River Red Gum

River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) is the tree of Australia's inland waterways, growing fast to about 25m tall with a canopy spreading 20m across. Mottled white and grey bark, cream flowers full of bees, and shade a paddock cannot get any other way. Be clear about the scale before you buy: this is a tree for acreage and rural blocks, not a suburban backyard.

Why you'll love it

• Shade at a scale nothing else matches. A canopy 20m wide shelters stock or a dam edge, and it gets there faster than most large natives.
• It handles both extremes. Drought tolerant and heat tolerant, yet also tolerant of wet feet, so it copes with a creek flat that floods in one season and bakes in the next.
• Frost hardy and undemanding. Poor soil suits it, and so does cold. It grows from the cool temperate south right through to the subtropics.
• Full of wildlife. Cream flowers feed bees and nectar birds, and older trees develop the hollows native fauna depends on.

Where it works best

Paddock and acreage shade. A single tree in a paddock is the classic use, sheltering stock through the worst of the summer heat.

Windbreaks and shelterbelts. Plant 10m to 15m apart in a row, matched to the 20m mature spread, so the crowns filter wind rather than forming a solid wall.

Feature planting on a big block. On acreage it becomes the landmark tree, and near a dam it uses the moisture without objecting to the odd inundation.

Growing River Red Gum in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun and open space. It grows across subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid districts. Frost is no obstacle once it is up and away.

Soil. Almost anything, including poor and periodically waterlogged ground. Clay, sand and gravel all work. In the first year it wants a weed free circle around the base more than it wants perfect soil.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first two summers to get the roots down, then it looks after itself. Feeding is rarely necessary, and a low phosphorus native fertiliser is the only sort worth using.

Pruning and limb drop. Formative pruning in the first few years sets a good structure. Mature trees shed limbs, particularly in heat and after drought, so never park, camp or build under one, and have large trees inspected by an arborist.

What to expect when it arrives

Sizes run from a 200mm pack of 6 and a 250mm pack of 3 for revegetation work, through single 300mm and 400mm pots, to 30L, 45L and 100L trees for immediate presence. Smaller stock is the sensible choice for planting numbers: young gums establish quickly and often overtake advanced trees within a few years.

Trees are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect a slow first month, then rapid extension once the roots move, all covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Choosing trees for paddock shade
• Browse Australian native trees
• Compare windbreak and shelterbelt plants
• Fast growing shade trees

Common questions

Can I plant one in a suburban backyard?

We would not recommend it. At 25m tall and 20m wide with vigorous roots it is out of scale for a standard block. Choose a smaller gum for a suburban garden.

How far from the house should it go?

At least 30m, and further on an exposed site. That distance covers the root spread and the risk of limb shed, which is a normal habit of the species rather than a sign of poor health.

Will it survive a flooded creek flat?

Yes. It tolerates wet feet and is naturally a river and floodplain tree, so periodic inundation suits it. Permanently stagnant water is another matter and still kills roots.

How fast does it grow?

Fast. With water through the first two summers, expect useful shade within about a decade, and slower growth in dry inland districts without irrigation.