Sydney Blue Gum

Sydney Blue Gum (Eucalyptus saligna) is a shade tree for people with genuine room. On an open block it makes about 20m tall and 10m wide over ten to fifteen years, carrying a straight blue grey trunk and a high, open canopy. In forest it goes far higher, so this is a tree for acreage or a large rural garden.

Why you'll love it

• Shade in years, not decades. A genuinely fast grower, so a bare block gets useful canopy sooner than from a slower native.
• A trunk worth looking at. Smooth bark sheds to a clean blue grey column, so it is planted as a feature as often as for shade.
• It feeds local wildlife. Cream blossom brings honeyeaters, lorikeets and bees, and mature trees become a real habitat asset.
• Tough once away. Drought tolerant, wind tolerant and comfortable in humidity, which covers most of the eastern seaboard.
• Serious wind protection. Height and an open crown make it one of the better choices for filtering wind across a large property.

Where it works best

Shade trees on acreage. Give a single tree at least 15m of clear space from buildings, pools, tanks and septic lines. The roots are vigorous and the canopy wide.

Windbreaks and avenues. Plant 8m to 10m apart for a shelter belt, staggering a double row so it filters wind rather than blocking it. On a long rural drive, space at 12m to 15m.

Growing Sydney Blue Gum in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, and plenty of it. This is a tropical, subtropical and warm temperate tree. It tolerates light frost once established, so cold tableland and inland districts with hard frosts sit outside its range.

Soil. It prefers deep, moist, reasonably fertile soil and grows fastest there. Shallow, dry or compacted ground gives a smaller tree. Break up the sides of the planting hole and mulch a wide ring 75mm deep.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers to drive roots down. After that it looks after itself. A native fertiliser in early spring for the first two years is enough; overfeeding produces soft growth.

Pruning. Formative pruning in the first three years matters more than anything later. Remove competing leaders early so the tree builds one strong trunk, then use an arborist for established limbs.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in three advanced sizes, 45L, 75L and 100L, all currently on backorder and dispatched once the next crop is ready. There is no tube or small pot option, which suits how the tree is used.

Advanced eucalypts travel with a light crown, so expect some leaf loss on arrival. Stake low and loosely on exposed sites, then remove the stake within the first year. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Choosing a canopy tree for real shade
• Browse Australian native trees
• Compare fast growing shade trees
• Plants suited to windbreaks

Common questions

How big does it really get?

About 20m tall and 10m wide in an open garden over ten to fifteen years. In forest the species reaches 40m and more, so treat 20m as the planning figure.

Is it suitable for a suburban block?

Usually not. The mature width takes most of a standard back garden, and the height brings shading and leaf litter neighbours notice. Keep it 15m from buildings, paving, pools and services.

Will it handle frost?

Light frost only, and only once established. In cold tableland or southern inland districts with repeated hard frosts, young trees are at real risk and a frost hardy species is safer.

Western Australia: this species has escaped from gardens and naturalised in WA, where it competes with local bushland plants. We do not recommend it for gardens in the south west of WA. Please choose a local alternative.