Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority

Common name: Red flowering gum

Family: MYRTACEAE

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Origin of Scientific Name

Corymbia – (Latin) corymbium, a "corymb" referring to the arrangement of flowers in clusters where the flowers branch from the stem at different levels but ultimately terminate at about the same level.

ficfolia – (Latin) ficus – the genus Ficus, and folium – leaf, referring to the similarity of its leaves to some fig (Ficus) species.

Description

Corymbia ficifolia is one of the most outstanding flowering trees in Australia with its masses of conspicuous flowers of red or vermillion-orange (rarely pink) that cover the canopy in summer, followed by large woody egg-shaped fruits known as honkey nuts.

This flowering gum grows up to 12 metres with rough non-shedding bark and usually a rounded and dense crown, making it an excellent shade tree. Its oval leaves are distinctive as they are dark green on top and paler green on their undersides.

It is a Western Australian native tree naturally restricted to the far south-west of WA, generally in the Walpole-Mt Frankland region, but with several small outlying populations further to the east. It grows on sandy soils in low-lying areas of heath or woodland.

Corymbia ficifolia is widely grown as an ornamental tree throughout southern Australia, with many grafted cultivars and hybrids also commercially available making it suitable for a range of environments.

Horticultural tips

Grows best on coastal sites in acidic sandy soils with a shallow fresh water table but will also grow on well-drained clays.
Prefers cooler southern Australian climate regions.
Best to purchase a grafted specimen for planting to ensure reliability of flower colour.
Provide irrigation during dry periods.

For more horticultural tips view our Plant Notes section.

View in Kings Park

Visit Kings Park and Botanic Garden to see Corymbia ficifolia in Wadjuk carpark and Roe Garden in the Western Australian Botanic Garden (refer to map).