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Eucalyptus polyanthemos - Red Box

Eucalyptus polyanthemos - Red Box

Most loved for its round, blue-grey juvenile foliage and rough bark, along with its resilience in dry conditions.

Regular price $300.00
Sale price $300.00 Regular price
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Pot size
Available batches
Size: 40cm/45L
Current height guide
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Pot size
40cm/45L

Approximate only. Minimum height important? Confirm with us.

Height guide & disclaimer

Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you must confirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.

Quantity

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Mix pot sizes and batches in one order.

Size / batchEachQuantity
40cm/45LApprox. height: Approx. 1.0m – 1.9m$300.00
100LApprox. height: Enquire for current heights$700.00

Height guide & disclaimer

Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you must confirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.

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    About Eucalyptus polyanthemos

    Eucalyptus polyanthemos, the Red Box, is an Australian native tree with a dense canopy, textured fibrous bark, and distinctive blue-grey foliage. It gives structure and soft colour to a wide range of landscapes.

    Red Box grows to 10-15 metres tall and 6-10 metres wide. Soft rounded juvenile leaves give way to elliptical silver-blue adult foliage that contrasts beautifully with stone and timber. Creamy-white flower clusters appear in spring to early summer, attracting bees, birds, and other pollinators. The size suits feature planting, habitat gardens, rural windbreaks, and streetscapes.

    Red Box thrives in full sun and adapts to most well-drained soils. It is highly drought tolerant once established and very low maintenance, with rough grey-brown bark adding texture and character year-round. It performs well across NSW, VIC, ACT and parts of SA.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    About Eucalyptus polyanthemos Red Box

    How tall does Red Box grow?

    Eucalyptus polyanthemos grows to 10-15 metres tall and 6-10 metres wide with a dense canopy.

    How fast does Red Box grow?

    Red Box has a moderate growth rate, adding 40-60cm per year once established.

    What colour is Red Box foliage?

    Red Box has distinctive blue-grey foliage. Soft rounded juvenile leaves mature into elliptical silver-blue adult leaves.

    Is Red Box an Australian native?

    Yes. Eucalyptus polyanthemos is native to south-eastern Australia, found across NSW, VIC, and the ACT.

    When does Red Box flower?

    Red Box produces creamy-white flower clusters in spring to early summer, attracting bees, birds, and other pollinators.

    Is Red Box drought tolerant?

    Yes. Red Box is highly drought tolerant once established and very low maintenance.

    Where does Red Box grow best in Australia?

    Red Box thrives across NSW, VIC, ACT and parts of SA in full sun with well-drained soil, tolerating heat and drought.

    Foliage

    Evergreen (foliage year round)

    Position
    • Full Sun
    Form
    • Rounded
    • Tiered
    Use
    • Avenue Planting
    • Council or Civic Landscapes
    • Rural Property Planting
    • Revegetation or Regeneration
    • Shade Tree
    Mature height
    10m to 20m (approx.)
    Mature width
    6m to 10m

    Planting Information

    How To Plant Your Eucalyptus polyanthemos - Red Box

    Site: Choose a well-drained position in full sun to part shade with room for the canopy to develop.

    Soil preparation: Enrich the planting area with quality compost and aged manure for a strong establishment phase.

    Hole: Dig twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth.

    Planting: Position level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, firm in, then water deeply to settle the roots.

    Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Eucalyptus polyanthemos - Red Box

    Feature tree: 3 to 4 metres apart to allow the full canopy and form to develop.

    Avenue planting: 3 metres apart for a uniform soft-textured avenue.

    Eucalyptus polyanthemos - Red Box is expected to grow 0.8m to 1.3m per year (approx.).

    • Medium Growth Rate

    Long Term Care For Your Eucalyptus polyanthemos - Red Box

    Watering: Water deeply twice weekly through the first 12 months. Once established, this is drought tolerant and only needs a deep soak during extended dry periods.

    Mulching: Apply a 5 to 7 centimetre layer of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it 5 centimetres clear of the trunk.

    Pruning: Minimal pruning required. Light tip prune in late winter to maintain shape, and remove lower branches as the tree grows to develop a clean feature trunk.

    Fertilising: Apply a slow-release native blend in early spring and again in autumn. Avoid high-phosphorus formulations as a precaution.

    Pest and disease: Hardy against most pests and diseases. Occasional inspection in warm humid conditions is all that's needed.

    Planting Your Eucalyptus polyanthemos - Red Box in Different Soil

    Eucalyptus polyanthemos performs best in well-drained sandy loam or loam with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Adaptable to a wide range of soils when drainage is improved with organic matter.

    Sandy soil: Free-draining and ideal. Mulch well to maintain consistent moisture.

    Clay soil: Improve drainage with gypsum and organic compost before planting.

    Loam: The preferred soil for steady root development and consistent growth.

    pH: Slightly acidic to neutral preferred. Mulch with composted leaf litter to maintain levels naturally.

    Uses in my Garden

    Uses in my Garden

    • Avenue Planting
    • Council or Civic Landscapes
    • Rural Property Planting
    • Revegetation or Regeneration
    • Shade Tree

    Eucalyptus polyanthemos - Red Box works in an:

    • Australian Native Garden – celebrates local plants with natural character.
    • Woodland Garden – layered, naturalistic design under dappled light.
    • Wildlife Garden – planting to attract birds, bees, and pollinators.
    • Heritage / Traditional Garden – timeless, classic plantings for period homes.

    Is Eucalyptus polyanthemos - Red Box Evergreen or Deciduous?

    Eucalyptus polyanthemos - Red Box is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree

    Mature Height & Width

    Mature Height: 10m to 20m (approx.)

    Mature Width: 6m to 10m

    Eucalyptus polyanthemos - Red Box is expected to grow 0.8m to 1.3m per year (approx.).

    Growth Rate of Eucalyptus polyanthemos - Red Box

    Eucalyptus polyanthemos - Red Box is expected to grow 0.8m to 1.3m per year (approx.).

    They are considered to have a:

    • Medium Growth Rate

    Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Eucalyptus polyanthemos - Red Box

    Is Eucalyptus polyanthemos - Red Box frost tolerant?

    Eucalyptus polyanthemos - Red Box is Frost Hardy – Survives heavy and frequent frost without damage.

    Does Eucalyptus polyanthemos - Red Box Flower?

    Eucalyptus polyanthemos produces clusters of small creamy-white fluffy flowers from late spring into summer. These soft blooms sit neatly along the branchlets and provide a subtle seasonal highlight that contrasts beautifully with its rounded blue-grey foliage.

    Does Eucalyptus polyanthemos - Red Box flower?

    • Yes - Flowers

    Flowering Period:

    • Spring
    • Summer

    Flower Type:

    • Clustered

    Flower Colour:

    Cream

    Is Eucalyptus polyanthemos - Red Box an Australian Native Tree?

    Yes

    Eucalyptus polyanthemos - Red Box is Native to South-eastern Australia, including Victoria, New South Wales, and southern Queensland, where it grows in open woodlands and on rocky hillsides.

    What is the Wildlife Value of Eucalyptus polyanthemos - Red Box ?

    Its nectar-rich flowers attract honeyeaters, native bees, butterflies and a wide range of beneficial insects. The dense evergreen canopy provides shelter, perching and nesting opportunities for small birds, while the fibrous bark supports insects and microfauna that contribute to a biodiverse native ecosystem.

    How much Sunlight does Eucalyptus polyanthemos - Red Box need?

    Eucalyptus polyanthemos - Red Box will thrive best in:

    • Full Sun

    Preferred Soil?

    Eucalyptus polyanthemos performs best in well-drained sandy or loam soils and tolerates slightly acidic to slightly alkaline conditions. It may struggle in heavy clay or poorly drained areas unless improved with organic matter and coarse material to enhance aeration. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then transition to deep, occasional watering as the tree matures to support its strong drought performance, healthy growth and reliable canopy density.

    Is Eucalyptus polyanthemos - Red Box Drought Tolerant?

    Is Eucalyptus polyanthemos - Red Box Drought tolerant?

    As a young tree it requires regular watering, but once established Eucalyptus polyanthemos develops excellent drought tolerance. It thrives in hot, dry inland and coastal conditions and maintains its dense, rounded canopy with minimal supplementary watering.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How tall does Red Box grow?

    Eucalyptus polyanthemos grows to 10-15 metres tall and 6-10 metres wide with a dense canopy.

    How fast does Red Box grow?

    Red Box has a moderate growth rate, adding 40-60cm per year once established.

    What colour is Red Box foliage?

    Red Box has distinctive blue-grey foliage. Soft rounded juvenile leaves mature into elliptical silver-blue adult leaves.

    Is Red Box an Australian native?

    Yes. Eucalyptus polyanthemos is native to south-eastern Australia, found across NSW, VIC, and the ACT.

    When does Red Box flower?

    Red Box produces creamy-white flower clusters in spring to early summer, attracting bees, birds, and other pollinators.

    Is Red Box drought tolerant?

    Yes. Red Box is highly drought tolerant once established and very low maintenance.

    Where does Red Box grow best in Australia?

    Red Box thrives across NSW, VIC, ACT and parts of SA in full sun with well-drained soil, tolerating heat and drought.

    Compare sizes side by side

    40cm/45L

    Approx. 1.0m – 1.9m

    100L

    Enquire for current heights

    Heights are approximate and vary between individual trees.

    Eucalyptus polyanthemos is loved for its round, blue-grey juvenile foliage and rough bark, along with its resilience in dry conditions.

    We take pride in supplying A+ grade advanced trees. When stock at our farm is not yet ready, we work with our trusted trade suppliers to source the best available trees for your garden.

    Plant Your Eucalyptus polyanthemos - Red Box With:

    Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

    Enriched Planting Mix is a certified organic blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent, bagged in 30L. It is built to be dug through existing garden soil at planting time rather than used on its own, and the gypsum is what sets it apart from a plain compost.

    Gypsum helps break up heavy clay so water and roots can move through it, while the compost and manure return organic matter and nutrient to tired ground. The coarse bark holds structure and keeps air around the root zone, and the wetting agent keeps moisture in the soil longer after rain or watering.

    Use it when planting trees, shrubs, roses, fruit trees and exotic garden plants, particularly into clay. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and 7 centimetres deeper, then mix roughly one third planting mix through the excavated soil. Spread 7 centimetres of that improved soil in the base before setting the plant in.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    About Enriched Planting Mix

    What is Enriched Planting Mix made from?

    It is a blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent. Each part has a job. The compost and manure supply organic matter and nutrient, the gypsum works on clay structure, the bark keeps air around the roots and the wetting agent holds moisture in the soil.

    What plants is it suitable for?

    It suits exotic garden plants, including roses, ornamental and deciduous trees, fruit trees, shrubs and perennials, and it earns its keep most on heavy clay sites. It is a planting mix rather than a potting mix, so its job is improving soil at planting time. Phosphorus sensitive natives are the one clear exception.

    Is it safe for natives?

    No, not for the phosphorus sensitive ones. The composted animal manure in this blend lifts phosphorus well above what Proteaceae such as Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea and Protea will tolerate, and the result can be leaf burn, dieback and plant death. Use the Native Potting Mix for those species, or plant them into unimproved local soil.

    Is it certified organic?

    Yes. It is a certified organic product with no chemical additives, which is why the manure and compost in it are fully composted rather than raw. That makes it sound around fruit trees and vegetable beds, and it means you are adding genuine organic matter to your soil rather than a synthetic conditioner.

    How much do I need?

    Work on roughly one third planting mix to two thirds of the soil you dug out of the hole. For a shrub out of a 200 millimetre pot that is only a few litres. An advanced tree going into a large hole will take considerably more. Judge the quantity by the volume of the hole rather than the size of the plant.

    Can I use it in pots?

    It is not a potting mix and should not be used on its own in a container. The blend is designed to be diluted through garden soil, and used straight in a pot it holds too much water and settles badly. For containers, reach for a premium potting mix, or the native mix if you are potting natives.

    Does it need to be watered in?

    Yes. Water the plant well several hours before you plant it, then water thoroughly again once the hole is backfilled and the soil firmed down. That first deep watering settles the improved soil around the root ball and drives out air pockets. Keep the water up over the first few months while the roots establish.

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