Sydney Red Gum
Angophora costata
Also listed as Angophora lanceolata, Melaleuca costata
Also known as Smooth-barked Apple, Smooth-bark Apple Gum, Smooth-barked Angophora
Climate Match for your location
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A distinctive Australian native tree valued for its smooth, mottled cream and rust-colored bark and clusters of white to cream flowers. Extremely drought-hardy once established and suitable for warm, dry climates where it provides year-round visual interest.
Why grow it
Sydney Red Gum offers reliable ornamental value through its distinctive peeling bark and consistent flowering in arid landscapes where many deciduous trees struggle. Compared to other drought-tolerant Australian natives like Eucalyptus species, it tends to develop a more compact, manageable form and produces showier cream flowers over an extended season. Its year-round appeal makes it useful in water-wise gardens where visual interest is needed across all seasons.
Watch out for
Young trees benefit from consistent moisture during establishment (typically the first 2-3 years) despite eventual drought tolerance, as this accelerates root development. The tree can be slow-growing in its early years, so patience is needed before reaching substantial size. Surface roots may develop in competition with nearby plantings, particularly in shallow soils or when water becomes limited.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Myrtaceae
Native Range
Eastern Australia (New South Wales and Queensland)
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Canopy
The tallest trees that form the overstory.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A distinctive Australian native tree valued for its smooth, mottled cream and rust-colored bark and clusters of white to cream flowers. Extremely drought-hardy once established and suitable for warm, dry climates where it provides year-round visual interest.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Sydney Red Gum grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Sydney Red Gum offers reliable ornamental value through its distinctive peeling bark and consistent flowering in arid landscapes where many deciduous trees struggle. Compared to other drought-tolerant Australian natives like Eucalyptus species, it tends to develop a more compact, manageable form and produces showier cream flowers over an extended season. Its year-round appeal makes it useful in water-wise gardens where visual interest is needed across all seasons.
Watch out for
Young trees benefit from consistent moisture during establishment (typically the first 2-3 years) despite eventual drought tolerance, as this accelerates root development. The tree can be slow-growing in its early years, so patience is needed before reaching substantial size. Surface roots may develop in competition with nearby plantings, particularly in shallow soils or when water becomes limited.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Myrtaceae
Native Range
Eastern Australia (New South Wales and Queensland)
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Canopy
The tallest trees that form the overstory.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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