Angophora spp.
apple gum
Overview
Angophora spp. is a genus of about ten to fifteen species of evergreen trees and shrubs in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, native to eastern Australia and closely related to the eucalypts. Members range from low mallee-like shrubs 3-10 ft (1-3 m) to spreading trees 30-100 ft (9-30 m) tall, often with crooked limbs and, in several species, smooth bark that sheds to reveal pink, orange, and grey tones. Unlike true eucalypts, the leaves are usually opposite and the flowers have separate, spreading cream to white petals rather than a cap-like lid. The flowers are borne in large terminal clusters in summer and hold abundant nectar. They are followed by woody, ribbed cup-shaped fruits. A. costata, the smooth-barked apple or Sydney red gum, is a large tree with sinuous pink-grey limbs, while A. hispida, the dwarf apple, is a bristly shrub. The genus grows in open forest, woodland, and heath on sandy and sandstone soils. Many species drop large limbs without warning, and the masses of flowers and shed bark create steady litter beneath the canopy.
Native Range
Angophora spp. is endemic to eastern Australia, ranging from Queensland through New South Wales to eastern Victoria, where the genus grows in coastal and inland forest, woodland, and heath, often on sandstone and sandy soils.Suggested Uses
Angophora spp. is grown as a shade, specimen, and street or park tree in warm climates, and the dwarf species as a shrub in native and coastal gardens. The nectar-rich summer flowers draw bees, birds, and flying foxes, supporting local wildlife. The large species need room and are kept away from structures because of their size and limb drop.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 100'
Width/Spread10' - 50'
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs mainly in summer (roughly November-January in the Southern Hemisphere), when large terminal clusters of nectar-rich cream to white flowers cover the canopy and draw many insects and birds. Heavy flowering years alternate with lighter ones. The woody ribbed fruits develop afterward and persist on the tree for months.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
cream to whiteFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight