Eucalyptus ficifolia (Western Australian Flowering Gum)
Eucalyptus (Corymbia) ficifolia (Western Australian Flowering Gum)
As the flowers continue to open on the Western Australian Flowering Gums (Eucalyptus ficifolia) I am taking photos of the different colour forms in the town. The correct name for this species is now Corymbia ficifolia. These are hardy trees to survive here with the hot dry summers, winter frost and limestone soils on most parts of the town.
This tree is 6-15 metres tall by 5-20 metres wide, flowering here from December to March. It is a tree like a mallee in that it has a lignotuber and if the trunk was cut off it would sprout multiple trunks from the lignotuber. However these trees have a nice single trunk with a dense canopy and of course the spectacular flowers.
The books say that this species is sensitive to alkalinity. It may be a little when first planted but seeing it growing here, it is a small tree less than 6 metres tall and that may well be the effect that alkalinity has on the growth in this area. Heavy frost is a problem in some areas.
Eucalyptus ficifolia (Western Australian Flowering Gum)
Eucalyptus ficifolia (Western Australian Flowering Gum)
The colours range from deep dark red through vermillion, letter box red, orange, tangerine and shades in between and white. I haven’t seen pink but I believe there is that colour form also. This is one of the plants which, when grown from seed, cannot be guaranteed to give the colour required. Some clever people have been trying to graft Eucalypts and strike them also. I’ve read some articles on the techniques but have not had the inclination to try.
Eucalyptus ficifolia (Western Australian Flowering Gum)
Eucalyptus calycogona (Square-fruited Mallee) Pink Form
Eucalyptus calycogona (Square-fruited Mallee) Pink formAs we drove in to the Retirement Village last week I saw this lovely mallee growing on the curb. When I got out of the car to take a photo, I realised that it was one of the colour forms of Eucalyptus calycogona, a very hardy small tree which often has a mallee form. The tree usually flowers in the winter- spring period so I was surprised to see the prolific flowering of this one. It is certainly an asset to have summer flowering native plants.
More information about this plant can be found here and here.
Eucalyptus calycogona (Square-fruited Mallee) Pink form
Eucalyptus rhodantha (Rose Mallee)
Eucalyptus rhodantha (Rose Mallee)
This is a western Australian mallee 2.5-4m high by 3-6m wide. It produces rose red flowers to 7.5cm across. The whole plant is coated in a grey white bloom which really accentuates the colour of the flowers.
It is a plant that requires full sun and a warm climate. The trees can be coppiced once mature and this new growth makes them more useful in a windbreak. This is a rare plant in Western Australia.
Eucalyptus forrestiana (Fuschia Gum)
Eucalyptus forrestiana (Fuschia Gum)
This tree has attractive gum nuts (capsules) which have the appearance of a fuschia, hence the common name. It is often a tall shrub rather than tree like, being 3-7 metres high by 3-5 metres wide.
It seems to handle the limestone here very well although it is probably in the smaller range so far as size is concerned. It makes a great tree for home gardens. The Honeyeaters love this tree when it is in flower.