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Corymbia spp.

Bloodgums

Myrtaceae Australia (and nearby New Guinea)

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Hummingbirds Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Corymbia spp. is a genus of about 110 species of evergreen trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, native to Australia and separated from Eucalyptus spp. in the 1990s. Known as bloodwoods, ghost gums, and spotted gums, they are mostly medium to large trees 30 to 130 feet (10 to 40 m) tall, with smooth, spotted, or rough flaky bark depending on the group. The adult leaves are leathery, lance-shaped, and arranged alternately, and many species hold their flowers in branched, flat-topped clusters, the feature behind the name Corymbia. The flowers are masses of stamens in white, cream, pink, orange, or red, rich in nectar and drawing birds, bees, and other insects, and are followed by woody, urn-shaped capsules, the familiar gumnuts. C. ficifolia, the red flowering gum, is widely planted as a flowering street tree, while C. citriodora, the lemon-scented gum, has aromatic foliage and pale, smooth bark. The trees grow in a range of Australian woodlands and forests and tolerate heat, drought, and poor soils once established. Most are frost tender to half-hardy and need warm, dry climates. The genus is grown as flowering, shade, and street trees and for timber and essential oils.

Native Range

Corymbia spp. is native to Australia and a few nearby areas of New Guinea, ranging across tropical, subtropical, and warm-temperate woodlands and forests. The spotted gums and bloodwoods are common in eastern and northern Australia. The genus is not native to North America, though several species are planted in California and other warm regions.

Suggested Uses

Corymbias are grown as flowering, shade, and street trees in warm, dry climates, with C. ficifolia planted for its summer flowers and C. maculata and C. citriodora for form, bark, and aromatic foliage. The nectar-rich flowers draw birds and bees in parks and large gardens. The larger species suit open ground and rural plantings rather than small gardens, given their size and litter.

How to Identify

Look for an evergreen gum tree carrying its flowers and woody capsules in branched, flat-topped clusters held beyond the leaves, rather than in tight stalkless bunches. The bark may be smooth and spotted, as in the spotted gums, or rough and flaky, as in the bloodwoods. The corymb-shaped flower and fruit clusters, large urn-shaped gumnuts, and Australian gum-tree habit separate Corymbia spp. from most true Eucalyptus spp..

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height30' - 130'

Width/Spread20' - 50'

Reaches mature size in approximately 20 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Summer

Flowering time varies with species and region, with many blooming from late spring through summer and some in autumn or winter. C. ficifolia flowers heavily in summer, covering the crown in red, orange, or pink. The woody capsules develop over the following months and can hang on the tree for a year or more.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

White, cream, pink, orange, or red

Foliage Description

Green to grey-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 8-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

Flowers in 4-7 years from seed

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Corymbia spp. grows in full sun in deep, free-draining soil and tolerates heat, drought, wind, and poor or sandy ground once established. The trees dislike wet, heavy soils and cold, and most are frost tender or only half-hardy, growing outdoors in roughly USDA zones 9 to 11. A soil pH from about 5.5 to 7.5 suits them. They are fast-growing when young and develop deep roots, so they are planted small and watered only until established. Some species drop bark, leaves, twigs, and heavy gumnuts, creating litter beneath. Few pests are serious, though borers and leaf-feeding insects affect stressed trees.

Pruning

Young trees are pruned to a single leader and a clear trunk for street and shade use, with formative cuts made while branches are small. Mature gums need little pruning beyond removing dead, damaged, or low limbs, ideally in the warmer months when wounds seal quickly. Heavy pruning of large limbs is avoided, as it can lead to decay and weak regrowth.