TreeRM

River red gum

Eucalyptus camaldulensis 路 Myrtaceae 路 also Red gum

Australia's most widespread eucalypt, a spreading tree of about 30 m with smooth white-to-red-brown bark shed in ribbons, lining the Murray-Darling and almost every inland river. It is also the most widely planted eucalypt in the world, grown for fuelwood, poles and shelter from Ethiopia and Kenya to India, Spain and California. Abroad it is debated: it gives fast income and firewood but is blamed for drying soils and streams and suppressing other plants, and South Africa restricts it near rivers while permitting plantations.

Broadleaf evergreenFast growingFull sunModerate water
River red gum
Wikimedia Commons, file 700_yr_red_river_gum02.jpg (see file page for author and licence)

Where it stands

Native

  • 馃嚘馃嚭 NSW, Australiasource
  • 馃嚘馃嚭 NT, Australiasource
  • 馃嚘馃嚭 QLD, Australiasource
  • 馃嚘馃嚭 SA, Australiasource
  • 馃嚘馃嚭 VIC, Australiasource
  • 馃嚘馃嚭 WA, Australiasource

Adapted

  • 馃嚜馃嚫 Spain 路 Planted; exotic per ICRAFsource
  • 馃嚜馃嚬 Ethiopia 路 Widely planted for fuelwood and poles; ICRAF lists it as exotic heresource
  • 馃嚠馃嚦 India 路 Planted; exotic per ICRAFsource
  • 馃嚢馃嚜 Kenya 路 Planted; exotic per ICRAFsource

Invasive

  • 馃嚳馃嚘 South Africa 路 NEMBA 2020: Category 1b in riparian areas, protected areas and listed ecosystems, and in Fynbos, Grassland, Savanna and Albany Thicket biomes; Category 2 (permit) for plantations, woodlots and bee-forage areas; not listed in the Karoo and Desert biomessource

Care

Grows over 3 m a year on good sites; weed around young trees up to three times a year until the canopy closes. Water in the first dry season only. Old trees drop large limbs without warning, so keep them away from houses and camp sites. Termites, aphids, eucalyptus snout beetle and borers attack stressed young trees.

Benefits

ShadeFast canopyFlood tolerantDrought tolerantWildlifeBirdsPollinatorsHolds soilLong lived

Good for

StreambanksTimberWindbreakAgroforestryparks

Watch out for

Weak woodHeavy litterLarge rootsInvasive elsewhere