes are supplied by our grower, so they are not always on hand. If the tube shows as sold out, the grower has none at the moment, and the notify button on this page emails you the day it is back.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Flowering gum Corymbia care guide
• Browse the Corymbia range
• Gum trees and eucalypts
• Bird attracting plants

Common questions

How big will it grow?

Up to 10m tall. It is a tree for large gardens, though it can be kept smaller in a small garden if you prune it hard.

Will it grow in clay?

It is a poor match. In the wild it grows in sandy, low-nutrient soils, so avoid clay and rich loam. If your soil is heavy, plant on a raised mound of free-draining soil or choose another spot.

Does it grow in humid areas?

It prefers dry summers and low humidity, though it grows fine on the Sunshine Coast. It does not like the tropical humidity of far north Queensland.