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Eucalyptus tereticornis

About Your New Eucalyptus tereticornis

Eucalyptus tereticornis, the Forest Red Gum, is a large evergreen native with a tall straight trunk and an open airy canopy. The bark sheds in curling strips to leave a smooth surface of white, grey and blue grey, mottled through the year. Long glossy lance shaped leaves hang loosely, and white flowers cover the crown in the warm months.

It grows in full sun on a wide range of soils, from heavy clay flats to sandy loam, and tolerates both waterlogging and long dry periods once established. Growth is rapid at 1.2 to 2 metres a year. Frost hardy when established, it grows from Victoria along the east coast to far north Queensland.

This is a tree for scale: parkland, wide road reserves, farm shelter belts, civic landscapes and revegetation on floodplains and degraded ground. It is a keystone habitat tree, with hollows and heavy nectar flows that support birds, gliders and koalas. Where a large open block needs shade and ecological value quickly, it is hard to beat.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Forest Red Gum

What is a Forest Red Gum?

Forest Red Gum is Eucalyptus tereticornis, one of the most widespread eucalypts in eastern Australia, found from Victoria to Cape York and beyond into New Guinea. It is a tall tree with smooth mottled bark, an open canopy and dense red timber. It is planted for shade, habitat, farm shelter and large scale revegetation.

How big does Eucalyptus tereticornis grow?

It reaches 20 to 50 metres tall with a canopy spread of 15 to 35 metres, putting it firmly in the large forest tree category. Trees in open paddocks branch lower and spread wider, while those grown among others draw up tall and straight. Either way it needs a lot of room and is not a backyard tree.

How fast does it grow?

Very fast, at roughly 1.2 to 2 metres a year in its early seasons on decent soil with reasonable moisture. It is among the quickest large eucalypts, which is why it is used where shade or shelter is needed within a few years. Growth moderates once the tree has height and the canopy broadens out.

When does it flower?

Flowering runs through spring and summer, roughly September to February, varying with the season and the district. The white flowers are held in clusters across the whole canopy and produce heavy nectar, drawing lorikeets, honeyeaters, flying foxes and large numbers of bees. It is a significant nectar source and a well regarded honey tree.

Does it tolerate wet ground and drought?

Both, which is unusual. It occurs naturally on flats and river terraces that flood periodically, so it handles temporary waterlogging that would kill most trees. Once established it is also markedly drought tolerant, dropping some leaf in severe dry and recovering afterwards. This adaptability is why it covers such an enormous natural range.

Is it frost tolerant?

Established trees handle frost well and it grows through cold districts of Victoria and the New South Wales tablelands as well as the subtropics. Young trees are the exception and can be set back by a severe frost in their first winters, so a tree guard is worthwhile on cold sites until the leader is above frost height.

How do I care for a Forest Red Gum?

Water through the first two summers, mulch the root zone and keep the mulch off the trunk. Formative prune early to establish a single leader and remove competing forks. Beyond that it needs no routine care. Given its eventual size, have larger trees checked periodically for deadwood where they overhang buildings, sheds or access tracks.

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Uses in my Garden

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

Eucalyptus tereticornis 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.

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