Corymbia ficifolia

Myrtaceae

Red Flowering Gum, Eucalypt, Eucalyptus tree

A small straggly tree growing to 10m; rough, furrowed bark which is sometimes tessellated on mature trees; leaves are dark green, stiff, glossy and slightly lighter underneath with pinnate veins. The prominent and showy flowers range in colour from red, to pink and through to orange.

Uses

Street planting, ornamental garden plant. The nectar attracts honeyeaters. Cut flowers and foliage. 
 

Culture

Full sun position; salt, wind and drought tolerant; will withstand marginal frosts; needs good drainage, but will grow in most soils, excepting heavy clays.

Propagation

Seed – it will take 7 years for flowers to appear. Hybrids and cultivars are grafted onto a hardy Corymbia rootstock.  
 

Cultivars

There are many different named and unnamed cultivar; named cultivars tend to be grown as grafted plants to ensure they are true to type. These include both selections made from pure C. ficifolia seedlings (which tend to be most suited to temperate climates; as well as hybrids, notably created by interbreeding C. ficifolia and C. ptychocarpa. These hybrids are more suited to sub-tropical and more humid climates because the C. ptychocarpa parent is a more suited to such climates.

Hybrids:
C. ficifolia x ‘Summer Red’: a hybrid of C. ficifolia and C. ptychocarpa with red to scarlet flowers growing 5 to 7m tall.
C. ficifolia x ‘Summer Beauty’: a pink flowering hybrid of C. ficifolia and C. ptychocarpa growing 5 to 7m tall. 
C. ficifolia x ‘Summer Snow’:  has cream flowers and reaches 7 m tall. A red flowering hybrid of C. ficifolia and C. ptychocarpa.
C.ficifolia x ‘Glory’: reaches to 7m with pink to purplish flowers. A red flowering hybrid of 
C. ficifolia and C. ptychocarpa.

Non-hybrid Cultivars:
C. ficifolia ‘Baby Scarlet’: a selected cultivar of C. ficifolia (not a hybrid), red flowers, grows to 5 m tall.
C. ficifolia ‘Dwarf Orange’: grows to 3 m tall with fluorescent orange flowers. 
C. ficifolia ‘Calypso Queen’: grows 3 to 4 metres tall and bears watermelon red flowers. 
 

Plant Health

Mostly pest and disease free; older trees are prone to rot fungi and decay if planted on heavy, badly drained soils. 

More info

from South West of Western Australia.