Red Spotted Gum

Red Spotted Gum (Eucalyptus mannifera subsp. maculosa) is grown for its bark as much as its shade. Reaching about 12m tall and 8m wide, it carries a smooth powdery white trunk that sheds in patches through summer to reveal pink and rust red beneath. It is a hardy south eastern Australian native for gardens with room to give a gum the space it needs.

Why you'll love it

• Bark that changes with the seasons. The chalky white trunk peels to expose warm pink and red patches, which is where the common name comes from.
• Genuinely tough. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, wind tolerant and happy in poor soil, so it holds up on exposed rural blocks.
• Feeds local wildlife. Clusters of white blossom bring in nectar feeding birds, bees and butterflies through summer.
• A manageable gum. At around 12m it is a sensible size for a large garden, well short of the forest eucalypts.

Where it works best

Shade tree. The open crown throws light dappled shade rather than deep gloom, so lawn and understorey planting still grow beneath it. Allow 8m of clear space around the trunk.

Driveways and avenues. The pale trunks line up beautifully along a rural drive. Space trees 6m to 8m apart so each keeps its own shape.

Windbreak. In a shelter row plant 6m apart, ideally in a staggered double row with a shrub layer in front, which filters wind instead of forcing it over the top.

Growing red spotted gum in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun and open air. It suits warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and being frost hardy it handles cold inland districts and the tablelands that stop many eucalypts. It is not the right choice for humid tropical gardens.

Soil. Undemanding, and it tolerates poor and gravelly soils that defeat other trees. Drainage matters more than fertility, so avoid ground that stays wet. Never mound soil or heavy mulch against the trunk.

Water and feed. Water deeply once a week through the first two summers to drive roots down, then it survives on low water. Skip rich fertiliser, which forces soft growth. A light native blend in spring for the first few years is plenty.

Pruning. Formative pruning only, in the first few years, to remove low limbs and any double leader. Established gums are best left alone, and large limb removal is a job for an arborist.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in a 250mm pack of three, single 400mm trees, and advanced 100L and 200L stock. The 250mm and 400mm sizes suit a shelter row or an avenue, since young gums establish faster and often overtake bigger transplants. The 100L and 200L trees are for height from 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. Expect slow visible progress for a season, then rapid extension once the roots take, covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the Australian native tree range
• Choosing shade trees for paddocks and acreage
• Compare plants for windbreaks
• Bird attracting plants

Common questions

How big does it get and how fast?

Around 12m tall by 8m wide, at a moderate rate of roughly half a metre to a metre a year once established. It is smaller and better mannered than most gums sold for shade.

Does it drop bark and branches?

It sheds bark in strips and plates through the warmer months, which is normal and is what creates the spotted trunk. Like all eucalypts it can shed limbs in drought or storms, so do not plant it over a house, shed or parking area.

How close to the house can I plant one?

Keep it at least 8m to 10m from buildings, paving and services. That gives the crown room and keeps roots away from pipes and footings.